CIGNA continued its decade-long run of high placement on the InformationWeek 500; this year myCIGNA.com Care Connections website, a fully integrated, online, secure and personalized source of medical quality and cost information earned a number one ranking for best innovation in customer intimacy.

"We care deeply about the people we serve, and this recognition underscores our determination to innovate and develop new ways to help people so they can make more informed choices about their health care," said Benjamin Karsch, CIGNA's chief marketing officer. "We are especially proud to be recognized asa leading innovator in customer intimacyamong all types of businessesfor our delivery of practical solutions that help people improve their health, well-being and sense of security."

"Making the right choice about physicians and hospitals isn't simply about saving money - it can save lives," notes Thomas Richards, CIGNA's chief product officer. "CIGNA Care Connections helps individuals identify hospitals with lower complication rates, mortality rates, and lower costs while highlighting physicians that perform medical services at a level higher. Importantly, it's easy to use: all of the information is seamlessly incorporated into an online directory making it a part of every search an individual does, so that individuals can build confidence in their heath care decisions."

The myCIGNA.com Care Connections website provides a single, personalized online source to help people covered by CIGNA health plans:

Find the most highly rated local specialists and hospitals;

Determine the questions to ask the doctor;

Compare treatment options;

Estimate costs for treating 400 conditions;

Determine the likelihood of having medical tests and finding their costs;

Finding which pharmacy charges the lowest cost for a prescription -- all according to a person's CIGNA health plan.

"For over 20 years, the InformationWeek 500 has honored the most innovative users of business technology," said InformationWeek Editor-in-Chief Rob Preston. "Year after year, InformationWeek 500 companies harness technology to improve efficiency, boost productivity, drive revenue, and establish a competitive advantage.