Health insurer Cigna Group has announced a settlement with the United States regarding allegations of overcharging the government’s Medicare Advantage program by portraying patients as more ill than their actual conditions warranted.
The settlement, finalized on Friday, involves Cigna making a payment of approximately $172 million. Additionally, Cigna has committed to entering into a corporate integrity agreement with the U.S. Office of Inspector General.
In October 2022, U.S. prosecutors in Manhattan had alleged that Cigna, headquartered in Connecticut, had acquired tens of millions of dollars in Medicare funds between 2012 and 2019 by submitting false diagnoses for patients. These diagnoses pertained to cases where providers retained by the company had not conducted the required tests.
Medicare is a government health insurance program designed for individuals aged 65 and older.
