About 70 million Americans live with a digestive condition, yet the average wait time to see a gastroenterologist is more than three months. That is a long time to manage pain, disrupted routines, and unanswered questions on your own.
Are your symptoms something to worry about? Could your diet be making things worse? Is there a real reason you feel this way, or will a doctor just tell you to manage stress?
If any of those questions sound familiar, there is something in your NALC HBP coverage worth knowing about. As a PSHB member, you have access to Oshi Health, a virtual GI care clinic available through your Cigna Healthcare medical plan, with next-day appointments and no referral required.
What Is Oshi Health?
Oshi Health is a virtual GI care clinic that connects you with a dedicated team of gastrointestinal specialists, all through virtual access. It is not a general telehealth service where you see a different doctor every time. Oshi builds you a personalized care team and works with you over time, from your first visit through ongoing symptom management.
The clinic operates fully online, with appointments available evenings and weekends, so you can get care around your schedule rather than rearranging your life around an appointment slot. As a PSHB member, Oshi Health is in-network through your Cigna Healthcare plan, which means your standard copays or coinsurance apply, just as they would for any in-network specialist visit.
No referral is needed. You can go directly to Oshi and get started.
Who is eligible to use Oshi Health?
Oshi Health is eligible to any PSHB member dealing with digestive symptoms or conditions, whether you have a formal diagnosis or not. That last part matters. You do not need a confirmed diagnosis to sign up. If you have ongoing symptoms that are affecting your quality of life and have not gotten clear answers yet, Oshi is designed for exactly that situation.
Conditions and symptoms Oshi Health treats include:
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Gastritis
- Diarrhea and constipation
- Undiagnosed GI symptoms
- Hundreds of other digestive conditions
Coverage is available to you and your covered dependents age 18 and older on your Cigna Healthcare plan.
Your Oshi Health Care Team
One of the things that sets Oshi apart from a standard telehealth visit is the team model. Instead of a single provider, you get access to a group of specialists who work together on your care. Depending on your needs, your team may include:
GI providers and gastroenterologists
Your care starts here. GI providers, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants with specialized GI training, handle your initial visit, review your health history, and build your personalized care plan. Their work is guided by Oshi's gastroenterologists, who are board-certified doctors with advanced training in conditions like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS, and GERD.
Registered dietitians
What you eat has a direct and significant effect on your GI health. Oshi's registered dietitians hold nationally recognized certifications and have specialized training in gastroenterology nutrition. They work with you to identify dietary triggers, develop practical eating strategies, and provide ongoing guidance that fits your life, not just a generic meal plan.
Gut-brain specialists
This is the part of Oshi's model that most people have never encountered before, and it makes a real difference. Gut-brain specialists are licensed clinicians with advanced training in the connection between the nervous system and the digestive tract. They use evidence-based behavioral therapies to address how stress, anxiety, and mental health patterns can drive or worsen GI symptoms. More on this in the next section.
The Gut-Brain Connection: Why It Matters for Your Digestive Health
The gut and the brain are in constant communication through a network of nerves, hormones, and chemical signals. This relationship runs both ways. Stress and anxiety can directly trigger or amplify digestive symptoms, and ongoing GI problems can, in turn, affect mood and mental well-being. This is not a theory. It is a well-documented area of gastroenterology called the gut-brain axis.
For many people with conditions like IBS, the gut-brain connection is central to understanding why symptoms flare, why they are hard to predict, and why treating the physical side alone often is not enough. Oshi's gut-brain specialists bring this dimension into your care plan from the start, using behavioral therapies that have strong clinical evidence behind them.
If you have ever felt like your symptoms were dismissed or written off as stress, this is the team that takes that connection seriously and turns it into a treatment strategy.
What to Expect: How Oshi Health Works
Getting started with Oshi is straightforward, and the experience is built to go at your pace.
Step 1: Your first visit and care plan
You begin with a virtual visit with a GI provider. They take time to review your health history, understand your symptoms, and ask the kind of questions that lead to real answers. Over one or two visits, they build a care plan tailored to your specific situation.
Step 2: Ongoing care with your team
Once your care plan is in place, you have unlimited virtual visits with your dedicated care team, including your GI provider, registered dietitian, and gut-brain specialist, based on what your plan calls for. You can also reach your team through unlimited chat messaging in the Oshi Health app, so support is not limited to appointment times.
Step 3: Long-term symptom management
The goal is not just short-term relief. Oshi focuses on helping you maintain symptom control over time, with ongoing support to reduce flares and keep you feeling well. The results back this up: 92% of Oshi patients find relief in 10 weeks or less, and 88% of patients who came in without a diagnosis receive a clear diagnosis within three months.
Already working with a GI doctor?
Oshi Health works alongside your existing care. If you already have a gastroenterologist you see in person, Oshi's team can provide medical, dietary, and gut-brain support between those visits. You do not have to choose. The two can complement each other, and Oshi's care coordinators can help retrieve medical records and coordinate with external providers when needed.
How Does Oshi Health Fit Into Your PSHB Coverage?
Oshi Health is available to all PSHB members, whether you are enrolled in the NALC HBP High Option or the Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP). Oshi providers are in-network, so you do not need a referral.
Standard copays or coinsurance apply, based on your specific plan. For details on your exact cost-share, please review the official 2026 Plan Brochure or contact our Customer Service Department by calling 888-636-NALC (6252).
Your privacy is protected. Oshi's platform is HIPAA-compliant and fully encrypted. Your medical information is never shared with your employer or third-party companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral to use Oshi Health?
No. As a PSHB member with a Cigna Healthcare plan, you can sign up directly at oshihealth.com/cigna without a referral from your primary care provider.
What conditions does Oshi Health treat?
Oshi treats hundreds of GI conditions and symptoms, including IBS, GERD, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, SIBO, gastritis, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. You do not need a diagnosis to get started.
Can I use Oshi Health if I already have a GI doctor?
Yes. Oshi is designed to work alongside your existing in-person care. The team can support you between visits with dietary guidance, gut-brain therapy, and ongoing symptom management.
Who can use Oshi Health under my plan?
Oshi Health is available to you and your covered dependents age 18 and older enrolled in your Cigna Healthcare plan.
How do I get started with Oshi Health?
Visit oshihealth.com/cigna to create your account and schedule your first appointment. Next-day appointments are available, including evenings and weekends.
Ready to Get Started?
Digestive symptoms that have gone unaddressed for months do not have to stay that way. As a PSHB member, you have access to a clinical team that specializes in exactly this, available on your schedule, in-network through the Plan.
Visit oshihealth.com/cigna to schedule your first visit and meet your care team.
