Cigna Partners to Create ACO in AZ

[Yagents]

We have heard very little about who will be participating in the AZ exchange so far. We know Cigna will be participating, but with this announcement of forming an ACO with Scottsdale Health Partners, will this be a second product offering in addition to their typical HMO offering, or instead of?

Scottsdale Health Partners and Cigna Start Accountable Care Program to Improve Health and Lower Cost - DailyFinance

 

[Ann H]

This is interesting. Currently, the big ACO in town is the Banner Health ACO, which most of the insurers have contracted with already for some Private Market group products, and some of their Private Market IFP plans.

These ACO plans on the government exchange/marketplace will probably sell well for people who need to drive their premium down, and who are willing to take a skinny network along with the restrictions that come from highly managed care. For others who want to choose their own doctors, and are willing to pay a little more for larger networks and freedom of choice, they will see the ACO as today's version of the HMO.