EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., April 14, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CIGNA International, which provides global health care insurance for the expatriate business community, announced today its new employee assistance program (EAP) for international and expatriate employees of multinational companies. This service, provided by CIGNA Behavioral Health (CBH) and its affiliates and other contracted companies worldwide, provides employees covered by CIGNA International with a confidential, multi-lingual support and counseling network to help them manage stress, anxiety, depression and other behavioral health concerns. CBH currently covers more than 16 million members and brings three decades of expertise in EAP and work/life benefits management to help meet the unique behavioral health concerns of the expatriate community.
"In today's global economy, more businesses are increasing overseas operations and moving employees and their families to foreign countries. Relocating employees -- often with their families -- can create emotional challenges as they adjust to new cultures, languages and customs, and struggle to manage concerns about terrorism," states Keith Dixon, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of CIGNA Behavioral Health. "Our extensive EAP expertise helps expatriates and their families resolve work/life concerns, improve worker productivity and is a natural expansion of our products and services."
CIGNA International members can access the CBH EAP program in several ways. Participants with anxiety, stress, depression, substance abuse or other concerns can seek confidential help and support for workplace or personal/family life issues via the telephone and through face-to-face visits.
Studies show that expatriates and their families need additional support to successfully adjust and assimilate to the culture of their new location. "The addition of CBH EAP programs to our suite of services helps ensure that CIGNA International members get integrated and appropriate support and care for their emotional and behavioral health concerns," says Sheldon Kenton, head of international sales and client management for CIGNA International in Europe.
About CIGNA
CIGNA Corporation , headquartered in Philadelphia, and its subsidiaries constitute one of the largest publicly owned employee benefits organizations in the United States. Its subsidiaries are major providers of employee benefits offered through the workplace, including health care products and services; group life, and accident and disability insurance. Web site: http://www.cigna.com/ CIGNA International, its global business division, provides group health care, health management services, and individual life, accident and health insurance in Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific markets.
About CIGNA Behavioral Health
CIGNA Behavioral Health (CBH), Inc., a subsidiary of CIGNA , provides behavioral care benefit management, EAPs, and work / life programs to more than 16 million consumers through health plans offered by large U.S. employers, national and regional HMOs, Taft-Hartley trusts and disability insurers. CBH, with headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minn., operates five care management centers around the U.S. in support of a national network of more than 47,000 independent psychiatrists, psychologists and clinical social workers and more than 4,000 facilities and clinics. For more information, visit http://www.cignabehavioral.com/.
CIGNA Behavioral HealthContact: Gwyn Dilday of CIGNA, +1-818-500-6370, gwyn.dilday@cigna.com
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