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If you’ve shopped for Cigna Medicare coverage recently, you may have noticed the name has changed. In 2025, Cigna sold its entire Medicare Advantage and Part D business to Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) — a Blue Cross Blue Shield company — and the plans are now marketed under the HealthSpring brand. This isn’t just a rebrand; it’s a genuine change in underwriting ownership worth understanding before you enroll. Here’s a full 2026 review.
The Quick Verdict
- CMS Star Rating (2026): Around 3.5–3.68 out of 5, depending on the specific measure — slightly below the national average
- Availability: 29 states plus Washington D.C. — one of the narrower footprints among major carriers
- Cost: Roughly 89% of plans (about 8 in 10) carry a $0 monthly premium; among plans that do charge one, the average is $25.12/month, among the lowest of any major carrier
- Ownership change: As of 2025, HealthSpring plans are underwritten by HCSC Medicare and Supplemental Group, not Cigna directly — a meaningful structural change, even though many of the original plan benefits carried over
Understanding the Cigna-to-HealthSpring Change
This is the most important thing to know before comparing HealthSpring to other carriers: in 2025, Cigna sold its Medicare business entirely to HCSC, the company behind several regional Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. As a result:
- Plans are now branded and marketed as HealthSpring, not Cigna
- The underwriting entity is HCSC Medicare and Supplemental Group, which holds an A (Excellent) financial strength rating from AM Best, while parent company HCSC holds A+ (Superior) — AM Best’s highest rating, confirmed in January 2026
- If you previously had a Cigna Medicare Advantage plan, your coverage may now appear under the HealthSpring name at renewal, even if the underlying benefits are largely unchanged
- Always confirm what’s happening with your specific plan directly with the carrier, since ownership transitions can sometimes come with formulary or network adjustments
Plan Types and State Availability
HealthSpring offers both HMO and PPO plans, but availability isn’t uniform across its 29-state footprint:
- Most states offer a choice between HMO and PPO
- Some states are more limited — for example, Connecticut residents can only get PPO plans, while Florida residents are limited to HMO plans
- Always confirm which specific plan types are available in your state before assuming both options exist
Costs and Benefits for 2026
HealthSpring’s biggest selling point is affordability:
- About 89% of plans carry a $0 monthly premium
- Among plans with a premium, the $25.12/month average is among the lowest of any major national carrier
- Standard Part B premium ($202.90/month in 2026) still applies regardless of plan
- Many plans include a Part B Giveback credit to help reduce that premium further
Beyond cost, HealthSpring includes a solid lineup of extra benefits on many plans:
- Silver&Fit gym membership access
- MDLIVE telehealth services
- Quarterly OTC (over-the-counter) allowances
- Meal delivery after qualifying events
- Transportation to and from health facilities
Star Ratings: Below Average, But Close
HealthSpring’s overall CMS star rating for 2026 sits around 3.5–3.68, just below the national average (reported as either 3.7 or 3.81 depending on the source and methodology used). This isn’t a dramatic gap compared to some competitors, but it’s worth noting specifically for prescription drug coverage: HealthSpring’s standalone Part D plans carry a notably lower average rating of 2.5 stars, well below the roughly 3.0-star national average for standalone drug plans. If prescription coverage quality matters most to you, this is worth checking closely — HealthSpring is also discontinuing its lower-cost Saver Rx plan for 2026.
The Honest Part: Mixed but Not Alarming Customer Satisfaction
Unlike some competitors with dramatically low independent review scores, HealthSpring’s customer satisfaction data reads as more genuinely mixed than uniformly poor:
- U.S. News’ customer satisfaction rating shows 3.7 out of 5 — respectable, though it trails Kaiser Permanente’s 4.9 and some Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliates’ perfect 5.0 scores
- HealthSpring performs notably well on accessibility — strong marks for phone support in languages other than English and for customers who are hard of hearing
- Interestingly, Cigna Healthcare (the broader company, across its commercial health plans) ranked highest among all commercial health plans in J.D. Power’s 2026 Healthcare Digital Experience Study, for the second consecutive year — though this reflects the digital experience across Cigna’s commercial book of business more broadly, not a Medicare-specific measure
- Smaller-sample review sites show more negative sentiment, with complaints about billing, reimbursement delays, and prescription processing — though sample sizes on these platforms tend to be small enough that broader sources like J.D. Power and U.S. News are more statistically reliable
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Among the lowest average premiums of any major national Medicare Advantage carrier
- 89% of plans carry a $0 monthly premium
- Strong extra benefits: Silver&Fit gym access, MDLIVE telehealth, quarterly OTC allowances
- Solid financial strength backing through HCSC (A+ Superior rating)
- Above-average accessibility support for non-English speakers and hearing-impaired members
- Decent U.S. News customer satisfaction score (3.7/5)
Cons:
- Limited availability — only 29 states plus D.C., one of the narrower footprints among major carriers
- CMS star rating sits slightly below the national average
- Standalone Part D plans rate notably lower (2.5 stars) — a specific weak point if drug coverage quality matters most
- Recent ownership transition from Cigna to HCSC means the brand and underwriting entity are still relatively new
- Not all plan types (HMO/PPO) are available in every state — check your specific state’s offerings
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HealthSpring the same company as Cigna? Not anymore, for Medicare specifically. Cigna sold its Medicare Advantage and Part D business to HCSC (Health Care Service Corporation) in 2025, and plans are now underwritten by HCSC Medicare and Supplemental Group under the HealthSpring name.
Will my Cigna Medicare Advantage benefits change now that it’s HealthSpring? Many core benefits carried over, but ownership transitions can sometimes bring formulary or network adjustments. Review your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) carefully and confirm current details directly with HealthSpring.
Is HealthSpring a good choice if I take a lot of prescription medications? Worth extra scrutiny — HealthSpring’s standalone Part D plans carry a below-average 2.5-star rating, and the lower-cost Saver Rx plan is being discontinued for 2026. Run your specific medications through the Medicare Plan Finder before assuming HealthSpring is the most affordable option for your drug needs.
Does HealthSpring offer both HMO and PPO plans everywhere? No. Availability varies by state — for example, Connecticut only offers PPO plans, while Florida only offers HMO plans through HealthSpring. Confirm what’s available in your specific state.
Is HealthSpring financially stable given the recent ownership change? By independent ratings, yes — HCSC holds AM Best’s highest rating (A+ Superior), and the specific underwriting entity for HealthSpring plans holds an A (Excellent) rating, both confirmed as of early 2026.
Bottom Line
HealthSpring (formerly Cigna) remains one of the most affordable Medicare Advantage options among major national carriers, with genuinely useful extra benefits like Silver&Fit and MDLIVE bundled in. The 2025 sale to HCSC is a real structural change worth understanding, though the new backing appears financially solid by independent ratings. The clearest weak spot is prescription drug plan quality specifically — if your medications are a top priority, verify your formulary carefully before enrolling.
Compare the exact HealthSpring plans available in your ZIP code using the official Medicare Plan Finder, or speak with a licensed insurance agent or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, unbiased guidance.
Disclaimer: Star ratings, ownership details, and figures mentioned in this article are based on 2026 CMS data and industry sources, and vary by state, county, and specific plan. Always confirm current details directly with Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or a licensed agent before making a decision.