Aetna Launches New Health Insurance Website with Online Enrollment Capability for Individuals and Their Families

Press Release



HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 20, 2005--Aetna is introducing a newly redesigned website that provides individuals and their families with an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand guide to selecting health plans that best fit their unique needs during particular life stages. The website features a consumer-friendly application, allowing individuals and their families to select plans, receive quotes, apply for coverage and track application status online. Capping off a recent three-state expansion of its plans for individuals and their families, Aetna's new website is expected to help fuel Aetna's momentum in the individual insurance market.



"Aetna is making it as simple as possible for individuals to choose the appropriate, affordable plans that match their health care coverage needs," said Laurie Brubaker, Aetna's national general manager for Individual Markets. "The website guides individuals to consider their current life stages - for example, graduating from college, getting married, raising a family, becoming a sole proprietor, being between jobs or retiring early. We know that people's priorities change and life circumstances determine the type of health care coverage individuals need."



Aetna's Individual Markets website provides helpful benefits information and associated plan recommendations for life stages when it makes sense to evaluate health care coverage. Individuals can view plan design summaries for their respective states, receive price quotes and submit enrollment applications online.



"We believe we can make an impact on reducing this nation's population of uninsured - and under-insured - people," Brubaker added. "We have researched consumers' needs and created a range of health plans that provide choice, simplicity and affordability. Our cost-effective plans are designed to fit a variety of personal situations."



Aetna plans for individuals and their families are currently being sold directly to consumers or through independent insurance agents and brokers in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The California, Georgia and Ohio plans were rolled out this summer.



Aetna Advantage PPO plans, which are also available on a child-only basis in many of these states, offer members the freedom to go directly to any doctor, hospital or health care professional - including specialists - for covered expenses, with no referrals required. If a member chooses a health care professional from Aetna's extensive network of participating physicians and hospitals, out-of-pocket costs will be lower and there are no in-network claim forms.



All Aetna Advantage PPO plans feature coverage for routine checkups and preventive care, specialty care, hospitalization and surgery, diagnostic testing and emergency care, subject to applicable copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. The plans also include prescription drug coverage, subject to a deductible, copayments and calendar-year maximum.



In addition, Aetna offers individuals and their families high-deductible health plans that are compatible with the Aetna HealthFund(R) HSA (health savings account) in all states listed above. These plans offer members similar benefits to the Aetna Advantage PPO plans. However, members can take advantage of a flexible health benefits plan paired with an HSA. HSAs are tax-advantaged accounts used to pay for qualified medical expenses. HSA contributions are tax deductible and earn interest tax free. HSAs are portable, and unused balances can be carried forward from year to year, making them a strong value for consumers.



Additional plan designs are available in some states. Information about Aetna's plans for individuals and their families is available at www.aetna.com/members/individuals/ or by calling 1-800-MY-HEALTH or an insurance agent.