Recently on 22nd July 2024, Cigna announced the launch of the Cigna Community Health Fund, as part of its ongoing commitment to addressing health disparities.
Fund Overview and Focus
Being primarily focused on reducing health disparities, the Cigna Health Equity Fund will be working under The Cigna Group Foundation. The same is expected to commit $9 million over three years to tackling health inequities by specifically addressing health disparities in the most prevalent group of local communities.
Geographic Focus and Collaborative Efforts
The report further stated that the Cigna investment in health equity for the creation of the healthcare access fund will focus on specific geographical areas where health disparities are quite significant. The Cigna social impact community will be working collaboratively to support, convene, and collaborate with nonprofit organizations.
Hyper-Local Impact
Thereby, serving local community members for addressing the root cause and tackling health inequities. To optimize the level of impact in communities of need, the Cigna health equity initiatives will be operating on a hyper-local level in select cities located within The Cigna Group’s priority states, starting with Hartford, CT, and Houston, TX.
Statement from Melissa Skottegaard
Citing the above announcement, Melissa Skottegaard, board chairman of The Cigna Group Foundation said, ‘Health equity is attained when every person has the opportunity to achieve their fullest health potential, regardless of economic, environmental, physical, or social circumstances’.
Addressing Health Disparities in Hartford
The board chairman also said that they are aware that almost 80% of a person’s health is more likely to be affected by the things that happen outside the doctor’s cabin. These things are being considered in our Cigna social impact and we are ensuring to strictly serve those underserved here just like Hartford. In Hartford, where some of the widest gaps in racial and ethnic health disparities are seen.
Where Black and Hispanic Hartford-area residents are more likely to forgo health care than non-Hispanic white residents. We are addressing health disparities in these regions by partnering with nonprofit organizations and working towards bringing the vitality and well-being of the local communities staying here.
Data from the Connecticut Health Foundation
According to the data from the Connecticut Health Foundation, Black and Hispanic state residents are also far more likely to suffer severe consequences of conditions including asthma and diabetes, and Black state residents die at a faster rate than white residents.
Key Drivers and Goals
The lack of primary care, limited access to reliable transportation, and an overall lack of trust in the health care system are key drivers contributing to Hartford’s health disparities. To close those gaps, Cigna Health Equity Fund through the health equity initiatives focusing on the data-led approach identifies the following funding program goals in Hartford, supporting Black and Hispanic adults who are more than 18 years old. The two most specific priorities of the Cigna health equity fund include:
- Expand the availability of providers and related community-based resources that reflect culturally appropriate care models.
- Increase access to transportation to attend health visits and healthy physical activities.
Long History of Impactful Partnerships
The Cigna Community Health Fund has a long history of impactful partnerships with nonprofits, and recently also announced a multiyear philanthropic and community engagement initiative that has committed $27 million in grants over the next three years to nonprofit organizations focused on reducing health disparities. Leading to the improvement of youth mental health, and veteran mental health through housing stability, and healthcare access funds.
To get more information about the Cigna investment in the health equity fund, the approaches, application process, and requirements, you can click here.
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About The Cigna Group
The Cigna Group is a global health company committed to creating a better future built on the vitality of every individual and every community. Through the launch of the Cigna Health Equity Fund, the Cigna health equity initiatives are relentlessly tackling health inequities and working to remove health disparities.
The Cigna social impact fund includes products and services marketed under Cigna Healthcare, Evernorth Health Services, or its subsidiaries. The Cigna Group maintains sales capabilities in more than 30 countries and jurisdictions and has more than 187 million customer relationships around the world.
About The Cigna Group Foundation
The Cigna Group Foundation is a private foundation funded by contributions from The Cigna Group and its subsidiaries. The Foundation supports organizations sharing its commitment to enhancing the health of individuals and families, and the well-being of their communities, with a special focus on those communities where employees of The Cigna Group live and work.
FAQs
1. What is the Cigna Health Equity Fund?
Ans. The Cigna Health Equity Fund is a type of Cigna social impact fund that aims to reduce health disparities in local communities. These health equity initiatives through the fund will be improving the healthcare access fund by investing $9 million over three years.
2. Which geographical areas will the Cigna Health Equity Fund focus on?
Ans. The geographical areas that the Cigna Health Equity Fund will cover include Hartford, CT, and Houston, TX, where health disparities are highly increasing.
3. How does the Cigna Health Equity Fund plan to address health disparities?
Ans. For addressing health disparities, the Cigna Community Health Fund plan will be working to expand the availability of culturally appropriate care providers and resources. Thereby, increasing access to transportation for health visits and physical activities.
4. Who benefits from the Cigna Health Equity Fund’s initiatives?
Ans. The Cigna health equity initiatives will primarily target Black and Hispanic adults who are more than 18 years old and residing in areas like Hartford
