Travel insurance is built for trips: it pays for emergencies and gets you home. International health insurance is built for living somewhere else: it pays for the routine scans, the specialist referrals and the cancer treatment you would otherwise rely on a national health service for. Cigna Global sits firmly in the second camp. It is one of the best-known expat health insurers in the world, backed by the US health group Cigna, and it lets you build a plan from a core hospital policy upwards. It is not cheap, and it is not meant for a fortnight in Portugal, but for someone moving to Dubai or Singapore with a family, it is one of the first names to check alongside the other travel and health insurance we cover.
Cigna Global Promo Code box
- Offer: choose your own deductible and cost share to lower the premium, from US$0 up to US$10,000 a year
- Promo Code: No Promo Code needed
- Who qualifies: individuals and families living or working abroad, subject to medical underwriting; plan availability depends on your nationality and country of residence
- Key terms: minimum cover period of 3 months; 14-day right to cancel from the start date; annual renewal; waiting periods on some benefits
| Offer detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Promo Code | No Promo Code needed |
| Welcome offer | Lower premiums by choosing a deductible (US$0 to US$10,000) and a cost share (0% to 30%) |
| Who qualifies | Individuals and families living abroad; full medical history required; availability depends on nationality and residence |
| Key terms | Minimum 3-month cover; 14-day cancellation right; renews annually; waiting periods for maternity, dental and some treatments |
| How to claim | Get a quote online in about two minutes, adjust tier, modules, deductible and cost share, then apply |
Cigna Global: key facts
- Official website: cignaglobal.com
- Owner: The Cigna Group; website run by Cigna European Services (UK) Limited
- Headquarters: Bloomfield, Connecticut, US (parent); insurer in Guernsey
- Regulation: Cigna Global Insurance Company Limited (Guernsey, no. 41925), regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission; Cigna Life Insurance Company of Europe S.A.-N.V. (Belgium, National Bank of Belgium) for some EU nationals
- Support: Phone: 24/7 multilingual service centres (more than 50 languages); numbers not listed on homepage
- Ratings: Trustpilot 4.1 (about 3,559 reviews)
- Headline offer: Choose a deductible (US$0 to US$10,000) and cost share (0% to 30%) to lower the premium
- Promo Code: No Promo Code needed
- Free plan or trial: No free plan; 14-day right to cancel
- Payment methods: Credit card (monthly, quarterly or annual), Bank transfer (annual)
- Best features: Platinum annual limit paid in full; Gold US$2m; Silver US$1m; Four optional modules: outpatient, evacuation, wellbeing, vision and dental; Worldwide cover excluding or including the USA
Key facts
- Tiers: Silver, Gold and Platinum, plus a lower-cost Close Care plan
- Annual limits: US$1 million (Silver), US$2 million (Gold), paid in full (Platinum), US$500,000 (Close Care)
- Optional modules: International Outpatient, Evacuation and Crisis Assistance Plus, Health and Wellbeing, Vision and Dental
- Deductible: US$0 to US$10,000; cost share 0%, 10%, 20% or 30%
- Area of cover: worldwide excluding the USA, or worldwide including the USA
- Underwriter: Cigna Global Insurance Company Limited (Guernsey), or Cigna Life Insurance Company of Europe S.A.-N.V. for some EU nationals
- Pre-existing conditions: declared at application; may be covered for an extra premium
- Trustpilot: 4.1/5 from about 3,559 reviews
Verdict
Cigna Global is a serious, flexible expat health policy with a large network, sensible tiers and real control over the price through deductibles and cost shares. Platinum’s unlimited annual cover is the gold standard for families. The weak spots are that prices are only available through a quote, outpatient care costs extra, and some customers find the service slow when things get complicated.
Pros
- Modular design: pay only for outpatient, dental or evacuation cover if you want it
- High limits, with Platinum paid in full
- Wide deductible and cost-share choices to bring the premium down
- Telehealth consultations through Teladoc
- Large network and 24/7 support in more than 50 languages
Cons
- Outpatient cover is an extra module, not included
- Pre-existing conditions may be excluded or cost more
- Payments are cut by 20% without prior approval, or at non-network US providers
- Waiting periods of 12 months for maternity and some treatments
- No published prices; a quote is required
Who owns Cigna Global and who is the insurer?
Cigna Global is the international private medical insurance arm of The Cigna Group, the US health services company. For most customers, policies are underwritten by Cigna Global Insurance Company Limited, a Guernsey company (number 41925) regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. For nationals of some EU countries, including Malta, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece and Romania, the insurer is Cigna Life Insurance Company of Europe S.A.-N.V., a Belgian company regulated by the National Bank of Belgium. The website is run by Cigna European Services (UK) Limited, registered in England and Wales.
