Aetna Launches Business Services Discount Program for Small Business Customers; New Aetna's Resource Connection Shares Company's Buying Power on Computers, Office Products, Payroll, Banking Services and More.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- In a move to create more affordability for small business owners, Aetna (NYSE:AET) announced a new discount program that provides big company discounts on goods and services commonly used by small businesses. Aetna's Resource Connection extends discounts from major companies such as HP, PrimePay, Staples and Citi in areas integral to building and sustaining a small business, including payroll and HR, technology, staffing, marketing, operations and finance. Discounts are applicable to Aetna business customers with up to 300 employees as well as to the company's individual health plan members.

"We know how challenging it is to run a small business these days," said Todd Pline, head of distribution and channel expansion for Aetna Small Group. "In addition to providing health plans that offer choice, simplicity and affordability, we wanted to leverage Aetna's purchasing power to pass on savings to our small business customers. Aetna's Resource Connection was born out of a desire to help our customers run a healthy business, and we believe that the program also adds value to our portfolio of health plan offerings."

Some of the vendors who participate in Aetna's Resource Connection include:

--HP - Offers Aetna customers a range of three to 10 percent discount on HP computer hardware and services

--PrimePay(R) - Provides Aetna customers up to a 40 percent discount on payroll services with a two year rate guarantee and a dedicated customer service representative that acts as an extension of the staff

--Staples(R) - Extends access to Staples' private B-to-B shopping site, Stapleslink, for special Aetna Resource Connection savings averaging over 15%.

--Citi(R) - Offers Aetna customers a CitiBusiness(R) Card with ThankYou Network(SM) with 0 percent APR on purchases for six months, no annual fee, 7,500 bonus points and a non-promotional APR that is 100 basis points below general public offerings

Broker and Aetna customer Mark DeRosa, president, J. Peat & Associates, an employee benefits brokerage firm on Long Island, New York, found Aetna's Resource Connection useful both for his own small business and for his clients. "Aetna's Resource Connection is a nice enhancement," DeRosa said, explaining that his company is saving between 15 and 18 percent on payroll costs by utilizing PrimePay, one of the participating vendors. "I also find that the program adds value to my own clients who have Aetna plans, helping them keep daily operating expenses down."

Three Pearle Vision Centers in Maine also have signed up for the program. Tamara Arrico, general manager of the Pearle Vision Center franchises in Maine, says that her company expects to save 35 to 40 percent on payroll services as a result of Aetna's Resource Connection. "We actually switched insurance carriers as of September 1. We primarily chose Aetna because of the money that both my employees and our company will save under a new plan from Aetna. But I also found the ease of switching and Aetna's Resource Connection discounts extremely compelling," Arrico said.

"Now we're saving money on both employee health benefits and payroll expenses. I'd sum it up as a 'win-win,'" she added.

Another advantage of Aetna's Resource Connection is its simplicity. Members can access the list of vendors at http://www.aetna.com/employer/arc.html, find the vendor they want to use, fill out some basic information (including their Aetna account number), and immediately have access to the discounted rates.

"Our goal is to help small businesses simplify their operations and save money at the same time. If Aetna's Resource Connection can provide them the resources they need to better run their businesses, we will consider it a success," Pline said.

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 14.435 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)