Aetna Introduces New Health Insurance Options for Individuals and Their Families in Illinois; Health Plan Options Compatible With Health Savings Accounts Available.

CHICAGO -- Aetna (NYSE:AET) announced today that it has begun marketing six new preferred provider organization (PPO) plans for individuals and their families in 62 Illinois counties. The two new Aetna high-deductible health plans, which are compatible with health savings accounts (HSAs), and four new Aetna Advantage PPO plans are designed to provide affordable, comprehensive health coverage options for individuals and their families.

"We are pleased to offer, for the first time in Illinois, cost-effective plans for individuals and their families that provide a wide range of choices and benefits levels," said William Berenson, Aetna's general manager for small business in the North Central Region. "At Aetna, we place the consumer at the center of the health care equation, and provide individuals and their families with the information and tools they need to make informed financial and health care decisions," Berenson said.

Aetna is offering individuals and their families six new PPO plan designs with affordable rates. 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 extensive network of participating physicians and hospitals, out-of-pocket costs will be lower.

All Aetna Advantage PPO plans feature coverage for routine checkups and preventive care, specialty care, chiropractic care, hospitalization and surgery, diagnostic testing, emergency care and urgent care, subject to applicable copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. The plans also include prescription drug coverage, subject to a deductible, copayments and calendar-year maximum, with no deductible for generic prescriptions.

The additional two plans, Aetna high-deductible health plans, which are compatible with HSAs, offer members similar benefits to the Aetna Advantage PPO plans. However, members can take advantage of a flexible health benefits plan tied to 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. Aetna can offer members a convenient referral option for establishing their HSA accounts, or members have the freedom to choose their own HSA provider.

In addition, members have the option to enroll in the Aetna Basic Dental plan at the time of their medical election in any of the six PPO plans. The Aetna Basic Dental plan features coverage for most preventive and diagnostic services for small copayments when members visit their primary care dentists. Members have the option to visit any participating dentist without a referral for many additional services, and pay a reduced fee from normal rates. Members have access to an extensive network of participating dentists and dental specialists.

"We welcome Aetna's entrance into this business segment in Illinois, and we are thrilled that Aetna recognizes the importance of offering plan options for individuals and their families," said John DiVito, president of Flexible Benefit Service Corporation, a Rosemont, Ill., full-service general agency and wholesaler of health benefits plans. "There is a strong demand for health benefits solutions for those who are uninsured or those who own their own businesses. Aetna's portfolio of traditional and consumer-directed health plans is a perfect fit for this marketplace and what consumers have been searching for."

Aetna plans for individuals and their families are being sold directly to consumers or through independent insurance agents and brokers in Arizona, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Aetna intends to offer similar plans in additional states in 2005.

Aetna members in Illinois have access to a network of 99 hospitals, 3,999 primary care physicians and 8,841 specialists.

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 13.6 million medical members, 11.6 million dental members, 8.3 million pharmacy members and 13.3 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 646,000 health care professionals, including over 385,000 primary care and specialist doctors and 3,908 hospitals. For more information, please visit www.aetna.com. (Figures as of September 30, 2004)