
HR leaders: How Cigna Healthcare's solutions prioritize employee mental health
Cigna Healthcare® leverages our extensive data and predictive models to identify and engage at-risk customers. Unlike many competitors, this approach helps us reach many of the 55% of people with mental health conditions who don't seek care.
Mental and physical health are connected
Cigna Healthcare's value of integration study proves the impact of integrating medical, pharmacy, and behavioral health on individuals care and total medical costs. [4]
Real savings
$193 per member per year (PMPY) total medical cost savings across the Cigna Healthcare book of business
$9,207 PMPY total medical cost savings when engaged in a health improvement opportunity
Real engagement
37% more health risk assessments
14% more personalized outreaches
60% more myCigna.com® sessions
Real opportunity
Savings are even greater for those with diagnosed conditions and engaged in a health improvement opportunity [5]
Diabetes - $851 PMPY
Obesity - $10,414 PMPY
Bone and joint problems - $10,418 PMPY
Depression - $7,366 PMPY
Health care that's better by design
Mental health solutions are imperative for overall health and well-being. Cigna Healthcare is here to help with solutions that make it easier for you and your employees to get better care, faster.
Find a match: Customers can search online or talk to one of our personal care navigators who will help find a therapist or counselor that meets their preferences.
Get an appointment fast: We help customers get an appointment — often in as little as two days.
Personal support: We follow up on 100% of customer interactions.
Available 24/7: Customers have unlimited real-time access to licensed clinicians for in-the-moment sessions.
Discover how Cigna Healthcare supports you and your employees in life's ordinary and extraordinary health moments through predictive, personalized, and connected experiences.
Sources:
[1] John Hopkins Medicine. 'Mental Health Disorder Statistics.' January 24, 2022.
[2] Average wait time to see a therapist is 6 weeks. Nietzel, Michael T. Almost Half of Americans Don't Seek Professional Help For Mental Disorders, Forbes. May 24, 2021.
[3] Reinert, M, Fritze, D. & Nguyen, T. 'The State of Mental Health in America 2023' Mental Health America, Alexandria VA. Oct. 2022.
[4] Cigna Healthcare 2024 National Book of Business study of 2023 claims of medical customers who have Cigna Healthcare integrated medical, pharmacy and Cigna Total Behavioral Health® benefits. Average annual per member per year (PMPY) – Individual client/customer results will vary and are not guaranteed. Cigna Healthcare used a match case-control methodology developed at Harvard University to produce supplementary statistics on different subsets of customers (those with certain comorbidities, who engaged in health improvement activities, etc.) A control group isolates the difference in medical cost. The sample size and methodology are consistent with previous years' analyses, and do not reflect any selection biases or partialities.
[5] Engagement in a health improvement opportunity includes coaching or case management while also taking action, such as closing a gap in care or receiving additional support.
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CNBC
3 hours ago
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From Starbucks to Smoothie King, restaurants seek to cash in on consumers' protein frenzy
Restaurant chains are joining in on the protein frenzy, hoping to encourage diners to pay more for extra macronutrients during a time when many consumers aren't spending as much. From "gym bros" to users of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, many Americans are trying to add more protein to their diets, with the goal of building or maintaining their muscle mass and feeling more satiated after meals. Moreover, diet trends that don't emphasize protein intake, such as the ketogenic diet, have fallen out of favor. "A lot of younger consumers are more proactive about their health habits, so they're looking for ways to support health now but also to support their health in the future," said Julia Mills, a food and drink analyst for market research firm Mintel. "Generation Alpha, Gen Z, millennials — these consumers are very active on social media, so they're constantly being fed this message that you need more protein, and protein helps you gain muscle and makes you stronger." Roughly a third of consumers said they loved high protein in the second quarter of 2025, up from 24% three years ago, according to Datassential, which tracks restaurant menus and consumer preferences. The trend has fueled a protein takeover in grocery store aisles, from protein-packed Eggo waffles to Khloe Kardashian's Khloud protein popcorn. But it's also hitting the menus of restaurants that are seeking ways to encourage diners to pay for premium food and drinks. Take Starbucks, for example. The coffee giant said in late July that it will roll out a cold foam packed with 15 grams of protein later this year; the regular cold foam add-on typically costs customers an extra $1.25 per drink. The new foam comes as the chain's U.S. sales have been shrinking for the past year as coffee drinkers brew their java at home or seek out trendier options. Rival Dutch Bros launched a protein coffee in early 2024 and charges customers an extra $1 for the customization. The menu addition fueled strong same-store sales growth and profits for the upstart chain. Eateries are seeking to attract diners like Jared Hutkowski, a 42-year-old director of brokerage in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He works out six days a week and tries to hit his daily protein goal to improve his physique and overall health. When he dines out, he tries to maximize his protein, although he sometimes goes for pizza anyway. "The biggest factor is what I am in the mood for that day, and then I normally try and select a meal