When employers select health plan networks for their employees, they may look at the pure size of a network and assume the more doctors, hospitals, and clinics that are included, the better. However, size alone does not equal quality. The quality of care a patient receives is critical in managing the total cost of care, which includes medical, pharmacy, and behavioral care costs.

According to new research from AHIP, the cost to patients and their health plans is particularly high when specialty drugs are administered to patients in a hospital setting. The key finding: Specialty pharmacies are the more affordable option.

Cigna has announced an additional $450 million investment in Cigna Ventures, our corporate venture fund focused on finding and partnering with health tech startups as they look to become a catalyst for bold new opportunities to improve people's health and make health care more affordable, simple, and predictable.

Prior authorization – also called preauthorization, preapproval, and precertification – is a tool that helps health plans protect patient health and safety and improve affordability by reducing unnecessary costs.