If you’re a healthcare provider who is working on getting credentialed, you’re probably trying to figure out which specific insurance companies you want to work with. And you’re likely wondering, “How do I know which insurance panels I should be credentialed with?” Here are a few short steps to determining which companies you might want to get networked with:
1. Look for a pattern in your clients.
2. Ask other healthcare providers.
3. Look into regional specifics.
4. Ask us.
To answer this question further and delve into these 4 steps, let’s look at a more specific question you might be asking yourself: “Should I accept Cigna insurance?” Here’s how you can determine your answer:
1. Look for a pattern in your clients.
The first step in determining if you should accept Cigna insurance (and any other insurance company for that matter) is looking for a pattern in your clients. Which insurance companies do the majority of your clients use? Is Cigna one of them? Chances are, the answer is yes. Why? Because Cigna is among the top five largest health insurance payers in the US, according to Health Payer Intelligence. This company was formed when INA corporation and Connecticut General Corporation merged in 1982. Part of its success comes from offering Medicare in all 50 states.
2. Ask other healthcare providers.
Another (though lesser known) hack for figuring out whether or not you should get credentialed with an insurance company—in this case, Cigna—is to ask other healthcare providers in your area who they’re networked with. If they work with Cigna, then chances are their clients (and potentially, your future clients) use a Cigna insurance plan. And this signifies a yes—you should get networked with Cigna!
3. Look into regional specifics.
You can also look into what insurance companies are prevalent in your area. Chances are that Cigna is a popular company in your area because it is one of the big 15 insurance companies, which are the companies that cover people all across the country (others include Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and United Health). If, however, you were looking into a smaller company, it’s a good idea to see if it covers people in your area and if many clients actually use this insurance.
4. Ask us!
When all else fails, just call and ask us! Once you give us a few simple details, we can help you determine whether or not it’s a good idea to accept Cigna insurance or any other insurance for that matter! Our credentialing team is made up of skilled and experienced professionals who can offer you important information regarding the credentialing process. And they can even complete the process for you! Just give us a call at 1-855-664-5154 to have your questions answered or to get started with the credentialing process.