Healthy Rewards® : More Reasons To Smile For CIGNA HealthCare and CIGNA Dental Care Members

Agreements with dental providers and vendors expand CIGNA Healthy Rewards® discount program for complementary and alternative medicine.

Agreements with dental providers and vendors expand CIGNA Healthy Rewards® discount program for complementary and alternative medicine.

Bloomfield, Conn (August 20, 2001) -- CIGNA HealthCare and CIGNA Dental Care members have even more reason to smile as the company announces the expansion of its popular Healthy Rewards® discount program* to include cosmetic dentistry, laser vision correction surgery, eye wear and hearing care services.

The Healthy Rewards® discount program also offers discounts on alternative and complementary medicine, vitamins, herbal supplements, over-the-counter medications and wellness products to 14.3 million CIGNA HealthCare members. In addition, the program is now available to approximately 2.8 million people nationwide who are enrolled in the CIGNA Dental Care plan.

"The program is offered at no additional cost to employers or members, as a way to enhance their benefit plans and meet the growing demand for these services," said Scott Richardson, assistant vice president for Consumer Services. "Healthy Rewards® is one way we are working to give members more choices on services and products that fit their lifestyle."

"Access to Healthy Rewards® is an advantage of CIGNA Dental Care coverage that we believe our members will value," said Kevin Tylus, president of CIGNA Dental.

According to statistics from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the desire for teeth whitening has increased by more than 300 percent over the last five years, while veneers have increased 250 percent during the same time frame.

"Cosmetic dentistry is about helping people feel and look good," said Miles Hall DDS, CIGNA Dental's national dental director. "We are pleased to offer this opportunity for our members to improve their smiles. However, we must remember that cosmetic dentistry cannot replace good oral health such as preventive or corrective dental care."

Discounts on massage therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care are available through American Specialty Health Networks' ™ (ASHN) 15,000 nationwide providers.

According to a 1998 Stanford University study, an estimated 69 percent of adults have made at least one visit to complementary care practitioners. That number is expected to rise as Americans search for more ways to improve their health and extend their lives.

For health and wellness products, sports nutrition items, books and videos, discounts are available through www.cigna.com/healthyrewards. The program also includes:

• Cosmetic Dentistry - Members can save 20 percent off the usual fees for teeth whitening and veneers through agreements at more than 41,000 CIGNA Dental contracted offices nationwide.
• Laser Vision Correction – This discount is offered through VSP ® 's Laser VisionCare^SM Program. Members can save up to 25 percent off the usual fees at VSP-contracted centers nationwide.
• Eye Wear – Members can save $75 or more on a complete pair of prescription eye wear and 10-20 percent on contact lenses when purchased through Cole Managed Vision's national network. The network includes Sears Optical, Target Optical, JC Penny Optical and most Pearle Vision Centers.
• Hearing Care - Members can save up to 58 percent off manufacturer’s suggested retail prices for hearing instruments, 40 percent on testing fees, and receive a no-charge hearing screening. Discounts on hearing care services are provided through HearPO Corp.

Healthy Rewards® is provided as an advantage of plan participation and is not part of the benefit plan. Healthy Rewards® is not a covered benefit or an insurance program. Members do not need referrals, nor do they file claims to obtain discounts. They obtain discounts by presenting their CIGNA plan identification card. The program discounts cannot be applied to any co-payment or coinsurance for services covered under the member's benefit plan. Members schedule appointments directly with service providers and also pay them directly. Members can locate Healthy Rewards® providers by visiting www.cigna.com/healthyrewards or by calling the Healthy Rewards® dedicated telephone number at 1.800.870.3480.

The CIGNA HealthCare companies, based in Bloomfield, Conn., comprise one of the nation's leading providers of health benefit programs with products marketed in all 50 states and managed care networks serving 45 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

CIGNA Dental serves more than 13 million people through dental HMO-type plans, PPO plans and indemnity plans nationwide. CIGNA Dental manages revenues and equivalents in excess of $2.6 billion and delivers more than $1 billion in savings to their clients annually. More than 50,000 dentists participate in CIGNA Dental's privately contracted and credentialed networks operating in more than 45 states. For more information, visit www.cigna.com.

*The Healthy Rewards® discount program is not available in all states.

"CIGNA HealthCare" or "CIGNA" refers to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corp. Products and services are provided by these subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corp. These subsidiaries include Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Tel-Drug, Inc. and its affiliates, CIGNA Behavioral Health, Inc., Intracorp and HMO or service company subsidiaries of CIGNA Health Corp. and CIGNA Dental Health, Inc.