NEW YORK, N.Y., January 24 – CIGNA Healthcare of New York, Inc. has paid the Insurance Department a $150,000 fine for neglecting consumer complaints for a prolonged period of time, which is a violation of the law, according to New York State Insurance Department Superintendent Howard Mills.

In addition to paying the fine, Mills said, CIGNA pledged to take steps that would prevent the recurrence of the customer service violations which initially prompted the Insurance Departments action.

The monetary penalty we levied against CIGNA is another demonstration of the Insurance Departments commitment to fighting on behalf of New Yorks health care consumers, Mills said. We will not allow a company to drag its feet to the detriment of its customers.

Under New York State Law, insurers and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) have 15 business days in which to respond to consumer complaints sent to them via the Insurance Departments Consumer Services Bureau (CSB), a statutory deadline CIGNA repeatedly failed to meet, said Mills.

The Insurance Department alleged, and CIGNA agreed as part of the stipulation, that CIGNA provided neither timely nor substantive responses to the written customer complaints that were referred to CIGNA via the Insurance Departments Consumer Services Bureau (CSB).

Mills said that the department sends hundreds of pieces of correspondence each year to CIGNAs Customer Advocacy Unit for either a response or action on CIGNAs part. We insist that the insurers and HMOs regulated by the department are responsive to customer complaints and well continue to monitor this situation on behalf of CIGNAs policyholders, Mills stated.