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Wellness Goes Global as CIGNA Helps Companies Launch Multilingual, Multicultural Programs

• Localized health and wellness programs for multinational companies
• Health assessment plus online health coaching for stress, nutrition, physical activity, sleep
• Assessment available in more than 15 languages, cultural differences taken into account

BLOOMFIELD, Conn., May 13, 2010 - As companies increase their global footprint with operations in multiple countries, CIGNA (NYSE: CI) is offering a uniform but localized health and wellness program for multinational companies whose employees are citizens of the countries where they work.

At the heart of the program are a health assessment and online health coaching courses for stress, nutrition, physical fitness and sleep created by vielife, a London-based CIGNA company that develops global wellness and productivity improvement programs. The assessment is available in more than 15 languages, including multiple versions of English, Spanish and French, and is localized so that cultural differences specific to a country are taken into account. vielife’s health assessment and online coaching programs have earned certification for quality from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) under the NCQA’s Health Information Products certification program.

Initially the global wellness program is being offered to a small number of early adopter employers who purchase it as an add-on to their CIGNA health plan.

“Our global wellness strategy is based on the recognition that no two companies are alike, and among multinational companies with operations in multiple countries, no two employee populations are alike,” said David Guilmette, president, National Segment. “CIGNA will work closely with employers to help them deliver wellness programs that meet local needs, which should result in broader employee participation and present more opportunities to help people improve their health.”

One international company with a focus on global wellness for its employees is PepsiCo. “Our intention is to create a global wellness program that’s very personalized and tailored to the specific needs of the individual,” said Ellen Exum, the company’s program director for wellness & prevention. PepsiCo uses the vielife health assessment as part of its program in England and elsewhere in Europe, as well as Australia, Dubai, Mexico, Taiwan and other countries worldwide.

According to Buck Consultants’ 2009 global wellness survey,1 the strategic objectives for wellness programs vary by global regions, as do the health risks driving wellness strategy. For example, while reducing health care costs is the top strategic objective in the United States, in Europe it’s improving productivity and in Asia it’s improving workforce morale. In the U.S., the top health risk driving wellness strategy is physical activity/exercise, but in both Europe and Asia it’s stress.

“A key challenge for employers seeking to implement global wellness programs is the limited availability of tools and materials that are culturally and linguistically sensitive and tailored to meet the needs of specific employee populations,” said Barry Hall, principal for clinical healthcare and global technology solutions at Buck Consultants.

CIGNA's global wellness program can help an employer understand how the health of its employees affects the health of the business. Management reports can pinpoint the specific health risks the company may face and can measure the potential impact on absence and productivity.

For employees, the global wellness program provides practical, appropriate and achievable recommendations in the areas of stress, nutrition, physical fitness, sleep and work/life balance, and can benefit virtually anybody no matter where they fall on the health spectrum - including people who are healthy and fit as well as those who are living with a chronic health condition.

About CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB)

For over 30 years, CIEB has been an industry leader for providing benefits to global workers virtually around the world. As an organization dedicated to the needs of international employers and their globally mobile workforce, all CIEB activities are motivated by the same core objectives: enhancing the expatriate experience and keeping employees healthy and on assignment. CIEB offers a comprehensive line of coverage and 24/7 multilingual customer service, multi currency claims payment options and access to an industry leading global healthcare network of more than 600,000 providers. CIEB partners with local health care providers, insurance companies and third party administrators to offer members access to the highest quality local health care available, while helping ensure employers meet required regulatory requirements – and receive discounts when available. www.cigna.com.