EN
ES
UR
HI
Cigna Insurance Information
General Surgeon Accepting Cigna in Katy & Sugar Land, TX
Hernia, Gallbladder and General Surgery Care for Patients With Participating Cigna Plans
If you have Cigna insurance and need a surgeon for a hernia, gallstones or another general surgery problem, two questions usually come first: will my plan work here, and what will I owe? Surgical Associates of Southern Texas participates with many Cigna plans and is accepting new patients. Coverage varies from plan to plan, so our office verifies your specific plan before your visit.
Dr. Murtaza Shakir, board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology, sees patients at our Katy and Sugar Land offices, serving Cypress, Richmond, Fulshear and Greater Houston. This page explains how Cigna plan types, referrals and precertification can affect a surgical visit. For other carriers and billing rights, see our main insurance information page.
Meet the Surgeon
Dr. Murtaza Shakir, MD, general surgeon and surgical oncologist in Katy and Sugar Land, TX
- Dual board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology
- Named a Houstonia Top Doctor in General Surgery, 2026 (see listing)
- Highly reviewed: rated 4.9 stars on Google
- Specialized in hernia repair, gallbladder surgery, appendectomy, reflux surgery, and cancer surgery using open, laparoscopic, and robotic approaches
Patient Reviews
What Patients Say About Dr. Shakir
Rated 4.9 stars on Google. Real experiences from patients treated in Katy and Sugar Land.
Jump to a section
- At a glance
- Working with Cigna plans
- Services for Cigna members
- Types of Cigna plans
- How to verify your coverage
- Do I need a referral?
- Prior authorization
- Meet your surgeon
- What you may owe
- Where Cigna members are seen
- What to bring
- Have a different plan?
- Patient reviews
- Why choose us
- Insurance
- Locations
- FAQs
- Schedule a consultation
At a Glance
Cigna Coverage at a Glance
- Do we work with Cigna?
- Yes, with many Cigna plans. Participation varies by plan, so the office verifies your specific plan before your visit.
- Plan type matters
- HMO, PPO, EPO, POS and open access plans have different network and referral rules. Your Cigna ID card usually shows your plan or network name.
- Verifying coverage
- Call the office with your Cigna ID card ready, and check with Cigna through the customer service number on your card or your online member account.
- Referrals
- Cigna HMO and network plans require a referral from your primary care provider for specialty care. Cigna PPO and open access plans do not. POS plans need one for in-network specialty care.
- Precertification
- Cigna requires precertification for certain procedures, admissions and services. It is not required for emergency services and is not a promise of payment.
- What you may owe
- Your deductible, copay or coinsurance, as set by your Cigna plan. Surgery can bring separate bills from the surgeon, facility and anesthesia.
- In an emergency
- Do not delay care to check coverage. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
- Where
- Offices in Katy and Sugar Land, TX. Plan participation is the same at both. Call 713-955-9191.
Cigna Participation
Does Our Practice Work With Cigna Plans?
Yes. Surgical Associates of Southern Texas participates with many Cigna plans, and Dr. Shakir sees patients with participating Cigna plans for hernias, gallbladder disease and other general surgery needs. Because participation can differ from one Cigna plan to another, please confirm your specific plan with our office before your visit.
Dr. Shakir is an independent, board-certified surgeon who is not affiliated with any insurance company. Cigna is one of the plans patients most often ask about. Insurance participation affects how a visit is billed, not who your surgeon is or how your care is planned.
One Carrier, Many Different Plans
Participation and benefits can differ even between two plans with the same carrier name. Employers can design their own benefits, so two people with Cigna cards can have very different networks, referral rules and costs. That is why our office checks your exact plan.
Our accepted insurance list shows the plans the practice works with. If your card shows a plan or network name you do not see there, our staff can check it for you. Participation can change, so please verify before each new course of care.
Surgical Services
Which Surgical Services Can Cigna Members Schedule?
Patients with participating Cigna plans can schedule a consultation for any service the practice offers. A first visit usually includes a history, an exam and a review of any imaging. Dr. Shakir then explains whether surgery is needed and which approach fits, including laparoscopic or robotic surgery when clinically appropriate. Coverage for a specific visit or operation depends on your plan and on medical necessity.
Seeing a Hernia Surgeon With Cigna
Patients with participating Cigna plans can book a hernia consultation in Katy or Sugar Land. A hernia often shows up as a bulge in the groin or near the belly button, sometimes with aching when you lift or strain. Dr. Shakir confirms the diagnosis and talks through whether watchful waiting or repair makes sense.
The choice between open, laparoscopic and robotic repair depends on the hernia’s size and location, any prior surgery or mesh, and your overall health. Benefits for a particular technique depend on your plan. Visit our hernia surgery page for more.
