Is Cigna Leaving the Marketplace? What Cigna Members Should Do for 2027

On this page

• Why Cigna is leaving, in its own words
• Which states and how many people are affected
• Key dates to know
• What happens if you do nothing
• How to pick a new plan
• Pros and cons of how this transition is being handled
• Frequently asked questions

Why Cigna is leaving, in its own words

Cigna’s Q2 2026 earnings filing confirms the exit in one line: in April 2026, the company announced its planned exit from the Individual and Family Plans medical business as of January 1, 2027. President and chief operating officer Brian Evanko said Cigna is “planning to exit our individual exchange business at the end of this year” to allow “greater focus and investment in the remaining businesses.” He added that there are “no changes to coverage or networks related to this announcement” for members through the end of their current coverage, and that Cigna “will support members through their open enrollment transitions into 2027.” Cigna’s ACA business was a small piece of its 16.6 million total medical customers, and KFF’s tracker separately quotes company leadership describing it plainly: “This is small business for us today and it’s been shrinking.” The exit doesn’t reflect a broader financial problem at Cigna; AM Best affirmed Cigna’s core health-insurance subsidiaries at A (Excellent), stable outlook, in March 2026.

Which states and how many people are affected

The 11 states where Cigna is discontinuing individual coverage, both on and off the exchange, are Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. When Cigna announced the exit in April 2026, Forbes and STAT News both put the number of affected members at 369,000. KFF’s tracker, using Cigna’s first-quarter 2026 on-exchange enrollment and updated September 15, 2026, more recently estimated it at over 350,000. State-level filings give a sense of scale in a few places: about 16,006 people in North Carolina, an estimated 41,000 in Colorado, and roughly 70,000 in Tennessee, according to ACA Signups. If you’re in one of these states, compare what a new plan would cost you directly; see how much health insurance costs in Texas or in Virginia for two examples.

Key dates to know

Milestone	Date
Your current Cigna plan keeps working through	December 31, 2026
HealthCare.gov open enrollment begins	November 1, 2026
Deadline to enroll for coverage starting January 1, 2027	December 15, 2026
HealthCare.gov open enrollment ends	January 15, 2027

Because Cigna’s exit counts as your plan being discontinued, you also qualify for a special enrollment period that runs from 60 days before your coverage ends to 60 days after, in case you need more time than the regular open enrollment window allows.

What happens if you do nothing

Under federal rules, if no plans from your current insurer are offered next year, the Marketplace can enroll you in a comparable plan with a different insurance company so you don’t go without coverage on January 1. That’s a real safety net, but it isn’t the same as choosing your own plan: an auto-assigned plan may have a different network, deductible or drug list than what you’re used to, and you still have to pay the first premium yourself for the new coverage to actually start. Some state-run exchanges, unlike HealthCare.gov, don’t automatically assign a new plan at all, so check how your specific state handles it. Either way, review what to do if your insurance company leaves the Marketplace for the fuller process, and don’t assume silence is a safe option.

How to pick a new plan

Start by listing the doctors, hospitals and medications you want to keep, then confirm which ones are in-network for any plan you’re considering, since a new insurer may not include your current providers. Compare your options across bronze, silver, gold and platinum tiers rather than picking on premium alone, and use our general guide on how to pick your health insurance and how to switch health insurance companies for the mechanics of the switch itself. If you get subsidies, your tax credit amount can change with a new benchmark plan, so re-check your numbers rather than assuming last year’s premium tax credit carries over unchanged.

Pros and cons of how this transition is being handled

Pros

• Your 2026 coverage isn’t affected, and Cigna says there are no network or benefit changes before the year ends.
• A discontinued-plan special enrollment period gives you 60 days before and after your coverage ends, on top of the regular open enrollment window.
• Cigna remains financially rated A (Excellent) by AM Best, so the exit reflects a business decision, not a financial-strength concern for members finishing out 2026.

Cons

• You must actively choose a new plan; doing nothing risks landing in an auto-assigned plan that may not match your providers or budget.
• Your new plan may have a different network or drug list, so you’ll need to check your doctors and prescriptions again.
• A few of Cigna’s 11 states run their own exchange calendars, so a generic national deadline may not be exactly right for you.

Other insurer guides: Ambetter, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, Molina, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare. See also the best health insurance companies.

See 2027 plans from other insurers in your area: compare quotes by ZIP code.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cigna leaving my state’s Marketplace?

If you’re in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas or Virginia, yes, effective January 1, 2027. Cigna isn’t sold on the individual Marketplace in most other states.

Do I need to do anything right now?

No. Your current Cigna plan continues through December 31, 2026. You do need to pick a new plan during open enrollment, which starts November 1, 2026.

What if I miss open enrollment?

Because your plan is being discontinued, you get a special enrollment period running 60 days before and 60 days after your coverage ends, separate from the regular open enrollment window.

Will I automatically get a new plan if I don’t choose one?

On HealthCare.gov, you’ll generally be re-enrolled in a comparable plan from a different insurer, but you still must pay the first premium for it to start, and some state-run exchanges don’t auto-assign a plan at all.

This article is general information, not insurance, tax or legal advice. Exact deadlines and re-enrollment rules can vary by state; confirm yours with your Marketplace before you act. Last reviewed September 2026.