Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Cigna Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. These Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Company adopted Article 5 of Regulation S-X issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) effective December 31, 2018 in conjunction with the acquisition of Express Scripts. As a result, the Company now presents current assets and liabilities on its balance sheet. The Company reclassified realized investment gains (losses) from revenue and now reports them below income from operations with interest expense in our Consolidated Statements of Income, in conformity with Article 5. Prior years’ information was reclassified to conform to this new presentation.

Amounts recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements necessarily reflect management’s estimates and assumptions about medical costs, investment and receivable valuations, interest rates and other factors. Significant estimates are discussed throughout these Notes; however, actual results could differ from those estimates. The impact of a change in estimate is generally included in earnings in the period of adjustment.

These interim Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited but include all adjustments (including normal recurring adjustments) necessary, in the opinion of management, for a fair statement of financial position and results of operations for the periods reported. The interim Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes included in the 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K (“2018 Form 10-K”). The preparation of interim Consolidated Financial Statements necessarily relies heavily on estimates. This and certain other factors, including the seasonal nature of portions of the health care and related benefits business, as well as competitive and other market conditions, call for caution in estimating full-year results based on interim results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The 2018 Form 10-K includes discussion of significant recent accounting pronouncements that either have impacted or may impact our financial statements in the future. The following information provides updates on recently adopted or recently issued accounting pronouncements that have occurred since the Company filed its 2018 Form 10-K.

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases¸ as of January 1, 2019 (the adoption date) on a modified retrospective basis for leases in effect as of and after the adoption date. This new guidance requires balance sheet recognition of assets and liabilities arising from leases, as well as additional disclosures regarding the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows from leases. The Company implemented a new lease system and corresponding internal controls to administer our leases and facilitate compliance with this new standard.

The Company elected the practical expedient package, allowing the Company to carry forward the assessment of 1) whether our contracts contain or are leases, 2) lease classification and 3) whether previously capitalized costs continue to qualify as initial direct costs. Upon adoption, the Company recognized new right-of-use assets and lease liabilities related only to our operating leases, as finance (capital) leases were already reflected on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The impact of adoption on the Company’s net assets and retained earnings was not material, nor was there a material impact on our Consolidated Statements of Income or Cash Flows. See Note 14 for additional disclosures about the Company’s leases.

Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

Accounting Standard and Effective Date		Requirements and Expected Effects of New Guidance Not Yet Adopted
Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13) Required as of January 1, 2020	Requires:
	•	A new approach using expected credit losses to estimate and recognize credit losses for certain financial instruments (such as mortgage loans, reinsurance recoverables and other receivables) when such instruments are first originated or acquired, compared with the incurred loss model currently used. Upon adoption, the Company will record an allowance for estimated credit losses on the balance sheet. Subsequent changes in the allowance will be reported in current period earnings.
	•	Changes in the criteria for impairment of available-for-sale debt securities
	•	Adoption using a modified retrospective approach with a cumulative-effect adjustment recorded in retained earnings
	Expected effects:
	•	The Company is continuing to evaluate this new standard and its expected effects on our financial statements and disclosures. We will adopt the standard as of January 1, 2020.
	•	An additional allowance for future expected credit losses under the new model will be required for certain financial instruments. At this time, the amount is expected to approximate $50 million after-tax and primarily relates to reinsurance recoverables.