Patients with Cigna insurance can now go to UNC Health facilities without worry after the two sides reached an agreement Friday afternoon.

According to UNC Health, the new agreement covers all Cigna Healthcare commercial plans.

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“Cigna Healthcare is pleased to have reached a deal with UNC Health, allowing us to continue in-network coverage for the customers we jointly serve,” said James Day, general manager for Cigna Healthcare Carolinas. “Together, we will continue to provide affordable, quality care to North Carolinians.”

In addition to a new deal, UNC Health said any patients who paid them upfront while they were out of network will be refunded "as appropriate" by them as Cigna completes claim processing.

UNC Health and Cigna had been in a contract stalemate for weeks and let a previous contract expire on Nov. 30. UNC Health said the new deal will be retroactive to Dec. 1.

“This new agreement with Cigna Healthcare will benefit our patients across the state as well as our providers,” said Dr. Matt Ewend, Chief Clinical Officer at UNC Health. “Our patients will not face increased costs and the stress of going out of network or seeking new providers for their care. We look forward to working with Cigna Healthcare in the coming years to improve access, reduce costs and eliminate obstacles to care.”

UNC Health said it will reach out to affected patients as soon as possible to make sure they are aware of the new agreement with Cigna and that care with their providers will not change.

At nearly 80 years old, Raleigh resident Jon Markle cannot afford to take chances with his health.

"I have diabetes. The second to last time I was in the hospital, it was from a diabetic coma and I almost died," said Markle. 

His visits to UNC Health have come with added uncertainty since the previous contract expired. 

Markle is among the 65,000 UNC Health patients with Cigna coverage who have faced increased, or out of network costs. 

"I am on a very fixed income. I don't have a lot of money. I can't afford to do that every time I see a doctor or a specialist," said Markle. 

The dispute ending means a sigh of relief for Markle, but not without stress.

"Any kind of stress level impacts one's health anyway," said Markle. "I think it impacted my health because I was worried. I tried not to be. I know all the things I need to do to stop worrying but it still concerned me."