Cigna members can now tap into mental health services via Ginger app

On-demand from customers behavioral well being system Ginger is now obtainable as a well being benefit for Cigna’s 14 million members, the corporations announced now.

Customers with Cigna’s employer-sponsored or personal and spouse and children insurance plan options can now obtain Ginger’s behavioral well being coaching, therapy and psychiatry services as an in-community benefit.

“Cigna’s mission is to increase the well being, well-remaining and peace of thoughts of these we serve by generating healthcare straightforward, economical and predictable,” Dr. Doug Nemecek, the chief clinical officer for behavioral well being at Cigna, mentioned in a statement.

“Right now, far more than ever, people are looking for out psychological well being assist, and our connection with Ginger produces far more obtain to that treatment, when and wherever customers will need it.”

Interested members can download the Ginger application and present their insurance plan info to get obtain to the whole suite of services.

WHY THIS Issues

Demand for behavioral healthcare has been on the increase in the course of the pandemic. In reality, far more than 40% of U.S. grown ups reported signs and symptoms of anxiety or depressive problem, in contrast to just 11% in the months prior to the outbreak, according to a Kaiser Household Basis study.

“We are going through a nationwide source-demand from customers crisis in psychological healthcare, with demand from customers achieving unparalleled ranges, and less suppliers coming into the industry than ever just before,” Russell Glass, CEO of Ginger, mentioned in a statement.

“We are happy to partner with primary businesses like Cigna that identify not only the scope of the nation’s psychological well being crisis, but the worth of using a preventative solution to this obstacle. Jointly, we are opening up obtain to outstanding psychological healthcare for millions at a fraction of the value of regular treatment.”

The Ginger system presents all around-the-clock text-primarily based behavioral well being coaching with a trained behavioral well being expert. If desired, people can escalate their treatment to consist of digital remedy or psychiatry, with at-home prescription supply obtainable by Capsule.

It also involves an on-line library of skill-constructing assets on subjects these kinds of as mindfulness, relationships and current functions.

THE Much larger Pattern

The two corporations have been working alongside one another for some time now, with Cigna Ventures investing in Ginger’s $fifty million increase previous yr.

More not long ago, Ginger scored $one hundred million in a Series E funding round with options to build partnerships in the insurance plan place.

This is also not Cigna’s to start with foray into digital well being. Previously this yr, its well being services subsidiary Evernorth acquired the telehealth company MDLive.

Health and fitness plans’ interest in digital behavioral well being is escalating and previous yr UnitedHealth Group’s Optum purchased AbleTo for roughly $470 million.