CIGNA's Health Care Education Tool Offers Incentives

The program combines digital tools, games, discounts from popular brands, and the latest adult learning techniques to help users better understand health and make more confident decisions about health care, according to a CIGNA announcement. The program builds on a pilot program from last year with new state-of-the-art interactive insights into the health care system and tips on saving money and reducing out-of-pocket costs in health care.

Additional courses on managing a health care budget and understanding health care reform will be added in the coming months, the announcement said.

The program includes a “Learn & Earn” incentive feature designed to reward individuals for learning and encourage users to share the program with their family and friends. Every time participants take a five-minute online mini-course, they receive free coupons with discounts to leading entertainment, food, and retail destinations including eMusic, Restaurant.com, cooking.com, ShopPBS.org, Gaiam.com, Fetchdog.com, Gardener’s Supply Company, Barnes & Noble.com, SportsAuthority.com, drugstore.com, ProFlowers, RedEnvelope, and more. Other discounts are being offered through CIGNA’s clients such as Carlson Companies, KinderCare Learning Centers, Novartis, and Ruby Tuesday.

CIGNA said plans are under way to co-brand and offer the program to several CIGNA clients for use on their employee Web sites.

A survey conducted in conjunction with development of the educational program found Americans rank their understanding about their specific health care plans at the bottom of the list after common contracts like mortgages, cable TV, cell phones, retirement plans, and car warranties (see  CIGNA Finds Most Content with Current Health Care System ).

The new educational program is at www.cigna.com/learn4yourhealth .