that has a least a serving of some type of protein in it," Hutkowski said. This year, 28.4% of U.S. restaurant menus call out "protein," up from 5.9% a decade ago, according to Datassential. And the trend looks like it has staying power. Datassential predicts that by 2029, more than 40% of eateries will highlight protein on their menus. "Protein is one of those things that's never been vilified, because no one's ever said that eating too much protein can be bad for you," Mintel's Mills said. In the short term, consuming more protein than your body needs likely won't cause health issues, but in the long term, it could cause kidney problems, according to Diane Han, a registered dietitian based in San Francisco and the founder of Woking Balance Wellness. The recommended daily amount of protein intake varies by body weight but is roughly 46 grams for women and 56 grams for men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For restaurants, protein's step change happened several years ago. In 2021, protein only had a menu penetration of 11.5%; by 2022, more than a quarter of restaurant menus used the term, based on Datassential data. That year, Dine Brands' IHOP, for example, introduced pancakes with 18 grams of protein per flapjack. Fast-casual eateries are the restaurant segment most likely to call out protein on their menus, thanks to the common practice of asking customers to pick their protein or offering to double their portion, according to Datassential. Fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen introduced a line of "protein plates" in late 2023 as part of an effort to introduce more hearty options for dinner customers. The menu addition has helped the company grow its dinner business from 35% of sales to about 40%, executives said in March. Many restaurants are also leaning into U.S. consumers' desire for convenience. Accessibility may be why Datassential found that consumers tend to prefer protein-packed beverages. For Smoothie King, protein has been a menu staple since its founding more than 50 years ago. But in October, the chain took one step further, launching a menu aimed at consumers who take GLP-1 drugs for weight loss or diabetes. The rapid weight loss that can occur from the medications can cause muscle mass to drop, so doctors often advise patients to increase their protein intake to maintain their muscle. "It's a convenient, on-the-go way to get in your protein that you're looking for in your diet," said Lori Primavera, Smoothie King's vice president of research and development and product marketing. Many restaurants are also choosing to highlight existing protein-packed options, rather than adding new menu items that would slow down kitchens or add to much complexity to their operations. For example, Panda Express introduced its own protein plates earlier this year. The line, created in partnership with a registered dietitian, includes pre-existing menu items but packages them as a balanced meal, highlighting protein and fiber content. 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USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Sorry, but RFK Jr.'s beloved beef tallow fries won't save Steak 'n Shake
RFK Jr.'s ascent to a position of health authority is a culmination of America's doing-my-own-research era. Steak 'n Shake is happy to glom onto it. Steak 'n Shake has jumped on the Make America Healthy Again bandwagon in a desperate last-ditch effort to resuscitate its finances. The chain's gratuitous pandering to red-state America will go down as a sad final act for a storied restaurant chain. Indianapolis-based Steak 'n Shake is not only adopting MAHA-approved ingredients – beef tallow for the fries and cane sugar for the soda – but also coordinating with the Trump administration and expanding MAGA universe to create the most right-coded infomercials this side of MyPillow and gleaming gold coins. 'We RFK'd our fries,' Daniel Edwards, Steak 'n Shake's chief operations officer, boasted to Fox News in February. That's, of course, a reference to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., America's top health official, who opposes vaccines but says "Hell, yeah!" to Americans mainlining soda and fries. RFK Jr. appeared on "Hannity" to eat Steak 'n Shake's shoestring fries, an explicit endorsement of fast food as a path to better health. RFK Jr.'s ascent to a position of health authority is a culmination of America's doing-my-own-research era. Steak 'n Shake is happy to glom onto it in a play to find a market for its waning products. Opinion: RFK Jr. defunds mRNA vaccine research. His anti-vax policies will kill people. Better ingredients, same junk food I should note there are merits to both beef tallow and cane sugar. Many skilled chefs prefer to cook with beef tallow because it cooks better at high temperatures and generally tastes better. Cane sugar likewise fares better in taste tests, and it is less processed than alternatives, including high-fructose corn syrup. Opinion: Is Coke with cane sugar really healthier? MAHA's claims are missing the point. Here's the thing: Fries are fries and sugar is sugar. If you overeat at Steak 'n Shake, you can expect similar health outcomes to overeating at any other fast-food joint. Steak 'n Shake is not becoming a health-food restaurant. It's introducing these products as a business decision. And for good reason. Steak 'n Shake has closed 200 restaurants since 2018. Parent company Biglari Holdings Inc. disclosed an interesting nugget in its first-quarter earnings report: Customer traffic continued to fall at Steak 'n Shake, but same-store sales increased by 3.9%. Therein lies the financial power of MAGA. The MAGA premium By tapping into politics, Steak 'n Shake is extracting more money out of fewer customers who feel like they are doing their part in the culture war by RFK'ing their diets. Steak 'n Shake's food costs went up this year because of the switch to beef tallow, according to