Cigna Healthcare Names Paul Virtell President of Supplemental Health Business

Cigna Healthcare, the health benefits provider branch of The Cigna Group, has appointed Paul Virtell as president of its Supplemental Health business, tacking onto his 25 years of experience in product management and leadership.

In this role, Virtell will oversee the strategy, daily operations and expansion of Cigna Healthcare’s Supplemental Health division, which helps customers manage out-of-pocket expenses from serious illnesses or accidents.

This division provides Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care coverage, assisting policyholders with medical costs such as copays and deductibles, as well as everyday expenses during health-related disruptions.

Virtell

Virtell joins Cigna after nearly 24 years at Prudential Financial, where he held multiple leadership roles.

Most recently, he served as vice president and chief product owner, playing a key role in launching supplemental health products, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He also led a more than $70 million transformation initiative to consolidate Prudential’s Group Claims platform, improving automation and enhancing customer experience, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“Paul’s deep expertise in delivering value-driven solutions, optimizing claims processes, and leading complex teams makes him well-positioned to have an immediate impact on our supplemental health business and the benefit it provides to our customers,” said Heather Dlugolenski, senior vice president, U.S. Employer Strategy Officer at Cigna Healthcare, in the release.

“Our Supplemental Health business is uniquely positioned to deliver exceptional value by leveraging our leadership in medical and dental benefits to offer innovative, integrated solutions that provide financial protection when it’s needed most. Paul’s leadership will be instrumental in advancing this mission, strengthening our partnerships, and ensuring we continue to be the preferred healthcare partner of choice.”

Virtell expressed enthusiasm for his new role.

“It’s abundantly clear that this team thrives on a culture of care and collaboration, and it is this dedication that truly improves the lives of our customers when they need it most,” he said. “It’s a privilege to step into this role, and I’m eager to work alongside this team as we embrace new opportunities to deliver a simple and more seamless customer experience.”

Before his most recent position at Prudential, Virtell served as vice president of voluntary benefits administration from 2018 to 2022, where he played a critical role in shaping and implementing strategies to optimize voluntary benefits delivery.

From 2010 to 2018, he was nice president of relationship management and administration, overseeing Prudential’s largest Group Life Insurance client.

In this role, he managed $1.2 billion in annual revenue and led both customer-facing and operational teams.

Earlier in his career, Virtell held leadership roles in operations, compliance and benefits administration, including serving as director of OSGLI and director of health and welfare benefits.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he contributed to redesigning Prudential’s medical and disability programs, shifting them toward consumer-driven healthcare models focused on cost efficiency.

With a proven track record in strategic initiatives, product innovation and operational efficiency, Virtell is set to lead Cigna Healthcare’s Supplemental Health business toward continued growth and innovation.

A graduate of Centenary University with a degree in Business Administration, Virtell is based in New Jersey.