Wellness fund guide / Cigna

How to use your Cigna wellness fund

Cigna is the carrier we work with most. Here is how Cigna wellness funds usually work for employer groups, and how to turn yours into wellness boxes your team will use.

How Cigna wellness funds work

Many Cigna employer groups have a wellness fund set aside in their plan agreement. It is money Cigna gives your company to spend on employee health and well-being, and it is most common with fully insured plans.

The amount, the deadline and the rules are set in your group's agreement, so they vary from company to company. Your Cigna client experience consultant or account manager can tell you what you have and when it expires. Your broker usually knows too.

Like most carrier funds, a Cigna wellness fund is usually use it or lose it. Any amount left at the end of your plan year typically does not roll over.

New to wellness funds? Our wellness fund guide covers the basics for every carrier.

What it can pay for

Each group's rules are a little different, but Cigna wellness funds generally cover things that help employees build healthier habits or learn about their benefits, like wellness events, fitness challenges, health education and employee wellness boxes built around a health theme.

Wellness boxes work well because they reach every employee, including remote and field teams. Each box is built around a theme like stress relief, healthy eating, sleep or exercise, and can include printed materials like your EAP flyer or benefits information. That makes the spend easy to tie to a real wellness goal, which carriers like to see. For ideas, see how to pair your wellness boxes with an initiative.

How we bill Cigna

Cigna handles payment in one of two ways, and your Cigna contact will confirm which applies to your group.

Cigna pays us directly

HealthBoxed is already set up in Cigna's payment system and regularly receives direct payments from Cigna. Once your order is approved, we send the invoice and our W-9 to your Cigna contact and Cigna pays us from your fund. Nothing comes out of your budget.

You pay, Cigna reimburses you

Some groups are set up for reimbursement. We send you the invoice, you pay it, then you forward the paid invoice to your Cigna contact. Cigna reimburses your company from the fund.

Not sure which one you have? Tell us who your Cigna contact is and we can sort it out with them.

Step by step

  1. Confirm your balance and deadline with your Cigna client experience consultant, account manager or broker.
  2. Request a proposal. Tell us your headcount, budget per employee, wellness theme and delivery date.
  3. Share the proposal with your Cigna contact for approval if they need to sign off.
  4. Sign the proposal. We send the invoice and W-9 to Cigna or to you, depending on how your group is set up.
  5. We build and ship your boxes, usually in about 4 to 5 weeks.

Orders start at $3,000 total, and most companies spend between $35 and $65 per box. If your deadline is close, reach out as soon as you can and we will tell you what timing is possible.

Common questions

Can a Cigna wellness fund pay for employee wellness boxes?

In most cases, yes. HealthBoxed is an approved wellness fund vendor with all major carriers, including Cigna, as long as the boxes support a wellness theme. It is still worth confirming with your Cigna contact before you order.

Who do I contact at Cigna about my wellness fund?

Usually your Cigna client experience consultant or account manager. If you work with a benefits broker, they can connect you.

Does HealthBoxed bill Cigna directly?

Yes. We are set up in Cigna's payment system and can be paid directly from your fund. If your group is set up for reimbursement instead, we invoice you and you submit the paid invoice to Cigna.

Does my Cigna wellness fund roll over?

Usually not. Most funds follow your plan year, so plan your order early enough to deliver before your deadline.

Other carriers

Aetna · UnitedHealthcare · Anthem · CareFirst · All carriers

HealthBoxed is an independent wellness box company and is not affiliated with Cigna. Wellness fund amounts, rules and payment steps are set in each group's plan agreement, so confirm the details with your Cigna contact or broker.

Ready to put your Cigna wellness fund to work?

Tell us about your team and we will send a custom proposal within 1 business day. You can also ask for a quick call first.