Cigna Fundamental Medicare (PPO) Annual Notice of Changes

Each year, Cigna issues an Annual Notice of Changes (ANOC) for its Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug plans. The notice is a required communication that explains how the plan will differ from the prior year. For members of the Cigna Fundamental Medicare (PPO) plan, understanding these changes helps you anticipate costs, verify coverage, and make informed healthcare decisions.

Why the Notice Matters

• Transparency: The ANOC outlines any adjustments to premiums, copayments, deductibles, and benefits.
• Compliance: Federal law requires the notice to be sent to every enrollee before the plan year begins.
• DecisionMaking: If the changes are significant, you may decide to keep the plan, switch to another Medicare Advantage option, or return to Original Medicare.

Key Sections of the Cigna Fundamental Medicare (PPO) ANOC

1. Premiums and CostSharing

The notice lists the monthly premium you will owe for the upcoming year and highlights any changes to the following:

• Annual deductible
• Outofpocket maximum
• Copayment amounts for primary care, specialist visits, emergency department care, and inpatient stays
• Prescriptiondrug costsharing tiers

2. Benefit Changes

Cigna may add, remove, or modify benefits. Typical examples include:

• Coverage for telehealth visits
• Expansions to vision, hearing, or dental services
• Alterations to home health and skilled nursing facility benefits

3. Network Updates

Because the PPO model relies on a network of doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies, the ANOC will identify:

• New participating providers
• Providers that are no longer innetwork
• Changes to referral requirements (if any)

4. Drug Formulary Adjustments

For the Prescription Drug component, Cigna will list any:

• Newly covered medications
• Drugs removed from coverage
• Tier reclassifications that affect copay amounts

5. Appeals and Grievances

The notice restates the process for filing an appeal or grievance, including contact information, timeframes, and the steps you can take if you disagree with a coverage decision.

How to Review Your Notice

1. Compare to last years plan. Pull your previous ANOC or summary of benefits and note any differences.
2. Calculate your expected outofpocket cost. Use the premium, deductible, and copayment figures to estimate total annual cost based on your typical healthcare usage.
3. Check provider status. Verify that your primary care physician, specialists, and preferred pharmacies remain innetwork.
4. Review drug coverage. If you take prescription medication, confirm that each drug is still covered and note any tier changes.
5. Take action if needed. If the changes are undesirable, you can enroll in a different Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Election Period (AEP) (Oct15Dec7) or during a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify.

Important Dates

• Notice mailing deadline: By October15, Cigna must mail the ANOC to all members.
• Annual Election Period (AEP): October15December7. This is the window to keep your current plan, switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, or return to Original Medicare.
• Effective date of changes: January1 of the new plan year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my premium increase?

Premium changes vary each year. The notice will state the exact new amount. Some years there is no increase.

Do I have to accept the changes?

No. You may keep the plan, switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, or return to Original Medicare during the AEP.

What if a doctor I see is removed from the network?

You can continue to see that doctor, but you may pay higher outofnetwork costs. Consider finding an innetwork alternative or discuss a possible exception with Cigna.

How can I get a copy of the notice?

The notice is mailed to your address on file. You can also view it online by logging into your Cigna member portal.

Where do I find the updated drug formulary?

The formulary is included in the ANOC packet and is available in the member portal under Prescription Drug Coverage.

Where to Get Help

If you have questions after reviewing the notice, you can contact Cignas member services:

• Phone: 18008000000 (available 24hours, 7days a week)
• Online portal: cigna.com/member
• Local Cigna office find an address in the portals Contact Us section.

Understanding the Annual Notice of Changes ensures you stay in control of your healthcare coverage and finances. Review the document carefully, compare it to your current needs, and take action before the deadline.