STAT+: Cigna will exit ACA individual markets next year, adding to tumult for patients

STAT PlusBusiness Cigna will exit ACA individual markets next year, adding to tumult for patients The health insurer wants to focus on more promising parts of its business Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Tara BannowApril 30, 2026 Hospitals and Insurance Reporter Tara Bannow[email protected]Tara Bannow covers hospitals, providers, and insurers. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70. Cigna is pulling out of the Affordable Care Act’s individual marketplaces in 2027 to focus on more promising parts of its business, another exit from what’s become a tumultuous piece of the insurance industry.

Executives announced the decision on Cigna’s first quarter earnings call on Thursday, in which the company unveiled better-than-expected financial results, including $1.7 billion in profit, and a bumped-up earnings forecast for the year. Cigna currently has 369,000 ACA members across 11 states, a small portion of its 18.3 million total members.Advertisement Brian Evanko, Cigna’s chief operating officer, said on the call that Cigna did not take the decision lightly. He said it was driven by two main factors: Cigna did not see a way to meaningfully grow that business and cutting it would free Cigna to focus on priorities like its Evernorth specialty and care services division, its pharmacy benefits division, and its flagship employer plan business.

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