Cigna vs UnitedHealth: Founders, CEOs and History
Cigna was founded in 1982 by Ebenezer Hazard, Samuel Blodget and is led by Brian Evanko. UnitedHealth was founded in 1977 by Richard T. Burke and is led by Stephen J. Hemsley.
Company facts
Cigna
- Founded
- 1982
- Headquarters
- Bloomfield, Connecticut
- Current CEO
- Brian Evanko
- Employees
- 67,700
UnitedHealth
- Founded
- 1977
- Headquarters
- Eden Prairie, Minnesota
- Current CEO
- Stephen J. Hemsley
- Employees
- 390,000
Founders
Cigna
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 Jr., a merchant and early economist, was one of the backers involved in organizing the Insurance Company of North America in Philadelphia in 1792.
UnitedHealth
Richard T. Burke
Richard T. Burke founded Charter Med in 1974 and formed United HealthCare Corporation in 1977 to manage newly created health maintenance organizations, starting with the Physicians Health Plan of Minnesota.
CEOs and their tenures
Cigna
- David M. Cordani2009–2026
Executive Chair; former Chairman and CEO
Cordani joined Cigna in 1991 after working at Coopers & Lybrand, became president of Cigna HealthCare in 2005 and CEO in December 2009.
Source - Brian Evanko2026–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Evanko joined Cigna in 1998 through its actuarial development program, served as CFO, led Cigna Healthcare and was named president and COO in March 2025 before becoming CEO on July 1, 2026.
Source
UnitedHealth
- Andrew Witty2021–2025
Chief Executive Officer (Former)
Oversaw revenue growth past $400 billion but stepped down in May 2025, citing personal reasons, as medical costs surged and the company suspended its 2025 guidance.
Source - Stephen J. Hemsley2025–present
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Under his second term, quarterly net margin recovered to 4.9% in Q2 2026 and 2026 adjusted EPS guidance was raised to $19.50-$20.00.
Source - Tim Noel2025–present
Chief Executive Officer, UnitedHealthcare
Remains UnitedHealthcare CEO after Robert Hunter was named UnitedHealthcare president in September 2026.
Source
Timeline: Cigna and UnitedHealth side by side
1792Cigna
Insurance Company of North America founded
Philadelphia merchants organize INA to write marine and fire insurance; John M. Nesbitt is its first president.
1865Cigna
Connecticut General Life chartered
Connecticut General Life Insurance Company is chartered in Hartford, the second pillar of the future Cigna.
1974UnitedHealth
Charter Med roots
Richard Burke's managed-care business created the roots of UnitedHealth Group.
1977UnitedHealth
United HealthCare formed
United HealthCare Corporation was formed as the company developed health benefit programs.
1982Cigna
INA and Connecticut General merge to form CIGNA
The merger creates CIGNA Corporation, named for the initials of its two predecessors.
1984UnitedHealth
Initial public offering
UnitedHealth Group went public in 1984.
1998UnitedHealth
Acquired HealthPartners of Arizona
UnitedHealth Group acquired HealthPartners of Arizona in 1998.
1999Cigna
Property 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.
2001UnitedHealth
Acquired AmeriChoice
UnitedHealth Group acquired AmeriChoice in 2001.
2008Cigna
Great-West Healthcare acquired
Cigna buys Great-West Healthcare for about $1.5 billion, expanding in the mid-size employer market.
2011UnitedHealth
Optum brand launched
UnitedHealth organized health services, pharmacy, technology, and analytics businesses under Optum.
2012Cigna
HealthSpring acquired
Cigna completes the roughly $3.8 billion purchase of Medicare Advantage insurer HealthSpring.
2017Cigna
Anthem 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.
2018Cigna
Express 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.
2020Cigna
Evernorth brand launched
Cigna groups Express Scripts, Accredo, eviCore and other health services under the Evernorth name.
2021Cigna
MDLive acquired
Evernorth acquires virtual care provider MDLive.
2023Cigna
Renamed The Cigna Group
The parent company adopts The Cigna Group name, organized around Evernorth Health Services and Cigna Healthcare.
2025Cigna
Medicare 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.
2025UnitedHealth
Stephen Hemsley returns
Stephen J. Hemsley was appointed CEO effective immediately in May 2025.
2025UnitedHealth
Revenue reaches $447.6B
UnitedHealth Group reported $447.6 billion in 2025 total revenues.
2026Cigna
FTC 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.
2026UnitedHealth
Optum UK sold to TPG
The sale of Optum UK to TPG closed on March 13, 2026.
2026UnitedHealth
Guidance raised
After Q2 2026 revenue of $112.0 billion, UnitedHealth raised 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $19.50-$20.00.
2026UnitedHealth
WellMed Florida stake to TPG
Optum sold an interest in Florida WellMed clinics to TPG in September 2026.
Acquisitions
Cigna
- MDLive Inc.2021Undisclosed
- Express Scripts Holding Company2018$67B
- HealthSpring Inc.2012$3.8B
UnitedHealth
- LHC Group2023$5.4B
- Change Healthcare2022$13B
- Catamaran2015$12.8B
Questions about Cigna vs UnitedHealth
Who is the CEO of The Cigna Group and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated?
The Cigna Group is led by Brian Evanko and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is led by Stephen J. Hemsley. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was The Cigna Group founded vs UnitedHealth Group Incorporated?
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated was founded in 1977 — 5 years before The Cigna Group, which was founded in 1982. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger The Cigna Group.
How many employees does The Cigna Group have compared to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated?
The Cigna Group employs approximately 67,700 people, while UnitedHealth Group Incorporated employs approximately 390,000. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has the larger workforce at 390,000 employees, compared to The Cigna Group's 67,700. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are The Cigna Group and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated headquartered?
Both The Cigna Group and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded The Cigna Group and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated?
The Cigna Group was founded by Ebenezer Hazard, Samuel Blodget. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated was founded by Richard T. Burke.
Which company has a longer operating history — The Cigna Group or UnitedHealth Group Incorporated?
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has been operating for approximately 49 years, making it the more established of the two companies. The Cigna Group has been in operation for around 44 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Cigna vs UnitedHealth overview