Beginning January 1, 2027, Nationwide is changing the company that administers pharmacy benefits for its employer groups: pharmacy benefit administration will move from Cigna to Express Scripts Pharmacy Benefit Services, Evernorth Health Services’ pharmacy benefit services business. The change affects pharmacy benefits only; medical and all other benefits under affected employer-sponsored health plans remain unchanged.
A pharmacy benefit administrator runs the prescription drug side of a health plan. This can include the pharmacy ID card, the formulary (the list of covered prescription drugs), copays (the amounts members pay for prescriptions), and the pharmacy network (the pharmacies that participate in the plan).
Evernorth is Cigna’s health services division, so Express Scripts is part of the Cigna family of companies. For affected Nationwide employer groups and members, however, the pharmacy benefit administrator and the information on the pharmacy ID card are changing.
Key dates for the transition
| Date | What to know |
|---|---|
| October 28, 2026 | Nationwide will email affected employer groups about the transition. |
| November 2026 | Express Scripts will mail disruption letters to members whose pharmacy, coverage, or costs may change. The letters will include specific next steps. |
| December 1, 2026 | Members can begin contacting Express Scripts with questions about pharmacy services starting January 1, 2027. |
| December 31, 2026 | Last day to use Cigna for pharmacy needs and to use the current pharmacy ID card. |
| Around January 1, 2027 | New ID cards with Express Scripts information are expected to arrive in the mail. |
| January 1, 2027 | Members should present the new Express Scripts card at the pharmacy for services beginning on this date. |
What employers should do now
If you sponsor a Nationwide employer group plan, look for Nationwide’s email beginning October 28. An FAQ PDF accompanies the employer communication. Watch for it and use the transition information to prepare your HR team and plan how you will share relevant updates with employees.
Some employees may have questions before you have all the individual details. Express Scripts will send disruption letters directly to members whose pharmacy, coverage, or costs may change. Those letters will include the specific next steps for each affected member.
It may help to share the key dates with employees early, while reminding them that the change is limited to pharmacy benefits. You can also let them know which company to contact and when: Cigna for pharmacy needs through December 31, 2026, and Express Scripts beginning December 1 for questions about pharmacy services starting January 1.
If your HR team is already coordinating benefits communications, consider including this transition in that planning. For additional background on employee benefits support, visit Total Benefit Solutions.
What members should do
Keep using your current card through December 31, 2026. Continue contacting Cigna for pharmacy needs through that date. Members can start contacting Express Scripts on December 1 with questions about pharmacy services that begin January 1.
Watch your mail in November for a disruption letter from Express Scripts, if your pharmacy, coverage, or costs may change. Also watch for a new ID card with Express Scripts information, expected around January 1. Present that new card at the pharmacy for services starting January 1, 2027.
Keep taking care of your prescriptions as usual. If you use a maintenance prescription (a medication you take regularly), plan refills on your normal schedule and follow any instructions you receive. The transition is a reason to pay attention to mail and card dates, not to let a refill lapse.
Pay attention to disruption letters
A disruption letter means that your pharmacy, coverage, or costs may change under the new pharmacy benefit administration. Read the letter carefully: it will provide specific next steps for your situation. If your pharmacy is outside the new network (the group of pharmacies that participate in the plan), the letter is the place to start for information about what to do next.
A member’s experience may depend on the details in their letter. Avoid assuming that every member will have the same change, or that your current pharmacy arrangements will necessarily continue unchanged. If you receive a letter, follow its instructions and contact the appropriate administrator with questions.
Keep the two card dates straight
The current card remains the one to use for pharmacy services through December 31, 2026. Beginning January 1, 2027, members should present the new card with Express Scripts information. The current card should not be used at the pharmacy counter for services beginning on January 1.
If the new card has not arrived around the transition, or if you are unsure which card to present, contact the appropriate administrator for guidance. Use Cigna for pharmacy needs through December 31; for questions about pharmacy services that start January 1, members may contact Express Scripts beginning December 1.
How Total Benefit Solutions can help
A change in pharmacy benefit administration can bring practical questions for both employers and employees: Which card should you use, when should you contact each administrator, and what should you do if you receive a disruption letter? We help employers and members understand what the transition means for their plan, organize the questions to ask, and make sure prescriptions do not fall through the cracks during the switch.
We are an independent benefits advocate. If you need help understanding the communication or planning your next steps, contact us at no cost to you.
Visit www.totalbenefits.net or call (215) 355-2121.
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