Postdoctoral Trainee Benefits Program Portal
Cigna – NEW Medical & Dental Carrier
| CIGNA: VUMC'S Postdoc Medical/Dental Health Insurance carrier effective October 1, 2026 VUMC desires to maintain benefits packages that mirror or exceed the plans offered to faculty and staff while keeping benefit program costs in check. This year, our historical health insurance carrier, Aetna, rolled out a whole new set of health insurance plans and discontinued the ones that VUMC had offered in the past. The new Aetna plans included significant plan "downgrades" while being much more expensive. Thus, the campus made the decision to transition the postdocs to a new health insurance carrier, Cigna, effective October 1, 2026. The Cigna plans are almost identical to the plans that the VUMC postdocs had in years past, for a much lower monthly premium. VUMC will continue to cover 100% of the "Base" medical plan and your choice of the dental HMO or PPO plans for the postdoc and their dependents. For those who wish to enroll in the "Buy-Up" medical plan, you will be responsible to pay for the difference between the Buy-Up and the Base plans. Please see chart below. You will notice that the amount you would owe to participate in the Buy-Up is roughly HALF what postdocs were contributing last year. To receive additional personalized support from Cigna as we make this transition, please see the links below and/or call the Pre-Enrollment Help Line: 888.806.5094 Cigna has also set up the Virtual Benefits Education website which is designed to make the pre-enrollment experience easier. Employees and their family members can learn about the benefits through Cigna you're being offered. Highlights include:
Virtual Benefits Education Link: Home - Cigna Education Site Helpful Information | |