An Update on Cigna Medicare's 2023 Pharmacy Network
Kroger and its affiliated pharmacies recently notified Cigna that they would not participate in Cigna’s Medicare Advantage (MAPD) and Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) network, effective January 1, 2023. Please note, 2022 is not impacted.
Cigna understands that the timing of this announcement is less than ideal. However, they were only recently notified of the contract change with Kroger for 2023 and they felt it was important to share this information with you regardless of the timing. Cigna has sent communications to brokers licensed within each impacted market that includes the name(s) of the Kroger pharmacy or affiliate impacted by this change. Please see the table below for the full list of Kroger Pharmacy Affiliates.
Pharmacy Name | # of pharmacy locations |
Kroger | 1200 |
Bakers Pharmacy | 7 |
City Market | 32 |
Copps Food Center Pharmacy | 13 |
Dillon Pharmacy | 57 |
Fred Meyer Pharmacy | 133 |
Fry's Food and Drug | 124 |
Gene Maddy | 1 |
Gerbes Pharmacy | 6 |
Harris Teeter | 213 |
Jay C Plus Pharmacy | 5 |
King Scoopers Pharmacy | 117 |
Mariano's Pharmacy | 40 |
Metro Market Pharmacy | 5 |
Owen's Pharmacy | 1 |
Payless Pharmacy | 6 |
Pick 'n Save | 49 |
QFC Pharmacy | 33 |
Ralphs Pharmacy | 72 |
Roundy's Supermarket | 1 |
Scott's Pharmacy | 6 |
Smith's Pharmacy | 7 |
Specialty Pharmacies | |
Kroger Specialty Infusion AL & TX | 1 in each location |
Kroger Specialty Pharmacy CA, FL, LA | 1 in each location |
Axium Healthcare de Puerto Rico | 1 |
As you can imagine, Cigna's AEP materials were prepared well in advance. They are diligently working to update the CMS Plan Finder, sales kits, Cigna’s online provider directory, and other online tools. In fact, updates to the online tools will be made by October 24.
Cigna is doing everything they can to make this transition as smooth as possible for their customers. While they understand the disruption, Cigna Medicare has more than 63,000 network pharmacies available nationwide, which are listed in their online provider directory. Here are a few other large pharmacy chains that continue to be available to Cigna customers:
- Walgreens
- Walmart
- Publix
- Rite Aid
- Winn-Dixie
Mail order is also available, delivering prescriptions right to customers’ mailboxes.
To provide you some insight into Cigna's member outreach strategy, beginning November 1, they will notify customers who have used a Kroger pharmacy in the past six months that Kroger and its affiliated pharmacies are terminating. In addition to the letter, they will actively engage customers through proactive, outbound calls to help them find an in-network pharmacy nearby. Cigna's customer service team is also prepared to offer customers convenient alternative pharmacies for them to use.
If you have any questions, call us today at 866-568-9649!