Aetna Expands Health Insurance Options for Individuals and Their Families into All Texas Counties.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Aetna (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :AET AET Aetna, Inc. AET After Extra Time AET Actual Evapotranspiration AET Alliance for Environmental Technology AET Alpha-Ethyltryptamine AET Applied Extrusion Technologies, Inc. ) announced today that it has made available six preferred provider organization pre·ferred provider organization n. Abbr. PPO A medical insurance plan in which members receive more coverage if they choose health care providers approved by or affiliated with the plan. (PPO PPO abbr. preferred provider organization PPO Managed care Preferred provider organization, see there Infectious disease Pleuropneumonia-like organism, see there ) plans for individuals and their families in 66 new counties throughout South and West Texas, the Hill Country, Central Texas and the Brazos Valley. Now available in all Texas counties, the six PPO plans, including two Aetna high-deductible health plans, are designed to provide affordable, comprehensive health coverage options for individuals and their families. "We have seen strong interest in these plans within the past year, and believe it is important to broaden our offerings, allowing individuals and their families throughout the state of Texas the opportunity to enroll in cost-effective health plans that provide a wide range of choices and benefits levels," said Laurie Brubaker, head of Aetna Individual Markets. "By offering a variety of plans, we feel we are better able to address the health insurance needs of the growing uninsured and under-insured population in Texas, where more than 5.4 million people - or 25 percent of the population - are uninsured."(1) Aetna is offering individuals and their families six new PPO plan designs. Four of the plans, which are called Aetna Advantage PPO plans, 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 network of participating physicians and hospitals, out-of-pocket costs out-of-pocket costs Managed care Health care costs that a covered person must pay out of pocket–eg, coinsurance, deductibles, etc. See Copayment. will be lower. The plans include "first dollar coverage" and no deductibles for in-network doctor office visits. All Aetna Advantage PPO plans feature coverage for routine checkups and preventive care, specialty care, chiropractic chiropractic (kīrəprăk`tĭk) [Gr.,=doing by hand], medical practice based on the theory that all disease results from a disruption of the functions of the nerves. care, hospitalization and surgery, diagnostic testing Diagnostic testing Testing performed to determine if someone is affected with a particular disease. Mentioned in: Von Willebrand Disease and emergency care, subject to applicable copayments, coinsurance A provision of an insurance policy that provides that the insurance company and the insured will apportion between them any loss covered by the policy according to a fixed percentage of the value for which the property, or the person, is insured. and deductibles. The plans also include prescription drug prescription drug Prescription medication Pharmacology An FDA-approved drug which must, by federal law or regulation, be dispensed only pursuant to a prescription–eg, finished dose form and active ingredients subject to the provisos of the Federal Food, Drug, coverage, subject to a deductible, copayments and calendar-year maximum, with no deductibles for generic prescriptions. The additional two plans, Aetna high-deductible health plans, compatible with the Aetna HealthFund(R) Health Savings Account A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged medical savings account available to taxpayers in the United States who are enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). The funds contributed to the account are not subject to federal income tax at the time of deposit. (HSA HSA Health Savings Account (US) HSA Human Serum Albumin HSA Human Services Agency (Nevada) HSA Health Services Agency HSA Health and Safety Authority (Ireland) ), 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. "We are dedicated to satisfying consumers' needs for choice, simplicity and affordability," said Brubaker. "Our plans are designed to address unique needs during particular stages in life such as graduating from college, getting married, raising a family, becoming a sole proprietor, being between jobs or retiring early. Individuals can log on to our website, choose the health insurance plans that best fit their health care needs, receive quotes and apply online." In addition to Texas, 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, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Additional 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 your insurance agent. Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 27.9 million unique members with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care long-term care (LTC), n the provision of medical, social, and personal care services on a recurring or continuing basis to persons with chronic physical or mental disorders. and disability plans, and medical management capabilities. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans and government-sponsored plans. www.aetna.com (1) Urban Institute and Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured estimates based on the Census Bureau's March 2004 and 2005 Current Population Survey, www.statehealthfacts.org. Accessed April 11, 2006. |
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