Cigna delays exchange plan subsidy access

Cigna Corp. is tapping the brakes on brokers selling subsidized exchange coverage through their broker portal.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is changing the system it uses to calculate Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act premium tax credit subsidies, and Cigna says it wants to make sure CMS has completed testing before it starts selling subsidized coverage.

Cigna says brokers should be able to start submitting subsidized coverage applications next month.

Cigna made the announcement earlier this week in an e-mail sent to exchange brokers. Several brokers have posted copies of the notice. At press time, a copy was available here.

Cigna told exchange brokers they can still sell nonsubsidized 2014 plans, and they can provide quotes for any 2014 Cigna plan.