History

CIGNA was formed in 1982 through the combination of INA Corporation and Connecticut General Corporation. Our name mixes the letters INA and CG together. Today, CIGNA's service mark, the Tree of Life, symbolizes the corporation's culture, mission and products. Like a strong and healthy tree, CIGNA has deep roots.

The histories of our two main predecessors, the Insurance Company of North America (INA) and Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CG), reach back to earlier centuries. INA was founded in 1792 in Philadelphia after meetings in Independence Hall. The organizers were merchants and other prominent citizens who sought to protect ships, cargoes, warehouses and homes through a company offering marine and fire insurance. CG began business in Hartford in 1865 as a life insurance company. It grew slowly until the end of the century, mainly providing low-cost policies to the residents of small towns in New England and New York.

Both companies experienced explosive growth in the twentieth century because their leaders were devoted to the goal of expanding insurance protection to average Americans. In the 1930s and 40s, INA executives broke down the artificial walls that segregated various types of property and casualty coverages, eventually winning approval for multiple-line underwriting. The resulting modern "bundled" automobile and homeowners insurance were of great benefit to American consumers because they substantially lowered the price of coverage.

Sophisticated multiple-line contracts for business soon followed. CG executives concentrated on bringing affordable life, medical, dental and retirement coverage to working Americans. From the sale of its first group life policy in 1913, CG was a leader in the development of integrated group insurance and group pension contracts.

CIGNA's formation in 1982 combined a leading property-casualty insurer with a leading supplier of life insurance and employee benefits. Over time, CIGNA has tightened its focus on employee benefits, divesting its individual life insurance business in 1998, and its domestic and international property and casualty operations in 1999. Today, CIGNA continues to innovate, expand and grow. In offices throughout the United States and around the world our employees are united by a shared past and a mutual commitment to building "A Business of Caring."