Cigna Healthcare expands flexible dental payment access to 2.8mn more members through Paytient partnership

Cigna Healthcare, a division of The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), is significantly expanding its collaboration with Paytient to provide 2.8 million additional Americans with access to flexible, interest-free dental payment options. The move targets Cigna’s mid-market employer segment and is designed to lower cost-related barriers to essential and preventive dental care through Paytient’s Health Payment Account (HPA) platform.

The HPA allows members to pay over time for dental services without incurring interest or fees. The program initially launched with large employers like Hyatt, Advantage Solutions, and RR Donnelley. Now, it is available to companies with as few as 250 enrolled employees—broadening access across a more diverse employer base without altering existing dental benefits or plan design.

Why is Cigna expanding Paytient access now?

The expansion comes amid mounting concerns over the financial inaccessibility of dental care in the U.S., even among insured populations. Despite having dental coverage, many individuals still avoid treatment due to out-of-pocket costs. This trend is particularly troubling as delays in oral care often lead to more severe, costly health issues later on.

Survey data from Cigna indicates that 92.9% of members who used the Paytient card would have otherwise skipped care. Most frequently, they used the card for procedures such as crowns, fillings, and oral surgeries—services that typically exceed the $1,500 annual dental benefit cap.

“Dental health is foundational to overall health, yet far too many people delay or skip treatment due to cost,” said Manish Naik, president of Cigna Healthcare’s dental and vision businesses. “This program is about making sure more people get the care they need, when they need it—without financial strain.”

How flexible payments are shifting dental health behavior

Cigna’s data highlights a clear shift in behavior among Paytient users. Of those who received preventive care through the program, 65% were later found to require more complex dental procedures. This correlation supports the long-standing notion that early intervention—if financially accessible—can prevent more serious conditions.

The payment flexibility is especially critical in high-cost situations. Consider a $1,200 root canal, for which the dental plan may cover only $600. Many providers require upfront payment for the remainder. Without options like Paytient, patients might resort to high-interest credit cards or skip care altogether. The HPA model eliminates that dilemma by allowing patients to pay the remaining balance over time with no added financial stress.

Importantly, the data also points to an equity impact. About 44.7% of members who used the Paytient card live in areas classified as high or very high Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) risk, compared to 30.7% of their coworkers. This demonstrates that the program is serving populations who historically face greater access challenges.

What is the Health Payment Account (HPA) model?

Paytient’s Health Payment Account differs from buy-now-pay-later models by functioning as a dedicated, interest-free line of credit tied specifically to healthcare spending. Members access funds through a prepaid card usable only for approved medical, dental, vision, or pharmacy expenses. The platform is designed for safe use, excluding general consumer purchases.

Unlike employer-funded Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) or Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), there are no contributions or eligibility hurdles. Employers do not absorb any financial burden, and the program can be layered on top of existing benefit structures without triggering plan design complexity.

Brian Whorley, founder and CEO of Paytient, explained the company’s guiding principle: “We created Paytient so people could say yes to care—without fear, without delay. This partnership with Cigna shows what’s possible when we remove cost as a barrier to care—and the results speak for themselves.”

Member satisfaction data reflects growing trust

User feedback has been strongly favorable since the initial launch of the program. Cigna reports that the Net Promoter Score (NPS) for the Paytient-powered dental benefit increased from 75.8 at launch to 83.4. On Trustpilot, nearly 400 users have rated the experience 4.89 out of 5 stars.

These figures point to not just satisfaction but also trust in a tool that helps members take control of healthcare expenses in a way that feels supportive rather than burdensome. High satisfaction levels are particularly significant in dental and vision benefit programs, which often suffer from low member engagement and usage rates.

Positioning within broader U.S. dental care trends

The Cigna–Paytient collaboration reflects a growing trend in U.S. healthcare: embedding affordability solutions directly into benefit delivery. Dental care, once seen as a separate or elective service, is increasingly viewed as a frontline indicator of broader health outcomes. Yet, coverage design has lagged—most dental plans still cap benefits at levels that haven’t changed in decades.

This program arrives at a moment when employers are seeking low-friction ways to improve employee wellness while managing costs. According to the American Dental Association, about one-third of adults under 65 avoid dental visits due to affordability, even when insured. By offering access to a flexible, fee-free financing solution, Cigna is addressing that gap in a scalable, market-responsive way.

What employers gain from the expansion

Expanding to employers with as few as 250 enrolled members opens the door for mid-market organizations—many of which face structural limitations in tailoring benefit designs. For these companies, Paytient offers a plug-and-play solution that enhances dental plan value without introducing cost burdens.

Mid-sized employers in industries such as hospitality, retail, and education—which often experience high turnover and low benefit utilization—stand to benefit most. With no cost-sharing or administrative overhaul required, the offering supports better health outcomes and employee retention.

Employers also gain from downstream effects: improved dental outcomes may reduce absenteeism and urgent care usage, both of which translate to lower indirect costs.

How the expansion aligns with investor and analyst expectations

From a financial markets perspective, this initiative bolsters The Cigna Group’s broader strategy of using technology partnerships to expand ancillary services with minimal capital outlay. The company, which reported $186.5 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2024, has leaned into low-friction, member-centric health services to retain share in a fiercely competitive payer landscape.

Wall Street analysts have increasingly favored health insurers that focus on embedded, tech-enabled benefit enhancements over large-scale acquisitions. With Cigna also advancing its Express Scripts and Evernorth platforms, the Paytient collaboration fits neatly into its positioning as an innovator in consumer-facing health engagement tools.

Early sentiment indicates investor optimism around Paytient-style financial products that support preventive care, lower deferred treatment rates, and improve long-term cost predictability—while limiting direct liability for insurers.

What’s next for the Paytient–Cigna initiative?

With the expansion now encompassing mid-sized employers, industry observers anticipate the partnership may evolve further. Opportunities include bundling the HPA solution into Cigna’s broader suite of offerings, expanding to behavioral health or vision, and integrating directly into mobile health plan platforms to increase utilization.

More advanced features—such as employer co-funding of balances, dynamic credit limits based on need, or predictive loading of HPA funds during health events—could emerge as next-generation tools. The program may also draw attention in policy circles as a model for addressing the medical debt crisis without regulatory intervention.

As healthcare affordability continues to dominate national discourse, the Paytient–Cigna initiative offers a replicable, scalable example of how private-sector innovation can address real-world health equity issues without upending legacy benefit infrastructure.