Cigna & CMC Life Insurance Company Limited, a joint venture between Cigna and China Merchants Group, announced the launch of its first health care product in China.

The International Employee Healthcare Plan is designed for employers based in China seeking group health care coverage for members of their workforce, including expatriate employees working in other countries, foreign employees working in China, employees returning to China from assignment in other countries, and senior managers.

The new health plan combines CIGNA's global health care capabilities with the expertise gained through Cigna & CMC Life Insurance's six-year history in China as one of the fastest growing life insurers in China. The product includes health and wellness management services and self-service tools to help individuals make better health management decisions, and is supported by a new service center in China that is linked to CIGNA's existing health service centers and networks across the globe. Employees in China will be served from China while employees based elsewhere will be served in the region where they are assigned, ensuring that service is seamless for all customers.

"The launch of the health care product is the next phase in the evolution of the strong partnership between Cigna and China Merchants Group through our joint venture. We are excited to support Cigna & CMC in its entry into the health care market in China and we look forward to serving the health and wellness needs of China's people," said David Cordani, president and chief operating officer of Cigna and the company's incoming chief executive officer.

In addition to expanding health care benefits options for employers in China, Cigna & CMC views the new product as a way to move forward in developing and establishing a foothold in the Chinese health insurance industry.

"As the market evolves and China's health reform initiatives become more concrete, Cigna & CMC expects to be able to build on this initial product to serve the needs of a broader population, thereby supporting the goals of China's health care reforms," Cordani said.

Services in Cigna & CMC's health plan include worldwide access to doctors and hospitals within CIGNA's global network of more than 600,000 physicians, medical professionals and hospitals, around-the-clock multilingual customer service centers, a secure website with access to a wealth of information and self-service features, and local claims settlement in China and abroad to ensure timely payment of claims anywhere in the world.

"Cigna & CMC's new health product in China demonstrates CIGNA's strategy to be a truly global health service company," said William L. Atwell, president of Cigna International. "Cigna is well positioned to take advantage of growth opportunities in China and around the world."

Cigna & CMC Life Insurance Co. provides life, accident and supplemental health insurance products and services in China.