Claims and Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
Get the information you need to submit a claim, and understand your explanation of benefits.
What is a health insurance claim?
A claim is a request to be paid, similar to a bill. If you recently went to the doctor and received care, you or your doctor will submit or “file” a claim. In most cases, if you received in-network care, your provider will file a claim for you. When Cigna Healthcare℠ receives a claim, it’s checked against your plan to make sure the services are covered. Once approved, we pay the health care provider or reimburse you, depending on who submitted the claim. Any remaining charges that weren’t covered by your plan are billed directly to you by your provider.
What is an EOB?
An EOB (Explanation of Benefits) is a claim statement that Cigna Healthcare sends to you after a health care visit or procedure to show you how your claim was paid.
An EOB is not a bill. It is a document to help you understand how much each service costs, what your plan will cover, and how much you will have to pay when you receive a bill from your health care provider or hospital.
Remember to save your EOBs for tax purposes and for your records.
How do I submit a claim?
What if my claim is denied?
In some cases, you need to have a procedure or service pre-approved by Cigna Healthcare before you receive care, otherwise the claim may be denied.
Ways to avoid denied claims:
- Pay your monthly premium on time
- Present your current ID card when you receive services.
- Stay in-network, if required by the plan
- Get prior authorization, if required by the plan
A retroactive denial is a claim paid by Cigna Healthcare and then later denied, requiring you to pay for the services. Denial could be due to eligibility issues, service(s) determined to be not covered by your plan, or cancellation of coverage.
If your claim is retroactively denied, Cigna Healthcare will notify you in writing about your appeal rights. Learn more about appeals and grievances.
For help, call customer service at 1 (800) 244-6224.
How do I know if I need to submit a claim?
In some cases you may need to submit a claim, depending on your plan type and whether you received in-network or out-of-network care. Use the following general plan information to help decide if you need to submit a claim.