Cigna Group Expands Coverage for Home Phototherapy, Benefits Millions with Chronic Skin Conditions

Group 1 - Cigna Group has updated its coverage policy for home phototherapy, effective July 15, expanding access for 19.2 million members with chronic skin conditions [1][3] - The policy change aligns with Elevance Health/Anthem's similar decision, resulting in over 66.7 million insured Americans gaining access to home phototherapy [2][3] - Home phototherapy has shown clinical effectiveness, achieving clearance or significant improvement in up to 80% of patients [2][3] Group 2 - An estimated 8 million people in the US have psoriasis, over 16 million have eczema, and about 6.5 million have vitiligo, indicating a large potential market for home phototherapy [3] - The policy changes are expected to lower patient out-of-pocket costs by up to 90% and may encourage earlier intervention, reducing the need for more expensive treatments [3] - For insurers, home phototherapy can be a cost-effective alternative, potentially reducing annual treatment expenses by thousands of dollars per patient [3]