Credentialing With Cigna: 6 Easy Steps for Therapists

Credentialing with Cigna for behavioral health runs through Evernorth’s provider portal and a CAQH profile. Evernorth lists clear minimum requirements, six application steps and a few exceptions for clinics and facilities. This guide covers what therapists and psychiatrists need before they start, checked against Evernorth’s page on 10/25/26.

Credentialing with Cigna: what Evernorth requires first

Evernorth Behavioral Health handles behavioral network applications for Cigna Healthcare plans. For an individual provider, it asks that each item below is current and in good standing:

• An independent license in the state where you provide services
• For prescribers, a DEA license for each location, with an expiration date at least 60 days away
• Professional and general liability insurance: $1M/$3M for physicians and psychiatric nurses with prescriptive authority, or $1M/$1M for other providers
• A CAQH identification number
• A completed W-9 for each tax ID

Step 1: Complete and maintain your CAQH profile

Evernorth asks you to re-attest every 120 days (180 days for Illinois providers) and to authorize Evernorth to access your profile. Your W-9 must match the tax ID on your provider form. List graduate education, your primary specialty and five years of consecutive work history, and explain gaps over six months. A résumé or CV must be dated within the last two years. Read CAQH reattestation and the Attestation entry.

Step 2: Log in or register on the Evernorth Provider Portal

If you are the first user for your tax ID, the portal guides you through registration. Otherwise your organization’s website access manager must approve your request.

Step 3: Get the Contracting entitlement

The website access manager assigns it under My Practice, then Manage User Access. Log out and back in so the change takes effect.

Step 4: Start the application

Open My Practice, then Contracting, and complete the Behavioral Health Provider Information Form. Evernorth says you must finish it in one session, because progress cannot be saved. Gather your license, DEA and insurance details first. Many people who start credentialing with Cigna lose time here.

Step 5: Track status in the portal

Evernorth says you will be notified if it needs more information. Check the portal on a schedule you set, and answer requests the same day.

Step 6: Review the contract and confirm your effective date

Evernorth says providers must treat all covered patients equally and agree to participate at all service locations. Its page does not state an effective date, so get yours in writing. See in-network vs out-of-network credentialing.

Exceptions to know

• Clinics: four or more independently licensed providers who share a tax ID, a location and administrative staff apply by emailing Evernorth’s clinic recruitment address, not through the portal.
• Practices on a Cigna medical contract: if you practice at a participating Cigna Healthcare medical practice and do not accept direct community referrals, Evernorth lists a phone number to join under the practice’s contract.
• Provisional credentialing: some providers may receive it, decided case by case. It lets you see patients before full credentialing is complete.

Private payers, Medicare and Medicaid, and state rules

• Private payer (Cigna/Evernorth): the network, application route and insurance minimums are Evernorth’s own. They do not carry over to other insurers.
• Medicare and Medicaid: enrollment is separate from commercial credentialing. Check CMS.gov and your state Medicaid agency.
• State law: the license you hold and the states where you practice decide who can credential you. Illinois providers have a longer CAQH cycle, per Evernorth.

Therapists and psychiatrists: what differs

Therapists need an independent license and a CAQH profile. Prescribers add the DEA license for each location and the higher liability limits. Psychiatrists also bill E/M codes with add-on codes. See our psychiatrist credentialing guide.

The short version

• Meet the minimums before you open the form.
• Keep CAQH current and authorize Evernorth.
• Finish the form in one session.
• Credentialing with Cigna is not complete until you have the contract and the effective date in writing.
• Need help? Start at our credentialing service.

Sources checked (10/25/26)

• Evernorth, join the behavioral network

Frequently asked questions