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The vaccine for H1N1 (swine flu) is expected to be available in October, and the United States is gearing up for the fall flu season. What is Aetna doing, and how can your own organization prepare?

At Aetna, we have had a pandemic plan in place, and our team is working to make sure we are ready to meet the needs of our members. We are closely monitoring the recommendations of government organizations and the availability of the vaccine for H1N1.

Aetna will cover H1N1 flu vaccine administration for members whose benefit plan covers preventive services, just as we have covered the seasonal flu vaccine. We will pay for the administration of one or two doses of the H1N1 vaccine, based on recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We also are reaching out to our members to encourage them to receive both the H1N1 vaccine and the seasonal flu vaccine, if indicated, once the vaccines are available.

For plans that include an Aetna pharmacy benefit covering brand-name drugs, we do cover the prescription drugs Tamiflu and Relenza, which may be used, as prescribed by your physician, to treat the H1N1 flu virus. We treat H1N1 as any other disease under all of our plans.

We understand that the services we provide are critical to our plan sponsors and members, particularly during a health care crisis. That's why we believe it's important to share with you insight into how we have prepared for a pandemic and are responding to the current situation. This overview includes:

• Our plans to continue our business operations during and following a pandemic, including our readiness to change coverage or other policies as needed
  
  
• Educational information you can share with your employees , including an online training course 
  
  
• Answers to common questions plan sponsors are asking related to our pandemic response in general and H1N1 (swine flu) in particular.
  
  
• Where you can go for more information