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Your guide to Cigna behavioral health credentialing

Understand the requirements to get credentialed with Cigna as a mental health care provider — and learn more about how you can get credentialed in 30 days with Headway.

February 27, 2026

8 min read

Credentialing is an important first step all providers need to take before billing insurance payers, including Cigna. Insurance credentialing is a multi-step vetting process that payers use to ensure you’re qualified to care for its members. If you’ve ever been through it, you already know credentialing can be time-consuming and sometimes stressful.

Every insurance company, including Cigna, has different requirements for credentialing. For providers who want to get credentialed with multiple payers, managing the process along with regular clinical care can be stressful. Below, learn more about how to get credentialed with Cigna, and how Headway can help you navigate the process and start seeing clients faster.

Key insights

1

To credential providers, Cigna requires an active license, active NPI number and CAQH profile, and liability insurance.

2

Credentialing with Cigna involves an online application and active CAQH profile. You’ll wait up to a few months to find out if you’re eligible to be an in-network provider, and then you can begin the contracting process.

3

Headway’s rapid credentialing streamlines the credentialing process, so you can start seeing in-network clients (and get paid) faster — and without the stress of managing it all yourself.

Cigna’s behavioral health credentialing requirements

Every insurance payer has different requirements for credentialing mental health providers, including Cigna. Although Cigna Behavioral Health officially became Evernorth Behavioral Health, Inc. on September 1, 2021, we’ll still refer to the company as “Cigna” in this article. 

For credentialing behavioral health providers, Cigna specifically requires: 

  • You are a licensed mental health provider in the state(s) you provide care
  • You have professional liability insurance that meets certain requirements 
  • You have an active NPI number 
  • You have a complete CAQH profile 
  • You provide five years of work history with no gaps longer than six months

You can learn more about Cigna’s credentialing process and find its credentialing application on their website.

Note: Content about Cigna has been sourced from publicly available information on Cigna.com. These requirements may have changed since this article was published.

Does Cigna use CAQH for credentialing?

Like many insurance payers, Cigna uses CAQH for credentialing. CAQH, or Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare, is a non-profit organization that streamlines the business side of health care. Many insurance plans use the information providers submit to CAQH for credentialing so they can be sure providers have the education, training, and experience necessary to provide quality care to clients.

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The Cigna provider credentialing process

Cigna follows the below step-by-step process for credentialing and contracting mental health providers. 

  1. Be sure you meet the requirements to become a Cigna behavioral health provider.
  2. Complete the Evernorth Behavioral Health Provider Information Form.
  3. Cigna will review your application and contact you with next steps, commonly within 21 business days. 
  4. If approved, Cigna will finalize your credentialing and contracting for their behaviornal health network. 

How long the credentialing process takes depends on many factors. Headway streamlines the credentialing process for providers, expediting the application process, supporting compliance with payers like Cigna, and helping you see in-network clients in as little as 30 days.

After you’re credentialed with Cigna

After you’re credentialed for the behavioral health network, you’ll move into the contracting phase. Evernorth Behavioral Health will notify you once credentialing is complete and provide next steps to finalize your contract and network participation.

Once both processes are complete, you can start seeing in-network clients and bill Cigna for sessions. It’s important to verify your client’s benefits and specific plan before you begin seeing them. 

Coverage details such as deductibles, copays, session limits, and authorization requirements can vary by plan and may influence reimbursement and client expectations. Taking a moment to verify benefits can help reduce the likelihood of payment delays or unexpected coverage issues, supporting a smoother experience for both you and your clients.

Cigna credentialing FAQs

How long does it take to get credentialed with Cigna?

If you’re navigating the credentialing process alone, it can take as long as months to get credentialed with Cigna as a mental health provider. The process can sometimes be even longer if the payer has questions or concerns about your application. Headway providers can often get credentialed in 30 days, making it easier to start seeing clients and get paid faster, without the stress of juggling multiple credentialing applications.

How can I check my credentialing status with Cigna?

After you apply to be credentialed with Cigna, you can check your application status by calling 1-800-926-2273 or emailing [email protected]. Including your NPI and/or tax ID on correspondence.

With Headway, you can easily check your application status in the provider portal (and, ultimately, start seeing clients and getting paid faster than if you navigate the process alone).

What types of clients can I see if I accept Cigna?

Cigna is a major nationwide insurance plan. If you’re contracted as an in-network provider with Cigna, you can see members whose plans include your provider type and specialty, which is outlined in your credentialing profile. It’s important to verify each client’s benefits before beginning care, as coverage and eligibility may vary by plan.

Explore Headway’s credentialing resources for other insurance carriers

Headway simplifies the credentialing process, making it easy to be in-network with multiple different insurance companies as you expand your therapy practice. Learn more about the credentialing process for other payers below.

How Headway streamlines the credentialing process

Headway partners directly with major insurance payers to streamline credentialing across the states where you practice. Once you complete a single application, Headway takes it from there,  coordinating with insurers so you can begin seeing in-network clients and receiving reimbursement as quickly as possible, without the burden of managing multiple applications or navigating common credentialing roadblocks.

From paperwork submission to status monitoring and payer follow-ups, Headway oversees every step of the process to keep things moving. Fewer delays and less guesswork mean you can spend more time growing your practice and caring for clients — not tracking approvals or handling administrative tasks.

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This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical, legal, financial, or professional advice. All decisions should be made at the discretion of the individual or organization, in consultation with qualified clinical, legal, or other appropriate professionals.

© 2026 Therapymatch, Inc. dba Headway. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.

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