Aetna to Offer New Medicare-Approved Prescription Drug Discount Card.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 2004

Aetna (NYSE:AET) announced today that it will offer the new Medicare-approved prescription drug discount card on a national basis, following approval by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Made possible by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, the new Aetna Rx Savings Card(SM) will cost $30 per year and provides discounts on prescription drugs. The discount card program is effective from June 1, 2004 through December 31, 2005.

"We are pleased to offer this new drug discount card to retirees in all 50 states, and believe that it will make prescription drug coverage more affordable to millions of Medicare beneficiaries," said William H. Roth, Aetna's senior vice president of consumer markets. "Aetna sees the new Medicare-approved card as an important first step in broadening access to quality health care, particularly as it relates to prescription drugs. We believe the new drug card provides a bridge to the expanded prescription drug coverage that will become available under the federal Medicare program in 2006," Roth said.

The company's card provides members access to discounts on all prescription drugs allowed by CMS. In addition to providing a discount on prescription drugs, the Aetna Rx Savings Card will provide access to Vitamin Advantage(TM), allowing enrollees discounts on over-the-counter vitamins and nutritional supplements.

The Aetna card also gives participants access to Aetna Intelihealth, Aetna's online consumer health information resource. The site includes an "Ask the Pharmacist" feature and offers health information that consumers, in consultation with their health care professionals, may use to take an active role in health care decisions.

Enrollment in the Aetna Rx Savings Card is open to any eligible Medicare beneficiary with Medicare Parts A and B in all 50 states. Certain eligibility restrictions apply.

For those qualifying beneficiaries who earn below a certain income level, the drug discount card allows for up to a $600 credit annually toward the cost of prescriptions, called "Transitional Assistance." The $30 annual enrollment fee will be waived for these beneficiaries who qualify.

While not all companies approved by CMS can offer the drug discount card on a national basis, Aetna's approval from CMS allows the company to offer it to Medicare beneficiaries across the country. Aetna anticipates marketing the Aetna Rx Savings Card beginning in May. According to Susan E. Rawlings, Aetna's head of retiree markets, beneficiaries should understand that purchasing the card is an individual decision. She further suggests the following tips when considering whether to apply for the card:

1. Analyze your current prescription drug usage and the amount of money you spend per year.

2. Consider other services available through the discount card, such as Vitamin Advantage, which is available through the Aetna Rx Savings Card.

3. Consider the above benefits relative to the annual premium.

"We plan to make more information available that will help Medicare beneficiaries make the best decision for them as it relates to their prescription drug usage and the value of the Aetna Rx Savings Card," Rawlings said.

Aetna is one of the nation's leading providers of health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability and long-term care benefits, serving approximately 13.0 million medical members, 10.9 million dental members, 7.4 million pharmacy members and 12.3 million group insurance customers, as of December 31, 2003. The company has expansive nationwide networks of more than 600,000 health care services providers, including more than 362,000 primary care and specialist physicians and 3,626 hospitals. For more information about Aetna, please visit the company's web site at www.aetna.com.