Seeing a Gallbladder Surgeon With Cigna
Gallstones can cause episodes of pain in the upper right abdomen, often after a heavy or fatty meal, with nausea or bloating. If these symptoms sound familiar, a surgical evaluation can clarify whether the gallbladder is the cause.
If removal is advised, Dr. Shakir typically performs a laparoscopic cholecystectomy through small incisions. Your cost depends on your plan, your deductible and any authorization rules. Read more on our gallbladder surgery page.
General Surgery
Evaluation and surgical treatment of common abdominal, skin and soft-tissue conditions. Learn about general surgery.
Hernia Repair
Inguinal, umbilical, ventral, incisional and recurrent hernia repair. Learn about hernia repair.
Robotic Hernia Surgery
A minimally invasive approach when it suits the hernia and your anatomy. Learn about robotic hernia repair.
Gallbladder Surgery
Evaluation of gallstones and gallbladder disease, and surgery when needed. Learn about gallbladder surgery and laparoscopic gallbladder removal.
Appendicitis
Prompt surgical evaluation and appendectomy. Suspected appendicitis needs same-day emergency care. Learn about appendicitis.
Reflux, Cancer and Wound Care
Also available: reflux surgery, surgical oncology and wound care.
Plan Types
How Your Type of Cigna Plan Affects a Surgical Visit
Your plan type sets the main rules for seeing a surgeon: whether you must stay in network, whether you need a referral, and how much you pay. The descriptions below are general education, not a list of plans the practice participates with. Your own plan documents are the final word.
HMO Plans
Routine care is generally limited to in-network providers, with emergency care covered anywhere. You choose a primary care provider (PCP), and a referral is required for most specialists, including surgeons.
PPO Plans
The most flexible type. Cigna PPO plans do not require a PCP or referrals. Out-of-network care may be covered at a higher cost, so in-network care usually costs you less.
EPO Plans
Care is limited to the plan’s network, with no out-of-network coverage except emergencies. Cigna EPO plans do not require a PCP, so you can see in-network specialists directly.
POS Plans
A PCP referral is needed for in-network specialty care. You may be able to see out-of-network providers without a referral, but staying in network with a referral usually gives the lowest costs.
Open Access Plans
Plans built on an open access network generally let you see in-network specialists without a referral. Check whether your plan includes any out-of-network benefits.
High-Deductible Plans
Lower monthly premiums with a higher deductible, sometimes paired with a health savings account (HSA). You may pay more of the cost of surgery until the deductible is met.
If you are not sure which type you have, call the customer service number on your Cigna ID card.
Verify Your Coverage
How to Verify Your Cigna Coverage Before Your Appointment
The surest way to verify coverage is to check with both Cigna and our office before your first visit. Networks and benefits vary by employer, plan and individual policy, and our staff can walk you through what to check.
Questions to Ask Cigna
- Is Dr. Murtaza Shakir in network for my specific plan?
- Do I need a referral from my primary care provider to see a surgeon?
- Does the visit or the planned procedure need precertification?
- What is my specialist copay, and how much of my deductible have I met?
- What coinsurance applies to outpatient surgery or a hospital stay?
- Are the hospital or surgery center and the anesthesia provider in network?
Note the date and any call reference number.
Protect Your Personal Information
Please do not send your insurance ID number or Social Security number through an unsecured web form. Our staff will collect what is needed when they contact you.
1. Check Your Cigna ID Card
Your card lists your member ID, group number, plan or network name and the customer service phone number. Keep it handy, and bring it to your visit, front and back.
2. Check With Cigna
Call the customer service number on your card, or log in to your Cigna online member account, to confirm your benefits, network and referral rules.
3. Call Our Office
Call 713-955-9191 or use our contact form, and have your card handy when we call you back. Our staff checks whether the practice participates with your specific plan, notes any referral or authorization needs, then helps you schedule in Katy or Sugar Land.
Referrals
Do You Need a Referral to See a Surgeon With Cigna?
It depends on your plan type. Cigna’s public information says HMO and network plans require a referral from your primary care provider for specialty care, while open access, PPO and indemnity plans never need referrals. POS plans need a referral for in-network specialty care. Many patients are referred by a primary care doctor, a gastroenterologist or an emergency department. If your plan does not require a referral, you can call our office at 713-955-9191 to schedule.
What a Referral Is
A referral is a written order from your primary care doctor for you to see a specialist or get certain services. In many HMO plans, the plan may not pay for specialist care you get without one.
If Your Plan Requires a Referral
- Ask your primary care provider to send the referral to our office before your appointment.
- Make sure the referral names Dr. Murtaza Shakir or Surgical Associates of Southern Texas.
- Ask how many visits the referral covers and when it expires.
- Bring a copy, or the referral number, to your visit.
Prior Authorization
Does Cigna Require Prior Authorization for Surgery?
