Milestones
For more than 230 years, The Cigna Group has continued to innovate, expand, and grow globally. Our dedication to the people we serve has grown—and continues to grow—stronger with each milestone in our history.
1792-1870: Starting Off Strong
In 1792 after a series of meetings in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, a group of prominent citizens form the Insurance Company of North America (INA). INA is the first marine insurance company in the United States and it remains the nation’s oldest, stockholder-owned insurer.
INA issues its first marine policies for the ship America, insuring its hull and cargo on a voyage from Philadelphia, PA to Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
1794
INA is incorporated, and issues its first life insurance policy—insuring a sea captain against death during a voyage. The policy even includes a clause promising benefits if Barbary Coast pirates capture the captain.
1865
The Governor of Connecticut signs a special act of the General Assembly incorporating the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company—one of the companies that would make Hartford known as the "insurance capital of the world."
1871-1945: Playing a Part in History
We’ve played a significant role in shaping the United States. Through our INA heritage, we resurrected two of the biggest cities in the country after disaster. We insured some of the biggest events and innovations of the past century and were at the forefront of health insurance.
1871
In October, the great Chicago Fire burns for two days, destroying 2,000 acres and leaving 100,000 people homeless. INA pays $650,000, one of only 51 insurance companies (out of a total of 202) to pay claims in full.
1906
Fires from the San Francisco earthquake leave nearly five square miles of the city in ruins. INA and subsidiaries promise to pay losses in full—a total of $4,772,000.
1912
Health insurance starts getting attention during the 1912 presidential election, when Theodore Roosevelt proposes funds to assist Americans with health care costs. That same year, Connecticut General forms a new accident department, followed by a new group department in 1918. It begins marketing group accident and sickness contracts in 1919—its first involvement with employee health insurance.
1926
Both INA and Connecticut General begin to insure the Age of Flight. INA joins a syndicate to insure aircraft, and Connecticut General writes the first individual accident coverage—a forerunner to modern day health insurance—offered to passengers of regularly scheduled airlines.
1942
At the request of the U.S. Army, an INA company writes accident and health insurance for the 30 men working on the Manhattan Project, without being told the nature of their employment.
1946-1949: Growing Our Business Globally
We’re not just a U.S. company—we’re an international one, too. We established our international roots a long time ago by setting up overseas offices and agents, and we continue to do business globally.
1946
INA grows in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Near East, and Central and South America.
1950-1980: Focusing on Health Care After World War II
Health insurance gained public attention during the 1910's, but didn't gain momentum until after World War II, when contracts for group health insurance increased rapidly. That's when we began focusing our innovations on health care and supplemental health solutions, based on changing costs and technology.
1950
Connecticut General introduces medical catastrophe (major medical) insurance, writing the first policy in the U.S. for its own employees.
Four years later, in 1954, Connecticut General introduces the first comprehensive medical case that combines group health and major medical into a single contract.
1964
Connecticut General introduces group dental insurance for any employer with at least 35 employees.
1969
Connecticut General establishes a health maintenance organization (HMO) to serve the planned city of Columbia, MD.
1970
Connecticut General expands to provide group insurance and pension services to select international companies for their employees based abroad. The first expatriate employer group policy is written in 1977.
INA forms International Rehabilitation Associates (IRA) to market professional rehabilitation services to insurance companies and other organizations. It’s the first medical cost-containment business in the United States.
1978
INA enters the prepaid health plan business by acquiring HMO International, which operates hospitals in the U.S. and abroad as well as an HMO in Oakland, CA. Based on its success, INA builds a network of HMOs throughout the United States, beginning in the Southwest and Southeast.
In 1980, INA purchases Ross-Loos, the nation’s oldest HMO, founded in 1929 and headquartered in Los Angeles.
1981-1997: Coming Together—and Growing Stronger—as Cigna
The Cigna Group® as we know it today was formed from the union of two companies, both already strong players in the insurance field. Together, we were able to grow and find more ways to support individuals.
1982
Connecticut General Corporation (CG) and INA Corporation (INA) announce that they will combine their operations and health insurance businesses.
1984
Cigna acquires American Foreign Insurance Association (AFIA), an international insurance underwriting association reaching customers in more than 100 countries. INA had been a founding member of AFIA in 1918, before withdrawing in 1921.
1990
Cigna acquires EQUICOR, the sixth-largest provider of employee benefits in the U.S., complementing the company's network of health plans.
