The Cigna Group
Company History
Cigna History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1982 in Bloomfield, Connecticut
When was Cigna founded?
Cigna was founded in 1982 in Bloomfield, Connecticut by Ebenezer Hazard and Samuel Blodget, making it 44 years old.
- Founded
- 1982
- Founding place
- Bloomfield, Connecticut
- Founders
- Ebenezer Hazard and Samuel Blodget
- Headquarters today
- Bloomfield, Connecticut
- Milestones documented
- 13 (1792–2026)
- Current CEO
- Brian Evanko
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1792 | Insurance Company of North America founded |
| 1865 | Connecticut General Life chartered |
| 1982 | INA and Connecticut General merge to form CIGNA |
| 1999 | Property and casualty business sold to ACE |
| 2008 | Great-West Healthcare acquired |
| 2012 | HealthSpring acquired |
| 2017 | Anthem merger collapses |
| 2018 | Express Scripts acquisition closes |
| 2020 | Evernorth brand launched |
| 2021 | MDLive acquired |
| 2023 | Renamed The Cigna Group |
| 2025 | Medicare business sold; rebate-free model announced |
| 2026 | FTC settlement and CEO transition |
- Where was Cigna founded?
- Cigna was founded in Bloomfield, Connecticut in 1982.
- Who founded Cigna?
- Cigna was founded by Ebenezer Hazard and Samuel Blodget.
- When did Cigna start?
- Cigna was founded in 1982.
- How old is Cigna?
- Cigna is 44 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Cigna's lineage starts in 1792, when Philadelphia merchants organized the Insurance Company of North America (INA), one of the first U.S. stock insurance companies, to cover marine and fire risk. Connecticut General Life Insurance Company was chartered in Hartford in 1865. The two combined in 1982 to form CIGNA Corporation, a name built from their initials. Cigna later sold its property and casualty business to ACE Limited in 1999 and focused on health and employee benefits.
Founders
Ebenezer Hazard
Ebenezer Hazard, a former U.S. Postmaster General and historian, was among the Philadelphia organizers of the Insurance Company of North America in 1792 and served as its first secretary. INA is the oldest predecessor of The Cigna Group.
Samuel Blodget
Samuel Blodget (1724-1807) was the instrumental founder of the Insurance Company of North America (INA) in 1792, which forms the 'I' in Cigna. Recognizing that the newly formed United States desperately needed its own domestic maritime insurance to protect merchant ships from piracy and storms (rather than relying on London), he gathered prominent Philadelphia businessmen in Independence Hall to charter the company, creating the first marine insurance company in America.
Key Milestones
Insurance Company of North America founded
Philadelphia merchants organize INA to write marine and fire insurance; John M. Nesbitt is its first president.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgConnecticut General Life chartered
Connecticut General Life Insurance Company is chartered in Hartford, the second pillar of the future Cigna.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgINA and Connecticut General merge to form CIGNA
The merger creates CIGNA Corporation, named for the initials of its two predecessors.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgProperty and casualty business sold to ACE
Cigna sells its P&C operations to ACE Limited for about $3.45 billion and concentrates on health and employee benefits.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgGreat-West Healthcare acquired
Cigna buys Great-West Healthcare for about $1.5 billion, expanding in the mid-size employer market.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHealthSpring acquired
Cigna completes the roughly $3.8 billion purchase of Medicare Advantage insurer HealthSpring.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAnthem merger collapses
A federal court blocks Anthem's proposed $54 billion acquisition of Cigna on antitrust grounds, and both sides terminate the deal amid litigation.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgExpress Scripts acquisition closes
Cigna completes its acquisition of Express Scripts, valued at about $67 billion including debt, becoming one of the three largest U.S. PBMs.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgEvernorth brand launched
Cigna groups Express Scripts, Accredo, eviCore and other health services under the Evernorth name.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRenamed The Cigna Group
The parent company adopts The Cigna Group name, organized around Evernorth Health Services and Cigna Healthcare.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMedicare business sold; rebate-free model announced
Cigna completes the sale of its Medicare Advantage and Part D businesses to HCSC and, in October, announces a rebate-free Express Scripts pharmacy benefit model. 2025 revenue reaches $274.9 billion.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFTC settlement and CEO transition
Express Scripts settles the FTC insulin pricing case in February; Brian Evanko becomes CEO on July 1 and David Cordani becomes executive chair.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMajor Acquisitions
Express Scripts Holding Company
2018Cigna bought Express Scripts to add pharmacy benefit management at scale after the failed Anthem merger and to combine medical and pharmacy data.
HealthSpring Inc.
2012Entry into Medicare Advantage and Part D.
MDLive Inc.
2021Add virtual urgent, primary and behavioral care to Evernorth.
Keep researching Cigna
Cigna Company History FAQ
When was The Cigna Group originally founded and what was its first charter?
The Cigna Group traces its founding to November 1792 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when the Insurance Company of North America (INA) was chartered as the first marine insurance company in the United States.
When was Connecticut General (CG) founded and when did it merge with INA?
Connecticut General Life Insurance Company was chartered in 1865, and in March 1982 merged with INA Corporation to create CIGNA Corporation as an integrated multi-line financial services giant.
When did Cigna pivot from property insurance to focus exclusively on healthcare?
In 1999, Cigna sold its property and casualty business to ACE Limited for $3.45 billion, dedicating its entire corporate strategy toward healthcare, managed care, and employee wellness benefits.
When was David Cordani appointed CEO of Cigna?
David M. Cordani was appointed CEO in December 2009, leading Cigna through the Affordable Care Act implementation, international expansion, and large healthcare services diversification.
When did Cigna acquire Express Scripts for $67 billion?
In December 2018, Cigna completed the monumental $67 billion acquisition of Express Scripts, uniting medical healthcare coverage with the nation's largest pharmacy services network.
When was Evernorth Health Services launched?
In September 2020, Cigna launched Evernorth Health Services as its premier health services platform, housing Express Scripts, Accredo, eviCore, and specialized clinical analytics.
When did the company officially rebrand to The Cigna Group?
In February 2023, the parent corporation officially rebranded to The Cigna Group, reflecting its two distinct global growth divisions: Evernorth Health Services and Cigna Healthcare.
What is The Cigna Group's position in global healthcare today?
The Cigna Group reported $274.9 billion in 2025 revenue, about 182.8 million customer relationships at June 30, 2026, and is led by CEO Brian Evanko.
When was Cigna founded?
The modern Cigna was created in 1982 through the massive mega-merger of INA and CG. However, INA (Insurance Company of North America) was founded in 1792, making it the oldest stockholder-owned insurer in the United States.
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