Sometimes. Cigna uses the term precertification, also called prior authorization. Cigna’s public information says certain medical procedures, treatments, medicines, imaging and other services need approval before they are provided, and it keeps a list of the services that require it. Whether your operation needs precertification depends on the procedure, the setting and your specific plan.
What Precertification Means
Precertification is your plan’s approval, before care, that a service is medically necessary. Cigna states that precertification does not guarantee payment or coverage of all billed services. Your deductible, copay and coinsurance still apply.
How It Usually Works
For in-network care, Cigna’s provider information says the ordering or admitting provider requests precertification, and the facility confirms approval before an elective operation. Once Dr. Shakir recommends surgery, ask our staff how precertification will be handled. Starting early helps avoid scheduling delays.
Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks and authorization rules, separate from employer plans. If you have one, check the company and plan name on your current card, then call our office to confirm participation before your visit.
Emergencies Come First
Never delay emergency care to check Cigna coverage; Cigna does not require precertification for emergency services. Seek care right away for severe belly pain, a painful or discolored hernia bulge, yellow eyes with fever, nonstop vomiting, heavy bleeding, chest pain or trouble breathing. For a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Your Surgeon
Meet Your General Surgeon
Murtaza Shakir, MD
Board-Certified General Surgeon & Surgical Oncologist
General surgery care at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas is led by Dr. Murtaza Shakir, who is board certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology. Your insurance plan affects billing, not who your surgeon is or how your care is planned.
Board certification
American Board of Surgery: General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology
Medical degree
Aga Khan University
Residency
General Surgery, Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
Fellowship
Two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Surgical practice includes
Named a Houstonia Top Doctor in General Surgery (2026). Learn more about our general surgery services.
Your Costs
What You May Owe With a Cigna Plan
Even when your Cigna plan covers a visit or operation, you usually pay part of the cost. Your share is set by your plan, not by our practice. These are the terms to ask Cigna about.
One Operation Can Mean Several Bills
Surgery often involves more than one provider, and each may bill separately: the surgeon, the hospital or surgery center, the anesthesia provider, and the pathology lab if tissue is tested. Ask Cigna whether each one is in network for your plan.
If Our Practice Is Out of Network for Your Plan
Some plans, often PPO plans, pay part of the cost of out-of-network care. Many HMO and EPO plans pay nothing outside emergencies. Ask Cigna what it would pay, then call our office to talk through your options.
Your Billing Rights
The federal No Surprises Act protects insured patients from many unexpected out-of-network bills, and uninsured or self-pay patients can usually get a Good Faith Estimate. Our insurance information page explains these rights.
Deductible
What you pay for covered services each plan year before your plan starts to pay.
Copayment (Copay)
A fixed amount for a covered service. A specialist visit and outpatient surgery can have different copays.
Coinsurance
Your percentage share of the allowed amount, usually after you meet your deductible.
Out-of-Pocket Limit
The most you pay for covered, in-network services in a plan year.
Offices and Areas
Where Can Cigna Members Be Seen?
Patients with participating Cigna plans are seen at our Katy and Sugar Land offices. Both offices are part of the same practice, with the same surgeon and the same range of general surgery services, so plan participation is the same at either location.
Patients From Cypress
The practice has no Cypress office. Cypress residents with Cigna can call us to confirm plan participation and book at whichever office is easier to reach, most often Katy. See our page for Cypress patients.
Patients From Greater Houston
Many patients come from Houston, West Houston, Rosenberg, Richmond, Fulshear and Spring. These are areas we serve from our two offices, not additional locations.
Katy Office
Our Katy office on West Grand Parkway South is convenient for patients from Katy and Fulshear who have participating Cigna plans and need a surgical opinion.
410 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 4D, Katy, TX 77494
713-955-9191 • Katy office page
Sugar Land Office
Patients in Sugar Land and Richmond can see the same surgeon at our Sugar Land office for hernia, gallbladder and other general surgery evaluations.
17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320, Sugar Land, TX 77479
713-955-9191 • Sugar Land office page
Your First Visit
What to Bring to Your Appointment
Bringing the right documents helps our staff confirm your Cigna coverage and helps Dr. Shakir make the most of your visit.
- Photo ID
- Your current Cigna ID card, front and back, and any secondary insurance card
- Your referral, if your plan requires one
- Imaging reports and discs, such as ultrasound, CT or MRI
- Endoscopy, biopsy or pathology reports
- Recent lab results
- A list of your medicines, supplements and allergies
- Records of previous operations, including any hernia mesh
- A list of your questions
New patient paperwork is available on our patient forms page.
Other Insurance
Have a Different Insurance Plan?
The practice works with many major insurance plans beyond Cigna. If your insurance company is not listed here, contact our office and our team can help you find out whether your specific plan participates with the practice.
You can also review our insurance information page or the full list of accepted plans.
