Columbia University Study Finds Patients Are Sinking Their Teeth into Online Information About Dental Care.

-- Aetna Broadening Online Content to Educate Consumers on Importance of Oral Health --

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Dental professionals may find their patients are more informed on the importance of a healthy mouth when they visit for a routine check-up. According to a survey from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, 54.7 percent of respondents are using Aetna health care information sites to search for material on dental health. Aetna (NYSE:AET) is enhancing its online content to address consumers' oral health information needs.

The survey, conducted from May, 2006 to January, 2007, involved 309 participants and was funded by a grant from the Columbia University Center for Advanced Information Management, a Center for Advanced Technology supported by the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). Respondents are subscribers of Aetna's dental health information websites, Aetna InteliHealth (http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/408/408.html) and Simple Steps to Better Dental Health (http://www.simplestepsdental.com/SS/ihtSS/r.WSIHW000/st.31819/pr.3. html) (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.). Sixty-six percent of respondents were women and 31.1 percent were respondents aged 60-69, representing the largest age group.

"The Internet has become one of the most important places for the public to find health information, particularly health care information websites like Aetna's," said Dr. David A. Albert, DDS, MPH, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. "Our study found that all age groups, including retirees, seek health information. This creates an opportunity to reach out and educate this audience on how that information relates to their oral health, as well as change their attitudes and behavior towards various dental health related topics."

The survey also found:

* 95.1 percent of respondents search the Internet for medical information

* 90.9 percent of respondents who smoke use the Internet for medical information

* 33 percent are interested in obtaining both medical and dental health information from the Internet

"Our goal is to use this information to broaden consumers' knowledge and behaviors towards various dental health topics that can positively influence their overall health," said Alan Hirschberg, Head of Aetna Dental Products and Services. "Our relationship with Columbia has resulted in studies that have made major breakthroughs in how we view dental care. It's also helping us shape online content that better meets consumer needs in a way that's easy to understand."

Aetna is committed to improving health literacy among consumers and has been aggressive in supporting member awareness, education and outreach in order to motivate at-risk members to seek appropriate dental care and positively influence overall health. The insurer conducted a two-year educational outreach pilot with 500,000 members starting in 2004, which found 63 percent of those at-risk members who received education sought subsequent dental care.1

About Aetna Dental[R]

Celebrating its fiftieth anniversary (1957-2007), Aetna Dental is one of the nation's leading providers of integrated and standalone dental products, serving 13.4 million total dental members. Aetna also offers some of the largest dental networks available in the industry today. In 2006, Aetna launched its Dental/Medical Integration program, which includes enhanced benefits and an outreach program, helping to enable consumers to achieve optimal health. Aetna is the brand name used for products and services provided by one or more of the Aetna group of subsidiary companies. The Aetna companies that offer, underwrite or administer dental benefits coverage include Aetna Health Inc., Aetna Health of California Inc., Aetna Health of the Carolinas Inc., Aetna Health of Illinois Inc., Aetna Health Insurance Company of New York, Corporate Health Insurance Company, Aetna Dental Inc., Aetna Dental of California Inc. and/or Aetna Life Insurance Company.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 34.9 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care and disability plans, and medical management capabilities. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans and government-sponsored plans. www.aetna.com

1 An Examination of Periodontal Treatment and Per Member Per Month (PMPM) Medical Costs in an Insured Population, BMC Health Services Research, August 16, 2006.