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Cigna Global vs Allianz Care for expats in Africa

Cigna Global and Allianz Care are two of the strongest international insurers, but they win on different things: Cigna on fine premium control and chronic-condition support, Allianz on a real choice of underwriting. IPMIAfrica sets them side by side for Africa.

Last updated: 19 October 2026 · Reviewed by IPMIAfrica

In short: Choose Allianz Care if medical history is your main worry, because it lets you choose the underwriting basis: full medical underwriting, moratorium or switch terms. Choose Cigna Global if you are in good health and want to shape the premium with a deductible, cost share and out-of-pocket cap, plus nurse-led chronic condition support and direct billing by ID card. Both offer areas of cover that include Africa.

Key takeaways

Cigna's cost share is 0%, 10%, 20% or 30% after the deductible, capped by an out-of-pocket maximum.
Allianz's Moratorium option asks no health questions but applies a 24-month wait to pre-existing conditions.
Cigna's evacuation is an optional module; Allianz includes evacuation and repatriation on all three core plans.
Cigna's Close Care covers only residence and nationality; Allianz's narrower areas are Africa only and Europe.
Allianz pays 80% of inpatient and 50% of other benefits if required pre-authorisation is skipped.

At a glance

	Cigna Global	Allianz Care
Plan structure	Silver / Gold / Platinum + Close Care	Care Base / Enhanced / Signature + modules
Cover levels	US$1m to paid in full, by plan	Care Base US$1.35m; Enhanced US$2.7m; Signature US$5m (Table of Benefits, Care, Nov 2025, p.6)
Area of cover	Worldwide or excl. USA; Close Care: residence + nationality	Worldwide, worldwide excluding USA, Africa only or Europe (Table of Benefits, Care, Nov 2025, p.20)
Underwriting	Medical underwriting on disclosed history	Choice: FMU / Moratorium / CPME / switch terms
Cost control	Deductible + cost share (0 to 30%) + out-of-pocket cap	Deductible; modular out-patient and dental
Chronic support	Nurse-led Chronic Condition Management	Covered per plan; managed via underwriting
Claims	In-network direct billing with ID card	Pre-auth inpatient; MyHealth reimbursement

Where each one wins

Cigna's edge is control and ongoing care. Every Cigna Global Health Options international private medical insurance (IPMI) plan lets you pull three levers: a deductible, a cost share of 0%, 10%, 20% or 30% after it, and an out-of-pocket maximum that caps what the cost share can add up to in a year. That is finer control over the premium than most insurers offer, and it is how members bring a Gold-level plan close to a Silver-level price. On top of that, Cigna's Chronic Condition Management programme is led by specialist nurses and supports members living with pre-diabetes, diabetes, high blood pressure, musculoskeletal pain and arthritis.

Allianz's edge is underwriting flexibility. It is one of the few insurers that lets you choose how your medical history is assessed: Full Medical Underwriting, with 20 health questions and certainty from day one; Moratorium, with no health questions but a 24-month waiting period on pre-existing conditions; or CPME and switch terms when moving from another insurer. For anyone with medical history, that choice can change what is covered from the first day. Our pre-existing conditions guide explains the options.

Both have rules worth diarising. Cigna requires disclosure of any health change before your start date and offers a 14-day free-look. Allianz requires pre-authorisation for inpatient and high-cost treatment, pays 80% of inpatient and 50% of other eligible benefits if you skip it, and must be told of an emergency admission within 48 hours.

Cigna or Allianz from Africa

For IPMIAfrica readers in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania and Mauritius, the two insurers look similar on area and differ on evacuation and currency.

Area of cover. Both offer worldwide or worldwide excluding the USA, and both include Africa. Cigna adds Close Care, which covers only your country of residence and country of nationality, so planned treatment in a third country falls outside it. Allianz's narrower areas are Africa only and Europe (Table of Benefits, Care, valid from 1 November 2025, p.20). Our guide to regional versus worldwide cover explains when a narrower area is a sensible saving.
Evacuation. On Cigna, medical evacuation is an optional module, International Evacuation and Crisis Assistance Plus. Allianz includes medical evacuation and repatriation on all three core plans, with pre-authorisation (Table of Benefits, Care, valid from 1 November 2025, p.9). In countries where complex treatment may mean a flight, ask both for the evacuation wording before comparing price. Our evacuation guide lists what it should cover.
Currency. Cigna's limits are published in US dollars and its deductible options depend on the plan currency. Allianz's plan currency is confirmed at quote.
Using the cover. Cigna's in-network outpatient visits can often be billed directly by showing the ID card, with providers found through its online Provider Search. Allianz runs out-patient and dental claims through the MyHealth app and pre-authorises inpatient treatment, with a 24/7 multilingual helpline.

In short: if your medical history is the thing you are worried about, Allianz's choice of underwriting basis is the deciding feature. If you are in good health and want to shape the premium and get nurse-led support for a chronic condition, Cigna's levers do more. The price difference between them for the same person is only knowable by quoting both on the same inputs. Read the full profiles on our Cigna Global and Allianz Care pages.

Which should you choose?

Choose Cigna Global if…

You want to set the premium precisely with a deductible, cost share and out-of-pocket cap, you value nurse-led support for an ongoing condition, and you want a large international network with direct billing by ID card.

Choose Allianz Care if…

You have medical history and want to choose the underwriting basis, you prefer a clean core-plus-modules plan, and you like the backing of one of the world's largest insurers.

Read the full breakdowns: Cigna Global guide · Allianz Care guide.

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FAQ

Is Cigna or Allianz cheaper in Africa?

Neither is reliably cheaper. The price depends on your age, country of residence, cover level, deductible or cost share, and medical history, and the same person can get quite different quotes from each. That is why IPMIAfrica quotes both live through Nomi rather than assuming.

Which is better for pre-existing conditions?

Allianz Care is often the stronger pick because it lets you choose the underwriting basis: FMU, Moratorium or switch terms. Cigna also underwrites on your disclosed history. The best route depends on your specific conditions, so it is worth getting advice before you buy.

Which has better chronic condition support?

Cigna stands out for ongoing management through its nurse-led Chronic Condition Management programme. With either insurer, whether an existing condition is covered when you join still depends on underwriting.

Which includes medical evacuation?

Cigna offers evacuation as an optional module, International Evacuation and Crisis Assistance Plus, so ask for it in the quote. Allianz includes medical evacuation and repatriation on all three core plans, with pre-authorisation. Check both before relying on either if you live where complex treatment may mean travelling.

General information, not personal or medical advice. Based on each insurer’s plan documentation; exact terms, limits and underwriting are confirmed at quote. Prices are indicative. Cigna and Allianz names and logos are the property of their respective owners.