How does Aetna ensure that its different functional areas and individual employees are prepared to implement a business continuity plan if needed?
We have continuity strategies for each operational area of the company, developed in coordination with our overall contingency planning initiatives. We hold crisis simulations several times a year; in 2006 we will reach our goal of having held at least one simulation at each of our locations nationwide. We have already held one simulation involving an avian flu scenario, and we plan to more broadly test our alternative operating models for a pandemic later this year.

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Does Aetna have an employee base in the Asia Pacific region of the world?
Aetna has no significant employee base in the Asia Pacific region. We do have business partners who perform some claims and information technology functions based in that region and we are working with those partners to assess continuity measures and devise contingency plans as necessary.

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Will Aetna stockpile seasonal flu vaccines for distribution?
We have no plans to do so at the present time. Seasonal flu vaccine and FluMist should both be readily available for use by Americans in the coming flu season. We encourage our members to get a flu vaccination, and we encourage older members to consider an anti-pneumonia vaccination as well.

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In light of the possibility of a pandemic, will Aetna stockpile antivirals (Tamiflu and/or Relenza) for distribution?
We have no plans to do so at the present time. Although there has been much debate on personal and institutional stockpiling of antiviral medications, it has not been recommended by medical or public health authorities. Many experts warn that personal stockpiling would likely lead to inappropriate use and wastage and could lead to increased antiviral drug resistance under some circumstances.

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Under its medical, disability, AD&D and life policies, will Aetna cover claims caused by avian flu?
Avian flu would be treated as any other disease under our medical, disability and life policies, according to the terms of those plans. Flu-related illness generally would not be considered an accidental injury under accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, which is again consistent with most other illnesses.

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How does Aetna plan to maintain its data centers during a pandemic?
We have conducted a rigorous analysis of the potential impact of a pandemic on our data centers. The high degree of automation in these centers, coupled with our technical capability to operate these centers from a remote location, minimizes the potential risk to maintaining operations in the event of a localized outbreak. Our current contingency plans should permit us to maintain operations in these centers even with a 60% to 70% absenteeism rate, substantially above most predictions for a severe pandemic. We have also taken specific actions to implement stringent infection-control procedures in these centers, and are developing "self-sufficiency" procedures for these sites in the event of quarantine.

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Has Aetna communicated to its employee base (regionally and/or globally) your preparations for a pandemic outbreak?
Yes.

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Can Aetna share more information on its business continuity program with plan sponsors?
Yes. Your Aetna representative can obtain a description of the program to share with you along with our assessment on the business pandemic planning checklist provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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