Aetna Expands Medicare Advantage Plan Offerings in Ocean County, N.J.; Plans Include Zero Plan-Premium, Prescription Drug Options.

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. -- Beginning Aug. 1, Medicare beneficiaries in Ocean County, New Jersey will have new options from Aetna (NYSE: AET) for health care coverage that provides both medical and prescription drug benefits, sometimes even with "zero plan-premiums."

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved Aetna's application to offer the Aetna Golden Medicare Plan(R) (HMO) in Ocean County, broadening the Medicare Advantage plan options for beneficiaries.

The Aetna Golden Medicare Plan (HMO) options available in Ocean County include:

--Four HMO plan designs, including "zero plan-premium options" with unlimited coverage of generic prescription drugs;

--Routine preventive care services covered at 100 percent in all plans;

--Plans with unlimited coverage of generic prescription drugs, plus the option to purchase limited brand-name prescription drug coverage for an additional monthly premium;

--Plans without in-patient hospital deductibles or co-payments;

--Value-added services that provide reduced rates on dental care, vision services and products, and alternative health care;

--Instant access to health information 24 hours a day through toll-free phone and online resources.

"Aetna is very pleased to be able to offer the Aetna Golden Medicare Plan in Ocean County," said Gary Thomas, head of Aetna's Medicare business in New Jersey. "Our Medicare plans offer choices that do not exist with traditional Medicare, including a zero plan-premium option with prescription drug coverage. Along with our Aetna Golden Choice Plan offerings, we're providing Medicare beneficiaries a wide range of attractive choices."

Aetna offers both the Aetna Golden Medicare Plan and Aetna Golden Choice Plan (point-of-service) in Ocean County, and in 11 other New Jersey counties: Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Mercer, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Union. The Aetna Golden Choice Plan also is offered in Middlesex and Monmouth counties.

Aetna filed applications with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer the new Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) to individuals and employers in all regions designated by CMS, except the territories. Plan bids were filed on June 6, 2005. CMS expects to award contracts in early September, and CMS-approved Part D drug plans will take effect Jan. 1, 2006. In addition, on June 6, 2005, Aetna filed a bid with CMS to participate in the regional Medicare PPO program that will be available in 2006. CMS also expects to award regional PPO contracts in September.

As one of the nation's leading providers of health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability and long-term care benefits, Aetna puts information and helpful resources to work for its approximately 14.4 million medical members, 12.8 million dental members, 9.0 million pharmacy members and 14.0 million group insurance members to help them make better informed decisions about their health care and protect their finances against health-related risks. Aetna provides easy access to cost-effective health care through a nationwide network of more than 672,000 health care professionals, including approximately 400,000 primary care and specialist doctors and 4,084 hospitals. For more information, please visit www.aetna.com. (Figures as of March 31, 2005)