Aetna Small Group Searches for Small Businesses of the Year; Aetna Honors Small Businesses with Donation to Local Charity.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- Small businesses can have a profound impact on their local communities, which is why Aetna (NYSE: AET) is looking to honor unique and exemplary companies through its second Small Business of the Year program. Open to organizations who currently offer an Aetna Small Group (ASG) health benefits plan, the program highlights the extraordinary strengths, achievements and community involvement of America's small businesses.

Aetna will donate $10,000 directly to the charity chosen by the small business selected as Aetna's Southeast Region Small Business of the Year. The Southeast Region includes Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas.

"Our customers play a vital role in their communities and have many success stories to share. This program aims to identify those who have surpassed expectations to become a truly exceptional small business and help these small business owners give back to their local community," said Steve Wohlwend, general manager of the Southeast Region for ASG. "As Aetna strives to meet the ever-changing demands of today's small businesses, the Small Business of the Year program is another way of putting our customers at the center of everything we do."

Aetna customers, including small businesses, non-profit organizations, and licensed brokers and agents selling Aetna products, are eligible to submit nominations. Submissions must be made by Aug. 15, 2004. Online nomination forms and additional information can be found at www.aetna.com/employer/sboy.html.

A panel of judges will consider several criteria in their decisions, including evidence of community involvement and commitment, a unique start-up story, skill in overcoming small business challenges, and remarkable growth and profitability.

Previous companies honored in Aetna's Small Business of the Year program include Mathews Construction (Tampa, Fla.); Chicago Steaks (Chicago); Lane's Dairy Ltd. (El Paso, Tex.); Miller Fire Protection (Forestville, Md.); Coffee By Design, Inc. (Portland, Me.); and Arizona Building Systems (Phoenix, Ariz.).

Aetna Small Group provides health and related benefits plans to meet the needs of companies with two(a) to 50 employees. Designed to provide choice, simplicity and affordability to small businesses, Aetna Small Group's products are offered in several states and include HMO, PPO, dental, life and short-term disability products, prescription drug coverage and a broad network of participating providers.

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 13.3 million medical members, 11.2 million dental members, 8.1 million pharmacy members and 12.4 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 618,000 health care professionals, including over 370,000 primary care and specialist doctors and 3,783 hospitals. For more information, please visit www.aetna.com. (Figures as of March 31, 2004)

((a) one employee in some states)