Cinergy Health Plan: Limited Benefits and Low Rates

For families and individuals searching for affordable alternatives to the exorbitant cost of traditional health insurance, Cinergy offers a reasonably-priced option that covers many of the routine costs of medical care. The Cinergy health plan does not cover catastrophic health care coverage, but is intended to provide a basic level of health care benefits for consumers who otherwise could not afford such coverage. Cinergy also offers a critical illness plan that pays $25,000 upon first diagnosis of a serious illness including cancer, stroke, or heart attack. Cinergy’s premiums are significantly lower than comparable comprehensive health insurance, making it an excellent choice for cost-conscious consumers.

The Cinergy health plan offers coverage to its members for most routine health care procedures, including doctor’s examinations, obstetric visits, and even emergency room care. While Cinergy’s plans do not include major medical coverage, they provide a basic level of care that can prove invaluable to those who would otherwise go without health insurance. Cinergy offers guaranteed coverage, even for those with pre-existing conditions or those who have been denied health care coverage in the past. Because Cinergy’s plans offer only limited coverage, members can obtain care from any physician or hospital of their choice, rather than remaining within a limited preferred provider network. This flexibility makes Cinergy plans appealing to many individuals who already have an established primary care physician.

Cinergy plans are not designed to serve as stand-alone health insurance; they offer only limited benefits in most cases, and will not cover catastrophic health care costs or long-term hospital stays. This may create problems for members who do not carefully examine the plan documents; for example, the Cinergy Health Preferred 500 plan only covers one physical examination, one emergency room visit, and pays $500 per day for up to 30 days of a member’s hospital stay. For those who have ongoing medical problems, these limitations may make Cinergy a less desirable choice than other health insurance options. Additionally, Cinergy has ceased accepting new members into its health plans as of October 2009; it is expected to reopen enrollment at some point during 2010.