Coverage Alert • Virginia

Cigna Is Leaving Virginia's ACA Marketplace in 2027

Fast take: If you have a Cigna individual or family plan in Virginia, it won't renew for 2027 — it ends December 31, 2026. Most brokers will just move you to another marketplace plan; we're one of a limited number of agents who also offer private nationwide PPO plans — priced on your health, with a broader network — and we compare both so you get the right fit, not a computer's auto-assignment.
What sets us apart: anyone can put you back on the marketplace — every broker has it, and you can self-enroll. What most agents can't offer is a private, medically-underwritten nationwide PPO: priced on your health instead of your income, with a broad national network and year-round enrollment. For a healthy Virginia household or anyone above the subsidy line, it's frequently the better — and cheaper — way to replace a Cigna plan. We're one of the few who compare both for you.
Dec 31, 2026When your Cigna plan in Virginia ends
+16.7%Average 2027 rate increase filed in Virginia
up to +22.7%Steepest carrier hike (Sentara) for 2027

What's happening

Cigna announced in April 2026 that it is leaving the individual ACA market to focus on its larger business lines. The result for Virginia: Cigna individual and family plans will not be sold or renewed for 2027. This affects both on-exchange plans (through Virginia's Insurance Marketplace) and off-exchange Cigna individual plans. Employer group and Medicare products are not affected.

What's changing in Virginia for 2027

Nine insurers plan to stay in Virginia's individual market for 2027, but the filed increases are steep — a weighted average of about 16.7%, with individual carriers ranging from roughly 3.9% up to 22.7%. Sentara Health Plans filed the largest jump at 22.7%, while HealthKeepers (Anthem), the state's biggest marketplace carrier covering about 115,000 Virginians, filed around 12.6%. The main driver is the expiration of the enhanced federal subsidies. From Virginia Beach and Norfolk to Richmond, Arlington, Alexandria, and Newport News, the smart move is to compare every remaining option — marketplace and private PPO — before you're defaulted into a pricier plan.

Your two ways to replace it

Private nationwide PPO

  • Offered by only a limited number of agents — we're one
  • Priced on your health, not your income — often cheaper if you're healthy or above the subsidy line
  • Broad nationwide PPO network, no referrals, enroll year-round
  • Medically underwritten — not everyone qualifies

A new marketplace (ACA) plan

  • Best if your income qualifies you for a subsidy
  • Guaranteed issue — no health questions
  • Any subsidy you get today carries to the new plan
  • Networks are often narrower (HMO/EPO), with referrals
The risk if you do nothing: when a carrier leaves, the marketplace may auto-move you to a "similar" plan chosen by a computer — one that may drop your doctor in Virginia, cut a medication, or cost more. On January 1, 2027 you could be on a plan you never picked — and miss the private PPO option entirely.

What you should do now

  • 1. Don't wait for the auto-switch. Choose your own 2027 coverage during open enrollment.
  • 2. Compare both. Weigh a private nationwide PPO against a new marketplace plan — premium, network, and total cost.
  • 3. Match it to your doctors and prescriptions. Confirm your providers in Virginia are covered before you enroll.
  • 4. Enroll before the deadline so your new coverage starts January 1 with no gap.

Key dates for 2027 coverage

Good to know

  • Private nationwide PPO plans enroll year-round — not tied to open enrollment
  • Every marketplace plan is guaranteed-issue — no denial for pre-existing conditions
  • Many of the same doctors in Virginia are in other carriers' networks

← See the full Cigna 2027 overview & all affected states

Losing your Cigna plan in Virginia? See the option most brokers can't show you.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a new marketplace plan my only option?

No. Besides a new marketplace (ACA) plan, you can replace a Cigna plan with a private, medically-underwritten nationwide PPO, which only a limited number of agents offer. It's priced on your health, uses a broad national network, and is often cheaper if you're healthy or above the subsidy line. We compare both.

Which carriers are in Virginia for 2027?

Cigna is leaving, but nine insurers remain — including HealthKeepers (Anthem), Sentara Health Plans, Kaiser, Optimum Choice, and Oscar. With rates up around 17% on average, it's worth comparing everything that's left before you enroll.

When does my Cigna plan end?

December 31, 2026. It will not renew into a Cigna plan for 2027.

Will I lose my doctors or my subsidy?

Not necessarily. Many of the same doctors are in other carriers' networks, and any marketplace subsidy carries to a new marketplace plan. A private PPO uses a broad national network. The key is comparing both before you enroll.

Does it cost anything to work with an advisor?

No. A licensed independent advisor is paid by the carriers, so there's no fee to you for help comparing private PPO and marketplace plans and enrolling.

Robert Adams

Robert Adams

President & Licensed Agent, RKA Insurance Advisors · NPN 19540130 · (561) 806-9913

This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalized advice. Carrier participation, pricing, and enrollment dates for 2027 are based on public rate filings and announcements and are subject to state review and change; confirm details for your situation before enrolling. RKA Insurance Advisors is an independent, licensed health insurance brokerage specializing in private, medically-underwritten nationwide PPO plans in addition to ACA marketplace coverage. Private plans are not ACA-compliant and are subject to medical underwriting — not all applicants qualify. We do not offer Medicare. This content does not constitute insurance, legal, tax, or financial advice.