Cigna's Expanded Home Phototherapy Access Sparks 0.63% Stock Gain as Trading Volume Ranks 200th Amid 19.2M Patient Coverage Expansion

On August 29, 2025, The (CI) closed with a 0.63% gain, trading a volume of 0.48 billion shares, ranking 200th in market activity. The move followed Cigna’s updated policy to expand access to home phototherapy for dermatological conditions, a development with potential implications for its business partnerships and market positioning.

Cigna announced the removal of prior restrictions on home phototherapy coverage for 19.2 million insured individuals, effective July 15, 2025. This change allows patients with psoriasis, eczema, and vitiligo to access clinically proven at-home treatment without coverage limitations. The decision aligns with a similar move by Elevance Health/Anthem, which covers 47.5 million lives, collectively extending access to over 66.7 million Americans. The policy is projected to reduce out-of-pocket costs by up to 90% for patients while offering insurers a cost-effective alternative to biologic therapies, potentially saving thousands of dollars per patient annually.

Phothera, the provider of the phototherapy solutions, highlighted the LITE Study, which demonstrated that home phototherapy achieves equivalent efficacy to in-office care, with threefold higher adherence rates and reduced clinic visits. The expansion is expected to improve treatment accessibility for millions with chronic skin conditions, addressing unmet needs in dermatological care. Cigna’s move also reflects broader industry trends toward reducing barriers to non-invasive, cost-efficient treatments.

The backtest results indicate that the stock’s recent performance was influenced by the policy update and broader market sentiment. The 0.63% rise on August 29 aligns with the announcement’s release, though volume remained moderate relative to its market cap. Analyst activity, including price target revisions and technical indicators, was noted in prior days but did not directly impact the August 29 close.