CIGNA HealthCare Top-Ranked Plan in North Carolina for Third Consecutive Year, According to U.S.News & World Report and National Committee for Quality Assurance

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(Business Wire)--
CIGNA HealthCare has been ranked as the top health plan in North Carolina for
the third straight year in this year`s annual ranking of health plans conducted
by U.S.News & World Report (U.S. News) and National Committee for Quality
Assurance (NCQA).

The rankings are based on the voluntary submission of health care quality
results as measured through HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information
Set); customer service scores based on member surveys through CAHPS (Consumer
Assessment of Health Providers and Systems); and scores on NCQA accreditation
surveys.

"It is a true honor to be recognized as the highest ranked health plan in North
Carolina by U.S. News and NCQA three years in a row," said Charles Pitts,
president of CIGNA of North Carolina. "This recognition shows CIGNA's commitment
to helping people identify and take charge of their health needs through access
to programs tailored to fit those needs, while securing access to the highest
quality health care."

CIGNA HealthCare of North Carolina currently holds an "Excellent" accreditation
rating from the NCQA for its HMO and Point of Service plans. In addition, CIGNA
has also earned Full Accreditation from NCQA for its PPO1 and Open Access Plus1
plans nationwide. Full Accreditation is the highest rating possible under NCQA`s
PPO Accreditation program. CIGNA plans have also earned NCQA Certification for
Physician and Hospital Quality standards for the 22 HMO/Point of Service and 36
PPO and Open Access Plus markets across the country in which this information is
currently provided. These standards assess how well a plan provides individuals
with information about physicians and hospitals in its network to help them make
informed health care decisions. And, most recently, CIGNA became one of the
first companies - and the first national health plan - to earn the new NCQA
quality rating for its health and wellness programs.

About CIGNA

CIGNA (NYSE:CI), a global health service company, is dedicated to helping people
improve their health, well-being and sense of security. CIGNA Corporation's
operating subsidiaries provide an integrated suite of medical, dental,
behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits, as well as group life,
accident and disability insurance, to approximately 46 million people throughout
the United States and around the world. To learn more about CIGNA, visit
www.cigna.com. To sign up for email alerts or an RSS feed of company news, log
on to http://newsroom.cigna.com/section_display.cfm?section_id=18.

*America`s Best Health Insurance Plans is a trademark of U.S. News & World
Report.

1 These plans are offered through Connecticut General Life Insurance Company

CIGNA HealthCare
Gwyn Dilday, 818-500-6370
gwyn.dilday@cigna.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009