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CIGNA Foundation's Health Literacy Report Promotes Clear Health Communication

Posted on: Monday, 7 July 2008, 12:00 CDT

"Drug list" instead of "formulary.""Person" instead of "member.""Pay" instead of "adjudicate." These are just a few examples of the words that CIGNA is beginning to use as part of its commitment to clear health communication - the topic of discussion at the CIGNA Foundation Forum on Health Literacy held last fall and outlined in CIGNA Foundation's new health literacy report.

The report that is now available, Improving Health Begins with Understanding, features recommendations on how health professionals can better communicate with everyone, including older adults and people for whom English is a second language to help people better understand and use the information that is vital to their health, well-being and security. The report is based on remarks from CIGNA leadership and national clear health communication experts including speakers from the National Council on Aging, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, American College of Physicians Foundation and the Children's Literacy Initiative.

"Health care can be complicated and frustrating. Ninety million people in the United States struggle to understand health information. It's our responsibility to speak plainly, to stop using jargon and to simplify the language of health care," said Gianna Jackson, executive director of the CIGNA Foundation. "Helping people through the words we use with customers and throughout communities is one way we can make the pathway to good health less complicated and more personal."

The CIGNA Foundation Forum on Health Literacy was the first in a series of annual community events on major health topics. The report from the forum is posted in the reports and resource section of http://newsroom.cigna.com/. For more information on what CIGNA is doing to help simplify and clarify health care, visit itstimetofeelbetter.com.

About CIGNA

CIGNA (NYSE:CI) provides employers with benefits, expertise and services that improve the health, well-being and security of their employees. With more than 47 million covered lives in the United States and around the world, CIGNA's operating subsidiaries offer a full portfolio of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits and group life, accident and disability insurance. As of December 31, 2007, CIGNA Corp. and its subsidiaries had shareholders' equity of $4.7 billion. Full-year 2007 revenues totaled $17.6 billion. Web site: http://www.cigna.com.

About CIGNA Foundation

CIGNA Foundation is a private foundation funded by contributions from CIGNA Corporation and its subsidiaries. The CIGNA Foundation supports organizations sharing its commitment to enhancing the health of individuals and families, and the well-being of their communities, with a special focus on those communities where CIGNA employees live and work.

Source: Business Wire

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