Cigna Global vs Allianz Care: Which Is Better for Expats? (2026)

Cigna Global is part of The Cigna Group, a major American health services company. Their international division serves expats, globally mobile employees, and international organizations. They operate in over 200 countries and have a particularly strong presence in Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas.

Allianz Care is the international health insurance division of Allianz, one of Europe's largest insurance and financial services companies. Based in Germany with operations across Europe, Allianz Care focuses on internationally mobile individuals and organizations, with particularly strong European networks.

Both Cigna and Allianz offer tiered plans ranging from core inpatient coverage to comprehensive packages including outpatient, dental, vision, and wellness benefits.

Cigna's structure: Silver (inpatient focus), Gold (comprehensive), and Platinum (maximum benefits). Each tier has clear coverage levels, and you can customize with add-ons.

Allianz's structure: Essential, Classic, and Premium tiers. Similar concept to Cigna, with Essential being more limited and Premium being comprehensive.

At comparable tiers, coverage is quite similar. The main differences are in network access, claims processes, and customer service—not fundamental coverage gaps.

In Europe: Allianz has an edge. As a European company, they have deeper relationships with hospitals across the EU. Expats in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Germany often find Allianz networks well-established.

In Asia and Middle East: Cigna has stronger networks, particularly in expat hubs like Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, and Thailand.

In the Americas: Cigna's US roots give them advantages in North and South America, though Allianz also has decent coverage.

Direct billing vs reimbursement: Both offer direct billing at major hospitals in their networks. For out-of-network care, both use reimbursement models. Check network coverage in your specific destination.

Cigna and Allianz are in the same pricing tier—both are considered premium international insurance. For comparable coverage, expect similar costs.

Actual pricing depends on: your age (biggest factor), chosen plan tier, deductible level, and coverage area. A 40-year-old might pay €180-280/month for comprehensive coverage from either.

Get quotes from both. Small differences in how they calculate premiums can result in one being 10-20% cheaper for your specific situation. Neither is consistently cheaper across all demographics.

For European visa applications (Spain, Portugal, France, etc.), both Cigna and Allianz are widely accepted. Consular officials are familiar with both companies, and their documentation typically meets requirements.

Allianz may have a slight edge at European consulates simply due to familiarity—as a European company, their paperwork is well-understood. But Cigna is also commonly accepted without issues.

Both provide visa-specific documentation on request. For strict requirements (like Spain's non-lucrative visa), both Gold/Platinum (Cigna) and Classic/Premium (Allianz) plans generally qualify.

Both companies offer 24/7 multilingual customer service. English support is standard; both offer additional languages depending on region.

Claims processing is similar at both—online portals, app-based submission, and reimbursement within standard timeframes (typically 5-15 business days for straightforward claims).

Reputation varies by region and over time. Check recent reviews from expats in your destination country. Service quality can differ between Cigna's regional offices and Allianz's local teams.

Choose Cigna if: You're moving somewhere outside Europe (Asia, Middle East, Americas), you want the broadest global coverage, you value a globally-recognized brand, or Cigna's quote is meaningfully cheaper for your profile.

Choose Allianz if: You're moving to Europe and want deep local integration, you prefer a European company for European consulates, you'll spend significant time across EU countries, or Allianz's quote is meaningfully cheaper for your profile.

Either works well if: You're moving to a major expat destination with good networks from both, you prioritize comprehensive coverage over specific network depth, or you simply want reliable premium international insurance.

1. Get quotes from both. Use your actual age, destination, and coverage preferences. See which is more affordable for your specific situation.

2. Check networks in your destination. Look up hospitals you might use. See if either has notably better direct billing relationships.

3. Read recent reviews. Look for expat feedback from your destination country specifically. Service quality can vary by region.

4. Consider your travel patterns. If you'll move between regions frequently, broader global coverage may matter more than local depth.