CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB) announced today it has expanded its global network in five countries through a new agreement reached with ABC Medicover Holdings B.V. The agreement allows CIEB to make direct payments to 31 providers in Poland, Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Estonia.

Medicover’s private clinics and hospitals serve more than 191,000 patients annually in Eastern Europe. Through CIEB’s relationship with Medicover, CIEB member ID cards will be recognized in all of Medicover’s modern facilities to provide the convenience of discounted cashless service. This arrangement reduces CIGNA International members’ out-of-pocket expenses.

In 2007, CIGNA International finalized direct payment arrangements with a total of 207 new providers in 32 countries.

“The addition of the providers in Medicover means CIEB now has a global footprint of 59,458 providers outside the United States,” said Cindy Gatanis, manager of CIEB provider contracting.

Through CIEB’s direct provider payment arrangements, CIEB members are not burdened with submitting claim forms when accessing CIEB network providers. Members receive immediate service once they show providers their CIEB ID card.

About CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits

For more than 30 years, CIEB has been the industry leader for providing benefits to global workers. As an organization dedicated to the needs of international employers and their globally mobile workforce, all of CIEB’s activities are motivated by the same objectives: enhancing the expatriate experience and keeping employees healthy and on assignment. CIEB believes all expatriate employees deserve access to quality health care no matter where they work in the world.

CIEB offers a full line of expatriate coverage, including Medical, Business Travel, Retiree Medical, Pharmacy Management, Dental, Vision, Long-Term Disability, Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Vision, Emergency Medical Evacuation or Repatriation, and International Employee Assistance.

About CIGNA

CIGNA (NYSE:CI) provides employers with benefits, expertise and services that improve the health, well-being and productivity of their employees. With approximately 47 million covered lives in the United States and around the world, CIGNA's operating subsidiaries offer a full portfolio of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits and group life, accident and disability insurance