Cigna & CMC Life Insurance Company is a joint venture between Cigna and China Merchants Group that holds a full life and health insurance operating licence in mainland China. Unlike the offshore international plans typically associated with Cigna's global brand, Cigna-CMC's products are issued under Chinese regulation, denominated in CNY, and administered by a mainland-registered entity.
This distinction matters for some expatriates. Those who prefer to pay premiums in CNY from a Chinese bank account, or whose employer requires insurance to be provided through a domestically licensed entity, may find Cigna-CMC's local products more administratively convenient than offshore international plans.
Cigna-CMC's plans cover inpatient treatment at designated network hospitals, outpatient care, and pharmaceutical benefits. The hospital network for Cigna-CMC is built around hospitals in the China mainland network, including both the international wings of major public hospitals and some private expat facilities in major cities.
One important caveat: local Chinese health insurance products from Cigna-CMC and similar licensed domestic insurers typically have lower benefit limits and a narrower geographic scope than offshore international plans — treatment outside mainland China (excluding emergency) may not be covered. Expatriates who regularly travel or plan to receive routine care in Hong Kong, Singapore, or home countries should consider whether a domestic policy alone is sufficient.
A practical combination for many expatriates is to maintain the Chinese social insurance healthcare contribution (which is often mandatory for employed foreigners under Chinese labour law) alongside either a local supplement or an offshore international plan.