cigna20030325

CIGNA HealthCare expansion create 220 new jobs in Loughrea

galway.net , 25 Mar 2003

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney announced today that the Government has approved IDA Ireland support for the CIGNA Corporation, the third largest investor-owned employee benefits organisation in the US, which is to expand its medical claims processing operation at CIGNA Benefits Processing Ltd. in Loughrea, Co. Galway.

Making the announcement the Tánaiste said; This expansion is welcome news for the whole of east-Galway as it will offer a wide range of quality employment opportunities to the people of the area, further secures the existing jobs at the Loughrea facility and ensures the continued success of the operation."

The Tánaiste confirmed that the expansion will create approximately 220 new jobs over the next three years. Due to the urgent need for extra capacity recruitment is already underway, with 50 of the new positions already filled. The new jobs will be for claims processors and administration staff, offering career opportunities to people with Leaving Certificate, Diploma and University qualifications

The Tánaiste said, "This expansion is being implemented to provide the additional capacity required to process customer claims from the US for which the Loughrea operation has won responsibility. The expansion is the result of significant efforts by the CIGNA Ireland Management team and IDA Ireland in presenting to the parent company the benefits of developing further the Loughrea facility."

"Such factors as the availability of people with the necessary qualifications, the company already having received many unsolicited applications prior to commencing recruitment, and the proven competitiveness of the Galway facility, for which the management and workforce are to be congratulated, were influential in securing the investment for Galway. This CIGNA facility is of great help to IDA Ireland as a reference in further developing international services activities in the BMW region," added the Tánaiste.

The CIGNA Loughrea facility currently occupies 15,000 sq. ft. of a 27,000 sq. ft. IDA Ireland building. Under this expansion the company is to upgrade the area it currently occupies and is to lease and upgrade the remainder of the building. The facility was established in 1990 by CIGNA HealthCare, a division of CIGNA Corporation, with the support of IDA Ireland. It is responsible for adjudicating and processing medical indemnity claims. The operation involves claims, that are received electronically over an internal IT network, being reviewed and adjudicated by claim processors in Loughrea, who provide instructions to issue the appropriate payment to the claimants.

CIGNA HealthCare provides a broad range of group medical, dental, behavioural and pharmacy benefits with coverage in all 50 US states and in Puerto Rico. Its health plans are designed to meet the needs of employer groups of all sizes for their employee benefit programmes. Employing some 30,000 people, it markets its products through a well developed infrastructure of independent agents, national brokers, insurance consultants and a network of offices across the US.

CIGNA Corporation employs 40,000 people at over 450 locations worldwide. Listed on the New York stock exchange, it was formed in 1982 through the merger of INA Corporation and Connecticut General Life Insurance Company. Since then it has transformed itself from a multi-line commercial insurer to an employee benefits company with significant market share in many of its product lines.

It has four subsidiaries - CIGNA HealthCare, which has responsibility for the Galway operation, CIGNA Group Insurance, providing disability, life and accident products, CIGNA Retirement and Investment, offers products in the areas of retirement and investment, and CIGNA International, whichprovides health care and pension products for the workplace and consumer markets and offers life, accident and health insurance to individuals in Asia, Europe and South America.

"CIGNA HealthCare" refers to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation. Products and services are provided by these operating subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation.

Advertisements