1994
Cigna joins the March of Dimes® fight for healthy babies as a national sponsor of the annual walk-a-thon. In the first 5 years of sponsorship, 22,431 employees walk at over 80 sites, helping to raise $7.6 million.
1997
Cigna acquires Healthsource, Inc. to strengthen our health care operations with access to new markets. The acquisition grows and complements our existing network of health care plans.
1998-2013: Innovating health care and continuing expansion
We refocused our business on health care and continued to grow in global markets by adding to our business—through joint ventures and acquisitions—and developing innovative online tools.
1998
Cigna begins to refocus on its health care business. In 1998, we sell our individual life insurance and annuity business to Lincoln National Corporation. In 1999, we sell the property and casualty business to ACE Limited of Hamilton, Bermuda. And later, in 2004, we sell the financial and retirement business to Prudential Financial, Inc.
2002
Cigna helps launch the world’s first online physician-led healthcare network for employees on global assignments and expands offerings in China and Mexico.
Cigna unveils myCigna®, a personalized web portal giving consumers control over their health and financial security. The portal receives “Best in Show” honors from Business Insurance.
2005
Cigna International becomes the only U.S. insurer to offer web-based expert second opinion services for expatriates through the renowned e-Cleveland Clinic.
2007
The Global Knowledge Exchange Network (GKEN) is created through a $1 million grant from the Cigna Foundation. GKEN brings leaders from government, health care, business, philanthropy, academia, and health insurance companies together to advance better practices in health care.
Cigna International celebrates 20 years of operations in Korea and Hong Kong.
2009
Cigna becomes the first and only health service company in the U.S. to offer live 24/7/365 access to its call center service representatives for medical, dental, and pharmacy plan customers and contracted health care professionals.
Cigna International launches Envoy, a web portal to help doctors and hospitals better serve expatriate patients.
Cigna and CMC Life Insurance Company Limited, a joint venture between Cigna and China Merchants Group, announce the launch of its first comprehensive health care product in China.
2010
Cigna becomes the international leader in benefits for people living abroad with the acquisition of Vanbreda International.
2011
Cigna adopts new “Tree of life” logo.
Cigna continues to expand globally by opening operations in Singapore, announcing joint ventures with Finansbank in Turkey and TTK Group in India, acquiring First Assist in the UK, and expanding health networks in Brazil and expatriate networks in Africa.
Cigna acquires Great American Supplemental Benefits, offering a broader range of products to serve the needs of seniors and other individuals. Supplemental includes voluntary benefits, limited benefit, low-cost health plans, disability, and employee benefits for hourly and part-time workers and their families and Medicare supplement benefits.
2012
Cigna celebrates 30 years of formation.
In the U.S., Cigna acquires HealthSpring to expand its focus on serving the health needs of seniors.
2013
The Cigna Foundation sponsors the first-ever Global Healthy Workplace Awards, recognizing the world’s healthiest workplaces.
Cigna announces a strategic venture with MyFitnessPal, a web-based food log, to allow customers to track progress toward their health goals.
2014 – Present: Evolving the Cigna Brand
From 1792 to today, we've come a long way. And health insurance—now over a century old—has changed as well. We’ve evolved the Cigna brand to reflect our business and fulfill our mission to improve the health and vitality of those we serve.
2014
Cigna launches a new global campaign and tagline “Together, all the way®”—to help share its evolved brand story and show what it has to offer with the world.
2016
Our new technology solutions include Cigna One Guide®, a multi-modal customer experience for proactive engagement to stay healthy, and Cigna SureFit®, a heightened collaboration between local physicians' networks and hospital groups to drive efficiencies and optimize networks for customers.
HIT (Health Improvement Tour: Go. Know. Take Control.®) delivers free health screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and body mass index) and coaching to many individuals who do not have access to health care through traditional means.
Cigna commits to reducing opioid use among its customers by 25 percent by 2019 and achieves this goal one year ahead of through a collaborative approach, focused on safer prescribing and expanded case management support.
2017
Cigna acquires Brighter, a leader in digital engagement, to accelerate the development of technology platforms and create new end-to-end experiences that connect health consumers and providers.
2018
Cigna completes combination with Express Scripts®, establishing a blueprint to transform the health care system to deliver improved affordability, choice, and predictability through flexible, open, and connected solutions.
Celebrates first day as a combined company with an incremental investment of $200 million to support local communities, focused on improving societal health.