The insurer named in your policy documents is the one that pays your claims, so check it when you apply.
Plans and limits: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Close Care
Every plan starts with the core International Medical Insurance, which covers inpatient and daypatient treatment: hospital stays, surgery, intensive care, cancer care, diagnostics and imaging. The tier sets how much it will pay.
| Benefit (per person, per year) | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual limit | US$1,000,000 (£750,400 / €890,600) | US$2,000,000 (£1,500,800 / €1,781,200) | Paid in full |
| Room | Private | Private | Private |
| Cancer care | Paid in full | Paid in full | Paid in full |
| Advanced imaging (MRI, CT, PET) | US$10,000 | US$15,000 | Paid in full |
| Mental health (inpatient) | US$5,000, 30 days | US$10,000, 60 days | Paid in full, 90 days |
| Maternity (inpatient) | Not covered | US$7,000 | US$14,000 |
| Newborn care | US$25,000 | US$75,000 | US$156,000 |
| Emergency hospitalisation outside your area | US$100,000 | US$250,000 | Paid in full |
| Accident and emergency | US$500 | US$1,000 | US$2,000 |
Cigna sets separate sterling and euro limits rather than converting at the day’s rate; the EU Gold plan, for example, has an annual limit of £1,300,000 or €1,600,000.
Close Care is a slimmed-down plan with a US$500,000 (£375,200 / €445,300) annual limit, semi-private rooms and no maternity or newborn cover, aimed at people who want core hospital cover at a lower price.
Optional modules
The core plan can be topped up with four modules, each matched to your tier:
- International Outpatient: specialist consultations, diagnostics, prescribed drugs, physiotherapy, adult vaccinations, hearing aids and care for over-60s.
- International Evacuation and Crisis Assistance Plus: medical evacuation and repatriation, travel for a companion or relative, and a crisis assistance programme.
- International Health and Wellbeing: health checks, cancer and diabetes screening, mental health support and wellness coaching.
- International Vision and Dental: eye tests, glasses and dental treatment, with waiting periods for major work and orthodontics.
For most families moving abroad, outpatient is the module that matters most, because GP visits and specialist consultations are where everyday costs mount up.
Prices, deductibles and the real saving
Cigna Global does not publish example premiums; a quote takes about two minutes online. The main factors are:
- Age of each person covered.
- Area of cover. Including the USA costs far more than worldwide excluding the USA.
- Tier. Silver, Gold, Platinum or Close Care.
- Modules added.
- Deductible: US$0, US$375, US$750, US$1,500, US$3,000, US$7,500 or US$10,000.
- Cost share after the deductible: 0%, 10%, 20% or 30%, with an annual out-of-pocket maximum of US$2,000 or US$5,000.
- Medical history, which may add premium or exclusions.
Payment can be monthly, quarterly or annually by card, or annually by bank transfer.
Worked example of the real saving. A higher deductible and cost share lower your premium in exchange for paying more when you claim. Take a Gold plan with a US$750 (£563 / €668) deductible and a 10% cost share. Say a knee operation in Lisbon comes to US$8,000 (£6,003 / €7,125). You pay the first US$750, then 10% of the remaining US$7,250, which is US$725. Your total is US$1,475 (£1,107 / €1,314), and Cigna pays US$6,525 (£4,896 / €5,811). With a US$0 deductible and no cost share, Cigna would pay the whole bill, but your premium would be higher. If you are healthy and have savings to absorb a bad year, a deductible is the cleanest way to cut the price.
Where it covers you
Cigna Global covers more than 200 countries and territories, with two areas to choose from: worldwide excluding the USA, or worldwide including the USA. If you choose cover excluding the USA, emergency hospital treatment there is still covered within the out-of-area limit, up to 21 treatment days per trip and 60 days a year. Non-emergency treatment outside your chosen area is not covered.
Cigna quotes a network of well over a million and a half hospitals, clinics and practitioners. Using it matters: treatment at a non-network provider in the US is paid at 20% less.
Pre-existing conditions, waiting periods and exclusions
When you apply, you give your full medical history. Cigna then decides whether to cover a pre-existing condition, exclude it, or cover it for an additional premium. Health changes before your start date must be disclosed too.
Waiting periods apply to some benefits: 12 months for maternity, cancer preventative surgery, genetic cancer tests and major restorative dental work; 18 months for orthodontics; 24 months for obesity treatment and some congenital conditions; and 3 months for routine dental work.
