Cigna in April plans to launch an online tool that will allow physicians and hospitals to inform members in advance about their estimated out-of-pocket costs for medical services, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Cigna Cost of Care Estimator will consider deductibles and copayments specific to individual plans of members, as well as funds from flexible spending accounts and other sources that members could use to pay.

Cigna recently completed a 15-month pilot program to test the tool that involved more than 250 physicians from hospitals, clinics and individual practices in major cities in Illinois, North Carolina and Arizona. According to Cigna, the tool will help members avoid "sticker shock" and make more informed health care decisions…