Loading... Loading... Piper Sandler has initiated coverage on Cigna Corporation CI, a diversified managed care and healthcare delivery organization specializing in commercial insurance markets and pharmacy services. The analyst writes, "We believe Cigna has a unique and defensible leadership position in the fast-growing specialty pharmacy market which, together with the company's insurance segment and core PBM business, should support LT-adjusted EPS growth at a 10-14% CAGR." Related: Cigna Crushes Q1 Estim ...

Core Insights - Members with employer-sponsored insurance experienced a 1% decrease in out-of-pocket costs for prescription medicines in 2023, averaging $15.10 for a 30-day supply [1][4][7] - Despite 60% of branded drugs seeing price increases, Express Scripts managed to lower out-of-pocket costs through negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers and innovative solutions [7][8] - The median annual list price for new drugs rose to $300,000 in 2023, up from $222,000 the previous year, yet 81% of Express Scripts members spent less than $250 out of pocket for their medicines [4][7] Cost Management Initiatives - Express Scripts' Patient Assurance Program allows over 11 million members with diabetes to access insulin and other medications for $25 for a 34-day supply or $75 for a 90-day supply, resulting in $92 million in savings last year [5] - The average cost share for commercial members has increased by no more than 1.1% year over year since 2020, even amid rising consumer prices [8] Membership Statistics - In 2023, 81% of members spent less than $250 on out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions, with nearly 65% spending less than $100 [8]

The Cigna Group (CI) continues to be aided by two solid growth platforms, acquisitions and a solid financial position. A solid 2024 guidance also acts as an additional tailwind for the stock. The stock has gained 24% in the past year compared with the industry's 8% growth. The Medical sector and the S&P 500 composite index have increased 4% and 23.2%, respectively, in the same time frame. CI is well-poised for progress, as evidenced by its impressive VGM Score of A. Here, V stands for Value, G for Growth an ...

The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) Goldman Sachs 45th Annual Global Healthcare Conference June 11, 2024 10:00 AM ET Company Participants Brian Evanko - CFO Conference Call Participants Nathan Rich - Goldman Sachs Nathan Rich Great. Good morning, everyone. Thanks for joining us for our next session. My name is Nathan Rich, I cover the managed care space here at Goldman. Very happy to have the Cigna Group with us today. We have Brian Evanko, CFO and now also President of Cigna Healthcare, so title continues to grow. I ...

Key Points CI The Cigna Group provides health, dental, vision, accident, pharmacy benefits management, life, homeowners and renters insurance. The Cigna Group saw the writing on the wall with Medicare Advantage (MA) expenses and unloaded its Medicare business for $3.7 billion to Health Care Services Co. While Humana cut its adjusted EPS guidance from $36.00 to a range of $6.00 to $10.00, Cigna beat Q1 2024 EPS by 25 cents and revenues by $660 million and then raised its full-year 2024 EPS guidance. 5 stocks ...

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Cigna Group's (CI) pharmacy benefits manager, Express Scripts, recently partnered with CPESN USA to enhance access to comprehensive care at independent pharmacies. CPESN USA is a network of pharmacy providers that will help CI in reducing the gaps in care delivery. This move follows guidance from CI's Independent Pharmacy Advisory Committee. This move is aimed at providing enhanced care services for Medicare members suffering from diabetes and hypertension. One ou ...

Based on guidance from its Independent Pharmacy Advisory Committee, Express Scripts will collaborate with CPESN ® USA through its IndependentRx initiative ST. LOUIS, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Express Scripts, the pharmacy benefits services business of The Cigna Group's (NYSE: CI) Evernorth, is making it easier for people to access a broader range of care services at independent pharmacies. This new collaboration with CPESN® USA, a network of pharmacy providers that deliver health services, is a direct re ...

