Aetna Medicare Hosts Medicare Part D Educational Workshops and Distributes Info Through Senior Centers Nationwide.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Aetna (NYSE:AET) announced today that it will be hosting educational workshops on the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 160 senior centers around the country. The workshops will focus on clearly explaining the Medicare Part D program, providing answers to commonly asked questions, and offering specific information that will help consumers determine which plan option may be best for them. In addition to hosting workshops beginning in October, Aetna Medicare has already placed educational materials in 2,400 senior centers nationwide.

"Medicare beneficiaries will have many options to consider when reviewing the new Medicare Part D plans this fall. While choice is a very positive thing, we believe that consumers need information that will help them understand their options, and make the decision that is best for themselves and their families," said Frank McCauley, head of Aetna Retiree Markets. "We are committed to reaching beneficiaries in their local communities in places that they are already accustomed to visiting - their neighborhood pharmacy, their local insurance agent, their community senior center. By partnering with local resources we can help demystify the process, making it simpler and easier for beneficiaries to make a very important decision."

Educational materials provided by Aetna Medicare, including posters and brochures, are already available in senior centers around the country. The Aetna Medicare-hosted workshops will begin in October and will be ongoing throughout the fall. Aetna Medicare representatives will provide a 45-minute presentation on the Part D prescription drug plan designed to educate seniors on this very important benefit including what Medicare Part D is, why they should choose a plan, and what they need to do during the enrollment period to sign up. Specific details, including when and where the workshops will be held, are available by calling 1-888-247-1031.

Aetna Medicare is committed to helping Medicare beneficiaries so that they can make decisions that are right for them, by providing clear information in the form consumers are most comfortable using - whether through one-on-one discussions with their local insurance agent, printed materials in the mail, a toll-free phone number, the internet or other familiar resources. Aetna has already announced strategic alliances with retail pharmacies CVS Corporation and Rite Aid Corporation, and Medicare supplement carrier Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company that will broaden the ways consumers can access information and, in some cases, purchase the Medicare prescription drug plans.

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)