Aetna Introduces New Health Insurance Options for Individuals and Their Families in California; Health Plan Options Compatible With Health Savings Accounts Available.WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. -- 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 begun marketing nine new plans for individuals and their families in California. The two new Aetna high-deductible health plans, which are 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) ), four new Aetna Advantage plans and three new Aetna Advantage Value plans are designed to provide affordable, comprehensive health coverage options for individuals and their families. "Aetna is firmly committed to addressing the health insurance needs of the growing uninsured population, as well as the needs of individuals who directly purchase health care for themselves and their family members," said Laurie Brubaker, Aetna's national general manager for Individual Markets. "We are developing new products and services to reach these underserved markets. Our plans are presented in an easy-to-understand format that provides guidance to individuals in finding plans that best fit their unique needs during particular stages in life." Aetna is offering individuals and their families nine new plan designs. Four of the plans, which are called Aetna Advantage 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 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 and there are no in-network claim forms. The plans include "first-dollar coverage" and no deductibles for in-network doctor office visits. All Aetna Advantage plans feature coverage for routine checkups and preventive care Preventive care is a set of measures taken in advance of symptoms to prevent illness or injury. This type of care is best exemplified by routine physical examinations and immunizations. The emphasis is on preventing illnesses before they occur. See also
1. the placing of a patient in a hospital for treatment. 2. the term of confinement in a hospital. 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 That which may be taken away or subtracted. In taxation, an item that may be subtracted from gross income or adjusted gross income in determining taxable income (e.g., interest expenses, charitable contributions, certain taxes). and copayments, with no deductibles for generic prescriptions. The three Aetna Advantage Value plans offer members similar benefits to the Aetna Advantage plans. The Value plans offer members lower premium payments; however, doctors' office visits are covered only after members reach annual deductible payments and prescription drug coverage is not as comprehensive as with other Aetna plans. Also, all Aetna Advantage and Aetna Advantage Value plans are available on a child-only basis. The additional two plans, Aetna high-deductible health plans, are compatible with the Aetna HealthFund HSA. 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. In addition to plan benefits, through the Vision One(R)(1) discount program, Fitness Program and Alternative Health Care Programs, members may access discounted rates from certain providers for products and services available to the general public. The Vision One program offers special member discounts on eye care products and services at participating optical centers. The Fitness Program provides special membership rates at participating fitness clubs contracted with Global Fit(TM)(2) and discounts on certain equipment. The Alternative Health Care Programs offer reduced rates on alternative therapies for members, including visits to chiropractors, acupuncturists, nutritional counselors and massage massage (məsäzh`), treatment of superficial parts of the body by systematic rubbing, stroking, kneading, or slapping. Massages can be administered manually or with mechanical devices. therapists, and members can save on over-the-counter vitamins and nutritional supplements Nutritional Supplements Definition Nutritional supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbs, meal supplements, sports nutrition products, natural food supplements, and other related products used to boost the nutritional content of the diet. through the Vitamin Advantage(TM) program. To help members make informed decisions, Aetna offers online tools such as Aetna Navigator See Netscape Navigator, Netscape and Norton Navigator. Navigator - Netscape Navigator (TM), a member self-service website that provides a record of personal health information, and DocFind(R), a directory members can use to search for health care professionals and facilities by particular criteria. Members also have access to Aetna InteliHealth(R), an online consumer health information website. "Consumer-directed health plans are starting to become popular," said Ron Herzog, partner with California Health Quote Insurance Services, a Carlsbad-based independent benefits brokerage firm. "I am pleased to see Aetna is offering high-deductible health plans, compatible with HSAs, and a variety of other plans for individuals and their families in California. Aetna has strong brand recognition and a national presence, which is very appealing to clients." "We are dedicated to satisfying consumers' needs for choice, simplicity and affordability," said Brubaker. "These cost-effective plans are designed to fit a variety of personal situations - for example, new graduates, those who are self-employed or between jobs, and early retirees. Individuals can log on to our newly redesigned website, choose the health insurance plans that best fit their health care needs, receive quotes and apply online." In California, there are more than 6.4 million people - or 18 percent of the population - who are uninsured.(3) In addition to California, Aetna plans for individuals and their families are currently being sold directly to consumers or through independent insurance agents and brokers in Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Aetna plans for individuals and their families are currently being sold through independent insurance agents and brokers in 35 counties in California The U.S. state of California is divided into fifty-eight counties. Counties are responsible for all elections, property-tax collection, maintenance of public records such as deeds, and local-level courts within their borders, as well as providing law enforcement (through the county . 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. As one of the nation's leading providers of health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability and 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. benefits, Aetna puts information and helpful resources to work for its approximately 14.435 million medical members, 12.976 million dental members, 9.117 million pharmacy members and 13.662 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 684,000 health care professionals, including over 405,000 primary care and specialist doctors and 4,135 hospitals. For more information, please visit www.aetna.com. (Figures as of June 30, 2005) (1)Vision One is a registered trademark of Cole Managed Vision. (2)Global Fit is a trademark of Global Affiliates, Inc. (3)Urban Institute and Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured estimates based on pooled March 2003 and 2004 Current Population Surveys, www.statehealthfacts.org. Accessed August 2, 2005. |
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