Why Choose Us
Why Cigna Members Choose Surgical Associates of Southern Texas
Dr. Murtaza Shakir sees patients with participating Cigna plans, and our staff helps you verify coverage before your visit.
- Help checking referral or precertification needs before your visit
- Double board certified by the American Board of Surgery
- Surgical Oncology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Open, laparoscopic and robotic surgery when appropriate and safe
- Same plan participation in Katy and Sugar Land
Insurance Coverage
Insurance for General Surgery
Surgical Associates of Southern Texas accepts many major insurance plans for general surgery consultations and procedures, including participating Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. Our office can confirm whether your specific plan participates and whether a referral or prior authorization is needed before your visit.
Coverage, network participation, authorization requirements, and your share of the cost vary by plan. You can also review the insurance accepted for surgical care at our practice.
Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield are only some of the plans we accept. Plan-specific details are on our Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield pages. If your plan is not listed, contact our office and our team will help verify it.
Insurance participation and benefits vary by individual plan. Verification does not guarantee coverage, authorization or payment. Please contact our office and your insurer to verify benefits before treatment.
Our Locations
Two Convenient Fort Bend County Offices
Learn more about our Katy and Sugar Land practices, or view all locations.
Katy Office
410 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 4D
Katy, TX 77494
Serves: Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Cinco Ranch and West Houston
Sugar Land Office
17510 W Grand Pkwy S, Suite 320
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Serves: Sugar Land, Richmond, Stafford, Missouri City, Fort Bend County and Southwest Houston
Approximate Drive Times
From West Houston (Energy Corridor): about 15 minutes to Katy, or 25 to 30 minutes to Sugar Land.
From North Houston: about 40 to 50 minutes to either office, depending on traffic.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions From Patients With Cigna
Where can I find a general surgeon near me who accepts Cigna?
Patients with participating Cigna plans can schedule a general surgery consultation with Dr. Murtaza Shakir at our Katy or Sugar Land office. The practice participates with many Cigna plans, but not necessarily every one, so please verify your benefits first.
How do I check whether my Cigna plan covers a visit here?
Call the customer service number on your Cigna ID card or log in to your Cigna online member account, then call our office. Ask about network status, referral and precertification rules, and your copay and deductible.
Do I need a referral to see a surgeon with Cigna?
It depends on your plan type. Cigna HMO and network plans require a referral from your primary care provider for specialty care, while open access and PPO plans do not. POS plans need a referral for in-network specialty care.
Do you accept Cigna for hernia consultations?
Yes, patients with participating Cigna plans can schedule a hernia consultation in Katy or Sugar Land. Whether the visit and any repair are covered depends on your plan terms.
Does Cigna cover robotic hernia surgery?
Coverage depends on your specific plan, medical necessity, your deductible and any precertification requirements. Our office can help you gather the details to confirm benefits with Cigna.
Can patients with Cigna schedule a gallbladder consultation?
Yes, patients with participating Cigna plans can schedule a gallbladder evaluation at either office. Whether surgery is covered depends on your plan terms and on medical necessity.
Does Cigna require prior authorization for hernia or gallbladder surgery?
It depends on the procedure, the setting and your plan. Cigna requires precertification for certain procedures and services. Once surgery is recommended, our staff can help you find out what your plan requires.
What will I owe for surgery with Cigna?
Your share depends on the procedure, where it is done, and your plan’s deductible, copay, coinsurance and out-of-pocket limit. Once surgery is recommended, ask Cigna for your expected share, and call our office with questions.
Do you accept Medicare Advantage plans with the Cigna name?
Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks and rules. Please call our office with your current card before your visit so staff can confirm whether the practice participates with your exact plan.
Should I check my Cigna coverage before going to the emergency room?
No. Never delay emergency care to check coverage. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Cigna does not require precertification for emergency services, and federal law limits what most insured patients can be charged for out-of-network emergency care.
Sources and references
- HMO vs PPO vs EPO: Choose the Best Plan, Cigna Healthcare
- Referrals (Health Care Providers), Cigna Healthcare
- Precertifications and Prior Authorizations, Cigna Healthcare
- Referral (Glossary), HealthCare.gov
- Medical Bill Rights (No Surprises Act), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Reviewed by the Review Team at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas.
Medical Disclaimer: This page provides general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. For severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, chest pain, trouble breathing, or other emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Last updated October 16, 2026.
Verify Your Cigna Plan and Schedule a Consultation
Call our office or send a message to verify your Cigna plan, then book an evaluation for a hernia, gallbladder problem or other general surgery need with Dr. Murtaza Shakir. Our staff can check participation and any referral or precertification needs. Offices in Katy and Sugar Land serve Richmond, Fulshear and Greater Houston.
Coverage and network participation vary by individual plan. This page does not guarantee coverage, authorization or payment. Cigna is a trademark of its owner. Surgical Associates of Southern Texas is an independent practice and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cigna.
Contact us now