Cigna $CI Healthcare announced Thursday that it is expanding AI-enabled predictive tools to identify customers with chronic or complex health conditions earlier, with the goal of reducing medical costs by $200 million over the next three years.
The health insurer says AI-driven predictive models will cut medical costs by $2,000 per year for engaged customers over 3 years
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Cigna $CI Healthcare announced Thursday that it is expanding AI-enabled predictive tools to identify customers with chronic or complex health conditions earlier, with the goal of reducing medical costs by $200 million over the next three years.
The expansion will extend clinical outreach to 20% more customers, covering conditions including cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, high-risk pregnancy, and behavioral health disorders, the company said. Customers who engage with these programs are expected to save $2,000 per year in medical costs on average.
More than 1,250 Cigna Healthcare clinicians — including nurses and behavioral health specialists — will use AI-generated insights to identify patients sooner and connect them with personalized support. The tools are designed to flag emerging health needs before they escalate into more serious and costly conditions, the company said.
"As costs for hospital care, emergency services, and prescription drugs continue to rise, we are investing in tools and clinical programs that help customers avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, better manage chronic conditions, and reduce the likelihood of more serious and expensive health events later," said Bryan Holgerson, President of Cigna Healthcare U.S. and Executive Vice President, Customer Health Outcomes at The Cigna Group, in a statement.
Cigna said its existing care management programs have already produced measurable results: customers who engage early have seen a 42% drop in avoidable inpatient stays, and cancer screening programs have caught breast, colorectal, and lung cancer an average of 55, 46, and 37 days sooner, respectively. The company also reported that 72% of customers connected to behavioral health providers achieved clinically meaningful improvement in depression symptoms.
The new capabilities allow customers to reach clinicians through phone, text, email, and digital tools. Cigna said the AI systems handle patient prioritization so that clinicians can devote more of their time to hands-on care coordination and guidance.
"With earlier guidance, we can help customers get the right care at the right time and avoid more serious and costly health complications," said Dr. Stanley Crittenden, Chief Medical Officer of Cigna Healthcare, in a statement.
Cigna Healthcare sits within The Cigna Group alongside Evernorth Health Services, its clinical services arm, and Express Scripts, its pharmacy benefit management unit. The expansion of its AI tools comes as the company has been exiting the Affordable Care Act's individual insurance marketplaces at the end of 2026, redirecting resources toward units it considers core to its future, including employer-based coverage and specialty care services.
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