BLOOMFIELD, Conn., May 16, 2005 /PRNewswire/ -- CIGNA HealthCare today announced that Michael Showalter has been named vice president of consumerism and will lead the company’s consumer-driven health care product innovation and product management functions.
“Michael is the ideal leader to build on the success of our CIGNA Choice Fund product suite,” said Tom Richards, senior vice president of product for CIGNA HealthCare. “He has unique and proven expertise in the design and implementation of innovative consumer-driven health plans that will help us to continue to be at the forefront of the evolving consumer-driven marketplace.”
Prior to joining CIGNA HealthCare, Showalter served in senior leadership roles for consumer-driven health care strategy and development for Uniprise and Definity Health. While with Definity Health, he led the development and evolution of the nation’s first consumer-driven health plans and also had responsibility for government relations efforts related to consumer-driven health care.
Showalter is a founding board member of the National Business Group on Health’s Institute for Health Care Costs and Solutions. During his career, Showalter also served as a health care consultant for employer groups at Marsh & McLennan, Watson Wyatt and eBenX. Prior to his consulting experience, he worked in the health care industry in a variety of positions, including underwriting and field support for Prudential Healthcare and National Benefit Resources.
CIGNA Choice Fund(SM) is CIGNA HealthCare’s suite of consumer-driven health care plans, including Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). CIGNA Choice Fund HRAs offer a significant level of plan design flexibility, including the ability to set up multiple funds and provide incentives to employees to better manage their health. CIGNA Choice Fund HSA combines a tax-advantaged savings account with a high- deductible health plan and financial management features from JPMorgan Chase, all in an integrated benefits plan. The plans also feature consumer decision support and education tools that provide consumers with information on health care costs and quality to help them make informed health care decisions.
CIGNA HealthCare, headquartered in Bloomfield, CT, provides medical benefits plans, dental coverage, behavioral health coverage, pharmacy benefits, and products and services that integrate and analyze information to support consumerism and health management. “CIGNA HealthCare” refers to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation . Products and services are provided by these operating subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation.
CIGNA HealthCare
Contact: Amy Turkington of CIGNA HealthCare, +1-860-226-3489
Web site: http://www.cigna.com/
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