Core Points - The Cigna Group will have a presentation at the Goldman Sachs 45th Annual Global Healthcare Conference on June 11, 2024, in Miami, FL [1] - Brian Evanko, the EVP and CFO of The Cigna Group, will be presenting at the conference [1] - A live webcast of the presentation will be available on The Cigna Group's Investor Relations website [2] Company Overview - The Cigna Group is a global health company focused on improving health outcomes for individuals and communities [3] - The company operates under various brands, including Evernorth Health Services and Cigna Healthcare, and has a presence in over 30 markets [3] - The Cigna Group serves approximately 187 million customer relationships worldwide [3]

Summary of The Cigna Group Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI) - **Date**: May 15, 2024 - **Participants**: Brian Evanko (CFO and CEO of Cigna Healthcare), Hasan Riaz, Ralph Giacobbe Key Points Industry and Utilization Trends - **Utilization Levels**: Strong levels of utilization were observed in 2023 across Cigna Healthcare's health plan book, which was anticipated in pricing and projections [4][5] - **Medicare Advantage**: The Medicare Advantage segment, with approximately 600,000 lives, showed strong utilization levels consistent with commercial employer experiences [8] - **Commercial Growth**: Cigna Healthcare's commercial employer business is a cornerstone, contributing about 40% of income, with expectations for growth in the under 500 employer size segment [11][12] Financial Performance - **Revenue Growth**: Cigna Healthcare experienced strong revenue growth in 2023, with better-than-expected MCR performance and income in Q1 2024 [5][6] - **Membership Trends**: The Select segment (employers with 50-500 employees) is expected to see intra-year growth, while larger segments experienced some losses due to known client departures [15][16][20] - **Market Share**: Cigna's market share in the Select segment increased from 5% to 7% over five years, with aspirations to reach double digits [12] Strategic Decisions - **Divestiture of Medicare Business**: Cigna is divesting its Medicare business to HCSC, with a closing date expected in early 2025. This decision is based on the business's relatively small size in Cigna's portfolio and the resources required to scale it [22][23] - **Focus on Evernorth**: Evernorth, Cigna's health services platform, is divided into two segments: Specialty and Care Services, and Pharmacy Benefits Services, each contributing about 30% to total income [29][30] Growth Projections - **Earnings Growth**: Cigna expects average annual income growth of 7% to 10%, with individual exchanges projected to grow 10% to 15% [54] - **Specialty Pharmacy Market**: The specialty pharmacy market is expected to grow significantly due to pharmaceutical innovations, with Cigna's Accredo Specialty Pharmacy holding about 20% market share [37][38] Competitive Landscape - **Market Positioning**: Cigna does not view the current market as increasingly competitive, citing rational pricing among competitors [18] - **Behavioral Health Demand**: There is a growing demand for behavioral health services, which Cigna aims to capitalize on [39] Capital Deployment - **Share Repurchase**: Cigna plans to utilize a significant portion of its discretionary cash flow for share repurchase, with a commitment of at least $5 billion by mid-2024 [62] - **M&A Strategy**: Cigna sees M&A as a critical part of its capital deployment strategy, focusing on improving competitive positioning and expanding addressable markets [66][67] Risks and Challenges - **Potential Headwinds**: While no significant headwinds were identified, there is always a risk of higher-than-expected medical cost utilization and the need for strategic investments [60] Conclusion - **Overall Outlook**: Cigna is positioned for strong growth with a focus on its core businesses, strategic divestitures, and capitalizing on market opportunities in specialty pharmacy and behavioral health services [59][60]

The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) BofA Securities 2024 Health Care Conference Call May 15, 2024 2:40 PM ET Company Participants Brian Evanko - CFO of The Cigna Group, President and CEO of Cigna Healthcare Hasan Riaz - Lead Principal, Investor Relations Ralph Giacobbe - Head of Investor Relations Conference Call Participants Kevin Fischbeck - Bank of America Kevin Fischbeck All right. I want to thank everyone for joining us today. It's my pleasure to be hosting The Cigna Group. Presenting today, we have Brian Evanko ...