The Cigna Group reported second-quarter net income of $1.66 billion, a jump from $1.53 billion a year earlier, as its Evernorth health services business and Cigna Healthcare insurance operations beat expectations. The results, shared on a Thursday conference call, arrived with a clear message: investments in artificial intelligence are starting to bend the cost curve for employers and patients.
"We are leveraging technology and AI to drive better health outcomes, simplifying personalized customer experiences, and lower costs, and then execute that at scale," said President and CEO Brian C. Evanko.
AI investments target $2,000 per-year savings
AI is now central to Cigna's long-term strategy, with tools being integrated into clinical programs and customer service. Evanko said customers who engage with AI programs reduce medical costs by roughly $2,000 per year on average. Early engagement has already yielded a 42% reduction in avoidable inpatient stays for those customers.
In July, Evernorth launched Pharmacy Forward, an AI-powered specialty pharmacy program backed by a $100 million investment through 2028. The program aims to speed up prescription processing and improve support for patients with complex conditions. These AI-driven efforts, part of a broader push for AI for Healthcare, are being built to handle rising demand for specialty medications and the growing consumer expectation for digital experiences that match other industries.
GLP-1 coverage retreats as employers weigh costs
Employer willingness to cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss continues to shrink, a trend that helps Cigna's insurance side but dampens Evernorth's pharmacy revenue. Cigna itself stopped covering GLP-1 weight-loss medications, including Wegovy and Zepbound, in its own employee health plan on July 1.
"We continue to offer a variety of financing solutions for employers that range from covering the cost of the GLP-1 drugs to covering a portion of the cost, to offering it on more of a sponsored or voluntary basis," Evanko said. He added that the space will "certainly continue to evolve."
Evernorth growth offsets pharmacy customer losses
Evernorth Health Services, which houses pharmacy, care, and health services, saw revenue climb 6% from a year earlier. The business benefited from faster adoption of specialty generic drugs and biosimilars, which lower costs for employers and patients. Evernorth now provides access to more than 330 limited-distribution specialty medications.
Total pharmacy customers fell 4% from the end of 2025 to 118.2 million, driven by previously announced client transitions and lower membership from health plan clients. The company's new rebate-free pharmacy benefit model, Signature, generated $609 million in adjusted pretax earnings in the pharmacy benefit services segment. Cigna is seeing strong early interest from health plans and employers ahead of a broader commercial rollout planned for 2028.
Quarterly financial snapshot
The Cigna Healthcare medical cost ratio rose to 84.5% from 83.2% a year earlier, reflecting higher prior-year risk adjustment benefits. Adjusted revenues in the insurance unit increased 9%, primarily due to premium rate increases. Overall medical customers grew 2% by the end of the quarter, although total customer relationships-including dental and pharmacy-slipped 3% from the end of 2025 to 182.8 million.
- Total revenue: $71.7 billion ($67.2 billion in Q2 2025)
- Net income: $1.66 billion ($1.53 billion in Q2 2025)
- Adjusted earnings per share: $7.78 ($7.20 in Q2 2025)
- Share repurchases: $250 million in Q2 2026
- Dividend declared: $1.56 per share
Shares fell 2% to $290.20 in afternoon trading Thursday.
Why this matters for healthcare professionals
Cigna's results show that AI-driven clinical programs are no longer theoretical-they are producing measurable savings, with a $2,000 per-year reduction in medical costs for engaged customers. For employers and health plan administrators, the data make a concrete case for adopting AI tools that lower avoidable inpatient stays and speed specialty drug access. At the same time, the retreat from GLP-1 coverage signals that the financial burden of weight-loss drugs is reshaping benefit design, a trend that will directly affect how care teams and patients navigate treatment options for obesity and related conditions.
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