Cigna 2008 Annual Report Download - page 99

79
businesses of our customers (including the amount and type of healthcare services provided to their workforce and our customers'
ability to pay receivables) and our vendors (including their ability to provide services);
17. changes in public policy and in the political environment, which could affect state and federal law, including legislative and
regulatory proposals related to health care issues, which could increase cost and affect the market for the Company’s health care
products and services; and amendments to income tax laws, which could affect the taxation of employer provided benefits, and
pension legislation, which could increase pension cost;
18. potential public health epidemics and bio-terrorist activity, which could, among other things, cause the Company’s covered
medical and disability expenses, pharmacy costs and mortality experience to rise significantly, and cause operational disruption,
depending on the severity of the event and number of individuals affected;
19. risks associated with security or interruption of information systems, which could, among other things, cause operational
disruption;
20. challenges and risks associated with the successful management of the Company’s outsourcing projects or key vendors, including
the agreement with IBM for provision of technology infrastructure and related services;
21. the ability to successfully integrate and operate the businesses acquired from Great-West by, among other things, renewing
insurance and administrative services contracts on competitive terms, retaining and growing membership, realizing revenue,
expense and other synergies, successfully leveraging the information technology platform of the acquired businesses, and
retaining key personnel; and
22. the ability of the Company to execute its growth plans by successfully managing Great-West Healthcare’s outsourcing projects
and leveraging the Company's capabilities and those of the business acquired from Great-West to further enhance the combined
organization’s network access position, underwriting effectiveness, delivery of quality member and provider service, and
increased penetration of its membership base with differentiated product offerings.
This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. Other sections of the Company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K,
including the “Risk Factors” section, and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission include both expanded
discussion of these factors and additional risk factors and uncertainties that could preclude the Company from realizing the forward-
looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.