the earnings report. Customers are paying a premium to dine from a menu that fits their political orientation. There's a risk that appealing to MAGA will alienate other customers. But most Steak 'n Shake locations fall in Trump-friendly states (although it does have dozens of locations in blue-state Illinois). Steak 'n Shake's well-publicized pivot to MAGA likely is improving the chain's short-term outlook. The long term is another matter. Short-term gain, long-term pain President Donald Trump will leave office, media coverage will dissipate and the novelty of "Make Frying Oil Tallow Again" merch and consuming 2,000-calorie meals to own the libs will fade. When that happens, Steak 'n Shake will fall right back to where it was before: a brand lacking identity and lost in the shuffle of competitors with more premium products. My guess is that Steak 'n Shake's cynical alignment with America's anti-vaxx crusader will afford the chain two to three years of relative stability before it runs out of steam. After that, Steak 'n Shake's descent toward obsolescence will resume and store closings will accelerate. I'm not cheering for Steak 'n Shake's demise. I have fond memories of meals and late-night study sessions. I was under no illusions about the products. I was there for the greasy food, caffeine and sugar high. Now, Steak 'n Shake is selling its customers a lie. That rarely ends well for any business. James Briggs is the opinion editor at the Indianapolis Star, where this column originally appeared. Contact him at or follow him on X and Bluesky: @JamesEBriggs


USA Today
5 hours ago
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Steak 'n Shake's MAGA makeover is a desperate bid to save a dying business
Customers are paying a premium to dine from a menu that fits their political orientation. It's a cynical play that won't end well. Steak 'n Shake has jumped on the Make America Healthy Again bandwagon in a desperate last-ditch effort to resuscitate its finances. The chain's gratuitous pandering to red-state America will go down as a sad final act for a storied restaurant chain. Indianapolis-based Steak 'n Shake is not only adopting MAHA-approved ingredients — beef tallow for the fries and cane sugar for the soda — but also coordinating with the Trump administration and expanded MAGA universe to create the most right-coded infomercials this side of MyPillow and gleaming gold coins. 'We RFK'd the fries,' Daniel Edwards, Steak 'n Shake's chief operations officer, boasted to Fox News in February. That's, of course, a reference to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., America's top health official, who opposes vaccines but says, "Hell, yeah!" to Americans mainlining soda and fries. RFK Jr. appeared on "Hannity" to eat Steak 'n Shake's shoestring fries, an explicit endorsement of fast food as a path to better health. Opinion: Make Indiana Healthy Again is about cost-cutting, not wellness RFK Jr.'s ascent to a position of health authority is a culmination of America's doing-my-own-research era. Steak 'n Shake is happy to glom onto it in a play to find a market for its waning products. Better ingredients, same junk food I should note there are merits to both beef tallow and cane sugar. Many skilled chefs prefer to cook with beef tallow because it cooks better at high temperatures and generally tastes better. Cane sugar likewise fares better in taste tests and it is less processed than alternatives including high-fructose corn syrup. But here's the thing. Fries are fries and sugar is sugar. If you overeat at Steak 'n Shake, you can expect similar health outcomes to overeating at any other fast-food joint. Steak 'n Shake is not becoming a health-food restaurant. It's introducing these products as a business decision. And for good reason. Steak 'n Shake has closed 200 restaurants since 2018. Parent company Biglari Holdings Inc. disclosed an interesting nugget in its first-quarter earnings report: Customer traffic continued to fall at Steak 'n Shake, but same-store sales increased by 3.9%. Therein lies the financial power of MAGA. The MAGA premium By tapping into politics, Steak 'n Shake is extracting more money out of fewer customers who feel like they are doing their part in the culture war by RFKing their diets. Steak 'n Shake's food costs went up this year because of the switch to beef tallow, according to the earnings report. Customers are paying a premium to dine from a menu that fits their political orientation. There's a risk that appealing to MAGA will alienate other customers. But most Steak 'n Shake locations fall in Trump-friendly states (although it does have dozens of locations in blue-state Illinois). Steak 'n Shake's well-publicized pivot to MAGA likely is improving the chain's short-term outlook. The long term is another matter. Short-term gain, long-term pain President Trump will leave office, media coverage will dissipate and the novelty of "Make Frying Oil Tallow Again" merch and consuming 2,000-calorie meals to own the libs will fade. When that happens, Steak 'n Shake will fall right back to where it was before: a brand lacking identity and lost in the shuffle of competitors with more premium products. Opinion: Trump-backed cane sugar Coke tastes different, but health benefits are a myth My guess is that Steak 'n Shake's cynical alignment with America's anti-vaxx crusader will afford the chain two to three years of relative stability before it runs out of steam. After that, Steak 'n Shake's descent toward obsolescence will resume and store closings will accelerate. I'm not cheering for Steak 'n Shake's demise. I have fond memories of meals and late-night study sessions. I was under no illusions about the products. I was there for the greasy food, caffeine and sugar high. Now, Steak 'n Shake is selling its customers on a lie. That rarely ends well for any business. Contact James Briggs at 317-444-4732 or Follow him on X and Bluesky at @JamesEBriggs.