Returning to Work at Aetna?

If you are considering re-employment as a regular or temporary employee, please read these Questions & Answers

If you have any questions about the impact of re-employment at Aetna upon regular or retiree benefits, please call the Aetna HR Contact Center at 1-800-238-6247 and follow the prompts to speak with the appropriate area.

Note: The descriptions of Aetna's benefits in these questions & answers summarize only the highlights of the plans. If any statement in these questions & answers conflict with applicable plan documents, the documents will govern. The company reserves the right to change, suspend or terminate the benefits plans described in these questions & answers at any time.


Eligibility for active employee health benefits

Q. If I am rehired at Aetna as a regular employee (working 20 or more hours per week), when do health benefits become effective? Can they begin on my date of hire? 

A. Unless your date of hire is the first of the month, your benefits will always become effective on the first of the following month; they may not, under any circumstances, begin earlier. If your date of hire is the first of the month, your benefits will become effective on that day. You must enroll in any desired optional benefits through Aetna's online benefits system within 31 days of your date of rehire.

Q. If I am rehired at Aetna as a regular employee within 31 days of my termination date, what happens to my health benefits?

A. If you are rehired within 31 days from your date of termination, you will be automatically reinstated to the same benefit options that you had prior to your termination of employment.

Q. I have a pre-existing condition. When can I enroll in health benefits?

A. You may enroll immediately since the health plan does not have a pre-existing condition limitation. Benefits will be effective as described in the previous question.

If you have Aetna retiree health benefits  

Q. What happens to my Aetna retiree health coverage if I return to work at Aetna as a regular employee?

A. If you return to work at Aetna as a regular employee after commencing Aetna retiree health coverage, regardless of the number of hours worked, your retiree health coverage , as well as coverage for any dependents  will end  and your subsidy (if any) will be frozen until your re-retirement from Aetna.  You will be eligible to enroll in active employee health benefits if you are scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week.  (If you work less than 20 hours a week, you are not eligible for active employee health benefits.)  You cannot participate in retiree health benefits while you are a regular Aetna employee.  If you are designated as a temporary employee (e.g., employed by an outside temporary agency) and working for Aetna, you may continue to participate in retiree health coverage.  If you are the spouse or partner of an Aetna retiree and are enrolled in Aetna retiree health benefits as a dependent of that person, you may continue your participation as long as you do not enroll in active employee health benefits.
 
When your employment with Aetna terminates, you may choose to elect or defer retiree health coverage according to the plan provisions in effect at that time.  Any dependents who were previously certified will continue to be certified.  In addition, you may certify any newly eligible dependents within 60 days of termination of your employment with Aetna.

Impact of re-employment as a regular employee on retiree medical subsidy:

Q. What will happen to my retiree medical subsidy if I return to work as a regular employee? 

A. If you return to work at Aetna on or after January 1, 2008, as a regular employee, you will be eligible to maintain your previously earned retiree medical subsidy as of your rehire date. While working at Aetna, you will be eligible to enroll in the active employee health plan(s), if you are working 20 or more hours per week, and the following will apply to your retiree medical subsidy, if any:

• If you are receiving a retiree medical subsidy at the time you return to work at Aetna, your current subsidy will be maintained until you later terminate your employment with Aetna. Your current subsidy will be available when you recommence your retiree health benefits;
• If you had previously deferred your Aetna retiree health enrollment, you will retain your earned retiree medical subsidy, if any. The subsidy will be calculated using your current age and prior service as of the date of your rehire and that is the subsidy percentage that will be available when you later terminate your employment with Aetna.

In either case, when your employment with Aetna terminates, you may elect or defer coverage. If you choose to defer your retiree health benefits, the previously calculated subsidy percentage will be the subsidy available upon later enrollment.

Note: If you were rehired as a Aetna regular employee at any time prior to January 1, 2008, please see the Your Guide to Retiree Benefits, Summary Plan Descriptions available at www.ybr.com/aetna for information pertaining to the impact of re-employment on your retiree medical subsidy. Or call the Aetna HR Contact Center, 1-800-238-6247.

Impact of re-employment as a regular employee on the retiree medical/dental deferral period:

Q. What retiree health deferral period will I be subject to if I return to work as a regular employee?

A. If you are rehired as a regular Aetna employee and you terminate employment on or after January 1, 2009, the deferral period will be the earlier of three years or age 65. This applies to all employees, including rehired retirees.

Impact of re-employment as an Aetna temporary employee on retiree medical subsidy:

Q. I previously worked for Aetna and I am eligible for the retiree health benefits. What is the impact on my deferred retiree health benefits if I return to work at Aetna as a temporary employee?

A. There will be no impact on your deferred retiree health benefits, provided your employment is through a third party vendor, i.e. Procurestaff, you may elect coverage anytime during the remaining deferral period.

Q. I previously worked for Aetna. I am currently enrolled in Aetna's retiree health benefits. What is the impact to my retiree health benefits if I return to work at Aetna as a temporary employee? 

A. There will be no impact to your retiree health coverage, provided your employment is through a third party vendor, i.e. Procurestaff, you may continue your coverage. Temporary employees are not eligible for active employee health coverage.

Q. I am a former ING employee who is eligible for Aetna's retiree health benefits. If I return to work as a temporary employee at Aetna, what happens to this eligibility? 

A. There will be no impact to your eligibility for retiree health coverage, provided your employment is through a third party vendor, i.e. Procurestaff. Temporary employees are not eligible for active employee health coverage.

Note: Aetna reserves the right to amend or modify its benefits at any time including a reduction or elimination of its retiree medical subsidy.

Pension

Q. Will my hire date be adjusted if I accept a job at Aetna?

A. If you are rehired within 12 months of your termination date, your service date will not be adjusted. If you are rehired 12 months or more from your termination date, your service date is recalculated to exclude your time away from Aetna

Q. I am currently receiving a pension from Aetna. What happens to my pension payments if I return to work for Aetna as a regular employee working full time, part time or as a temporary employee?

A. Once you begin your pension payments, they will continue even if you are reemployed at Aetna. If you are currently deferring your Aetna pension benefit, you may not commence your benefit while you are actively employed in any capacity - temporary or regular.

Aetna's 401(k) Plan 

Q. When am I eligible to participate in Aetna's 401(k) Plan?

A. You're eligible to participate in the Aetna 401(K) plan upon hire or rehire, as long as you are a U.S. employee employed by a Aetna or a participating company and are not designated as a contingent worker (e.g., employed by an outside agency, independent contractor, agent, broker, etc.). Additionally, you are eligible for, and 100% vested in, employer-matching contributions.

Q. Will I be able to roll over my 401(k) account from another employer into the Aetna 401(k) Plan?

A. Yes. Detailed instructions on what kinds of contributions may be rolled over and how to request rollovers are available on the rollover form which can be found on the Aetna 401(k) website.