Cigna Health Insurance and UCLA Health

Important information for patients with Cigna health insurance plans

(Updated May 5, 2026)

Unless a new agreement is reached before July 1, 2026, Cigna HealthCare of California will no longer consider UCLA Health to be part of its HMO and PPO networks. If that happens, Cigna members may face significantly higher out-of-pocket expenses or find that Cigna will no longer cover these costs at all.

Negotiations are ongoing. We are focused on helping our patients and their families avoid unanticipated expenses and disruptions.

Nothing is changing just yet. You can receive care at UCLA Health before July 1 without changes.

HMO patients: You may have received a notice from Cigna assigning you to a new primary care physician outside of UCLA Health, even as negotiations are continuing. If a new agreement is not in place before July 1, you may have a right to keep your UCLA Health primary care physician for a designated period of time. Please contact Cigna’s member services department. If you have further questions, you are encouraged to contact the Department of Managed Health Care, which protects consumers, by telephone at its toll-free number, 1-888-466-2219, or at a TDD number for those who are hearing- or speech-impaired at 1-877-688-9891, or online at dmhc.ca.gov.

Examples of those who may be eligible for Continuity of Care/Transition of Care benefits as determined by Cigna include patients who are pregnant, children under the age of 3, patients who are awaiting a transplant or have received a transplant, patients who have an upcoming scheduled surgery or procedure, and patients who have certain acute conditions, serious chronic medical conditions, or a terminal illnesses. 

PPO patients: If a new agreement is not in place before July 1, you also may be eligible to continue your care with UCLA Health for a designated period of time without interruption or increased costs, even if you haven’t received a notice from Cigna.

Please join us in asking Cigna to find a way to help us keep pace with the rising cost of providing care.

For patients with appointments or procedures scheduled for July 1 or later, we encourage you to apply to Cigna as soon as possible for Continuity of Care/Transition of Care benefits.

Continuity of Care/Transition of Care Services

State law provides patients the opportunity to continue care related to certain medical conditions if your current physician is no longer in your health plan, as described above. You can find more details on the California Department of Managed Health Care website.

Take These Steps

• Download Cigna’s Continuity of Care/Transition of Care Request Form that applies to your health plan. Your plan information can be found on your Cigna membership card.
• Follow the instructions for completing and submitting the form to Cigna.
• For questions about your eligibility for these services, we encourage you to call the toll-free number on your Cigna membership card.

HMO members: Cigna policy and form to fill out

PPO members: Cigna policy and form to fill out

UCLA Health representatives are ready to help you understand what is happening. Call 310-301-8700 Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm and choose option 1. You can also reach out to your UCLA Health physician’s office.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is happening?

UCLA Health has been negotiating with Cigna on a new agreement for several months. Unfortunately, we have been unable to reach a fair agreement thus far. If an agreement cannot be reached before the contract expires on July 1, 2026, Cigna will consider UCLA Health physicians, hospitals and clinics to be out of its HMO and PPO networks.

What does this mean for Cigna HMO plan members?

Even as negotiations continue, Cigna has sent notices transferring HMO members to primary care physicians outside of UCLA Health. Unless you are referred to UCLA Health by your new primary care physician or medical group, this will limit your access to elective inpatient and outpatient care from UCLA Health and its physicians.

What does this mean for Cigna PPO plan members who receive care at UCLA Health?

If the contract lapses and a new agreement is not in place, Cigna will consider UCLA Health out of network for these plan members. That means higher out-of-pocket expenses for those patients.

What happens if I qualify for Continuity of Care/Transition of Care services?

For patients whom Cigna determines qualify for Continuity of Care/Transition of Care benefits, UCLA Health will honor in-network rates for a predetermined period of time set by Cigna, even if Cigna considers UCLA Health out of network. Those patients should not have increased out-of-pocket costs.

What happens if Cigna denies Continuity of Care/Transition of Care benefits?

Your out-of-pocket expenses, such as copays and deductibles, may increase because care provided by UCLA Health will be out of network or may not be covered at all. You should call the member/customer service phone number on the back of your health plan identification card and speak with Cigna to understand your options. The health plan is responsible for decisions about Continuity of Care/Transition of Care benefits.

If you are an HMO member, you may also call the California Department of Managed Health Care’s Help Center at 1-888-466-2219. If you are a PPO member, you may call the California Department of Insurance consumer hotline at 1-800-927-4357.

What if I have a medical appointment or procedure scheduled with UCLA Health before July 1, 2026.

Care you receive at UCLA Health before July 1, 2026, will still be considered in network by Cigna.

What should I do if I have a medical appointment or procedure with UCLA Health on or after July 1, 2026.

We want to help you avoid disruptions in care or unanticipated expenses. It is important for you to contact Cigna to determine your eligibility for Continuity of Care/Transition of Care benefits before coming to your appointment at UCLA Health.

What should I do if I am in the hospital on or after 12:01 am on July 1, 2026?

You will be covered by Cigna until you are discharged from the hospital. However, Cigna may elect to transfer you to another hospital that they consider in network. Cigna is permitted to transfer a patient only if the transfer can be safely performed.

Before your procedure, we encourage you to apply to Cigna for Continuity of Care/Transition of Care services. Please also confirm the details of your insurance benefit by calling the member/customer service phone number on the back of your health plan identification card.

What if an agreement is reached before the current agreement expires?

For HMO members, if we secure a new agreement prior to July 1, 2026, and you already have been assigned to a new primary care physician outside of UCLA Health, Cigna will notify you, and you can then request to be reassigned back to a UCLA Health physician. Cigna will not reassign you back to UCLA Health unless you request it. UCLA Health is not permitted to make the request for you.

PPO members are not assigned to a primary care physician. If an agreement is reached prior to July 1, 2026, there are no steps PPO members need to take.

Which UCLA Health facilities and physicians are impacted?

All UCLA Health hospitals, clinics, physicians and health care professionals rely on our agreement with Cigna to remain in network for you.

Contact Us

We value our patients and want to help you understand what is happening.

UCLA Health representatives are standing by at 310-301-8700 (choose option 1), on weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm. You can also contact your UCLA Health physician’s office.