The main exclusions include cosmetic treatment that is not medically necessary, infertility treatment and surrogacy, weight-loss drugs, experimental treatment, self-inflicted injury, injuries from active participation in conflict, and treatment at unrecognised facilities.
How to sign up and use Cigna Global
- Start a quote on Cigna Global’s site with ages, nationality, country of residence and area of cover.
- Choose a tier, then add any of the four modules.
- Set your deductible and cost share and watch the premium change.
- Complete the medical questions in full and apply; Cigna confirms terms for any conditions.
- Once covered, get prior approval before any inpatient or daypatient treatment.
- Use network providers where possible so Cigna can pay the hospital directly.
The claims process
For planned hospital treatment, ask Cigna for prior approval first; without it, payments can be cut by 20%. In an emergency where you cannot call ahead, contact Cigna within 48 hours. In most cases, Cigna pays network providers directly and you pay only your deductible or cost share at the hospital.
For outpatient bills you have paid yourself, submit a claim through the online customer area with the invoice and medical details. Cigna’s customer guide says claims must be submitted within 12 months of treatment.
Customer service
Cigna Global runs 24/7 multilingual service centres in more than 50 languages, and you can book a call with a health insurance specialist before buying. Members manage policies and claims through the online customer area, and plans include telehealth consultations through Teladoc.
What users say
On Trustpilot, Cigna Global scores 4.1 out of 5 from about 3,559 reviews. Positive reviews often name individual advisers and praise quick, professional handling of applications, renewals and the occasional large claim. Negative reviews describe difficulty reaching an agent, slow replies from account managers, unclear explanations of what outpatient cover includes, and some delayed or unpaid claims.
Cigna Global vs Genki vs SafetyWing
| Cigna Global Gold | Genki Traveler | SafetyWing Essential | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | International health insurance | Health cover for nomads | Travel medical insurance |
| Medical limit | US$2,000,000 a year | €1,000,000 | US$250,000 |
| Example price | Quote only | €52.50 (£44.24 / US$58.95) a month at age 24 | US$62.72 (£47.07 / €55.86) per 4 weeks, ages 18 to 39 |
| Deductible | US$0 to US$10,000, your choice | €50 per insurance case | None |
| Insurer | Cigna Global Insurance Company Limited (Guernsey) | Squarelife Insurance AG (Liechtenstein) | SafetyWing Insurance I.I. (Puerto Rico) |
| Outpatient | Optional module | Check Genki’s plan terms | Check SafetyWing’s plan terms |
| Best for | Expats settling abroad, families | Nomads wanting European health cover | Nomads wanting flexible monthly cover |
Genki and SafetyWing are cheaper and quicker to buy, and fine for a year of moving between countries. Cigna Global is the better choice once you have settled somewhere and want cover that behaves like private health insurance, with maternity, chronic care and routine treatment. If you only need cover for trips, World Nomads or True Traveller will cost far less.
Cigna Global FAQs
Is there a Cigna Global promo code?
No Promo Code is needed. Cigna Global does not publish a discount code; the main way to lower the premium is to choose a higher deductible or cost share.
What is the difference between Cigna Global Silver, Gold and Platinum?
The annual limit rises from US$1 million on Silver to US$2 million on Gold, and Platinum is paid in full. Gold adds inpatient maternity, and Platinum raises most sub-limits to paid in full.
Who underwrites Cigna Global?
Cigna Global Insurance Company Limited in Guernsey, regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, or Cigna Life Insurance Company of Europe S.A.-N.V. in Belgium for some EU nationals.
Does Cigna Global cover pre-existing conditions?
Sometimes. You declare your medical history, and Cigna may cover a condition, exclude it or cover it for an extra premium.
Does Cigna Global include outpatient cover?
Not as standard. Outpatient care is part of the optional International Outpatient module.
Can I exclude the USA to lower my Cigna Global premium?
Yes. Choosing worldwide excluding the USA lowers the cost, and emergency hospital treatment in the US is still covered within the out-of-area limit.
Does Cigna Global cover pregnancy?
Inpatient maternity is covered on Gold and Platinum after a 12-month waiting period. Silver does not cover maternity.
How long do I have to submit a Cigna Global claim?
Cigna’s customer guide says within 12 months of treatment. Inpatient treatment needs prior approval.
Can I cancel a Cigna Global policy?
You have 14 days from the start date to cancel. After that, the minimum cover period is 3 months, and you need to give 14 days’ written notice.
More on DailyStoke
Travel and health insurance, compared · Genki review · SafetyWing review · World Nomads review · Airalo eSIM review · Money guides