Launches Healthier Kids for Our Future®, a new community engagement program to improve the health and well-being of children globally.
Cigna releases its landmark U.S. Loneliness Index with findings from a survey of more than 20,000 U.S. adults identifying loneliness as an emerging public health threat.
2019
Cigna announces that New York Life, America's largest mutual life insurer, will acquire the company's group life and disability insurance business.
2020
New York Life completes acquisition of the company's group life and disability insurance business.
Cigna announces the launch of Evernorth, a new brand for its growing, high-performing health services portfolio. Evernorth will accelerate delivery of innovative and flexible solutions to meet the diverse needs of health plans, employers, and government organizations.
Express Scripts announces a new program to ensure Americans can continue to afford their prescription medications during the COVID-19 pandemic through Parachute RxSM.
Cigna announces new Building Equity and Equality Program, a five-year initiative to expand and accelerate efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusion for communities of color.
Cigna Foundation and New York Life Foundation partner to launch Brave of Heart Fund to support the families of front-line healthcare workers who lost their lives in COVID-19.
2021
Evernorth completes acquisition of MDLIVE to expand access to virtual care.
Cigna reaches agreement with Chubb, the property and casualty insurance company, to divest its life, accident, and supplemental benefits businesses in seven countries.
Express Scripts is awarded 7-Year TRICARE Pharmacy Program Contract giving the company the honor of serving millions of active-duty service members, their family members, and retirees through 2029.
2022
Cigna champions Vitality as a next generation health measure, and introduces the Evernorth Vitality Index, a tool that measures and quantifies whole person health.
Cigna completes transaction with Chubb to divest its life, accident, and supplemental benefits businesses in seven countries.
Evernorth enters strategic collaboration with VillageMD to accelerate value-based care services and care delivery strategy.
2023
Cigna evolves to three distinct brands: The Cigna Group, the global health parent company; Cigna Healthcare®, the health benefits provider; and Evernorth Health Services®, the pharmacy, care, and benefits solutions provider.
Express Scripts by Evernorth introduces solutions that increase access to affordable medicines, enhance predictability by capping prescription copays for patients, and drive full pricing transparency through a new model in ClearCareRx™.
The Cigna Group commissions Economist Impact research addressing the U.S. youth mental health crisis. The findings call for a community response to better support teen mental health and address the challenges facing parents and their children.
The Cigna Group Foundation and YMCA partner to improve vitality in five cities: Houston, Memphis, Nashville, Phoenix, and St. Louis. Programs help teens and young adults develop leadership skills and help older adults connect socially and engage in activities to improve mental wellness.
Cigna Healthcare removes 25 percent of medical services from prior authorization, as part of ongoing actions to simplify the care experience for customers and clinicians.
The Cigna Group earns first place ranking among the health care industry for its leadership in global sustainability in the first-ever Net Zero Leaders list released by Forbes.
2024
Evernorth Health Services launches the Evernorth Behavioral Care Group, an outpatient behavioral health practice to expand access to quality, in-network therapy for millions of people.
The Cigna Group Foundation launches a three-year community initiative focusing investments in three areas: improving youth mental health, improving veteran mental health with an emphasis on housing stability, and reducing barriers to health equity through a dedicated impact fund.
Evernorth Health Services launches EncircleRx, the industry’s first-ever GLP-1 financial guarantee for employers coupled with digital lifestyle support programs for patients.
The Cigna Group and Business Roundtable bring together senior business executives, federal policymakers and community leaders for a Workforce Mental Health Summit as part of its Mental Health Initiative chaired by The Cigna Group Chairman and CEO David Cordani.
2025
Introduced our multi-year “Commitments to Better,” which focus on simplifying access to care, improving support, providing better value, and ensuring accountability and transparency for our customers and patients, and other stakeholders.
Completed the sale of our Medicare Advantage, Cigna Supplemental Benefits, Medicare Part D, and CareAllies businesses to Health Care Service Corporation, enabling us to drive further innovation to support customers.
Announced a new rebate-free pharmacy benefit model designed to help Americans get the medications they need by lowering costs, improving transparency, and supporting local pharmacies so care is within reach.
Invested in Shields Health Solutions, allowing Evernorth Health Services to seek more opportunities to support patients and providers and enhance continuity of care across specialty health care settings.
Introduced Clearity by Cigna Healthcare, a new copay-only health plan designed to bring greater transparency, predictability, and simplicity to the care experience by leveraging our new industry-leading AI-powered digital tools.