HARTFORD, Conn., Aug. 21, 2006 — Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced that physician-specific information on health care costs, clinical quality and efficiency is now available to its members at www.aetna.com. As announced in June, Aetna is helping its members make informed health care decisions by providing online access to transparent price and quality information for participating physicians in select markets including:

• Price, clinical quality and efficiency information for physicians in Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; Northern Virginia; Maryland; Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Springfield, Ohio; Northern Kentucky; Southeast Indiana; and South Florida.
• Price information only for physicians in Kansas City, Kan. and Mo.; Las Vegas, Nev.; and Pittsburgh, Pa.

Aetna launched price transparency in August of 2005 in the greater Cincinnati area, providing its members with the ability to research physician-specific pricing before receiving a service at the doctor's office. The enhanced combination of physician-specific cost, clinical quality and efficiency information is another first from a national health insurer.

"Price transparency in Cincinnati was one piece of a much broader commitment to helping our members make well-informed health care purchasing decisions," said Aetna CEO and President Ronald A. Williams. "These latest enhancements deliver on our commitment to extend the geographic reach of our transparency program and help our members make decisions based on overall value — including both cost and quality."

"We worked closely with the medical community as we expanded this initiative, and solicited their feedback on the type of information we are providing and how to offer it in a way that is understandable to their patients," said Aetna Chief Medical Officer Troyen A. Brennan, M.D. "While we don't expect our members to make health care decisions based on this data alone, we do hope it will serve as an additional resource for information about health care quality and costs."

The physician-specific clinical quality and efficiency information is taken from Aetna's Aexcel network option. Aexcel was launched in 2003 to provide consumers with access to independent, objective information to aid them in selecting specialists and help mitigate increases in medical costs. Aexcel-designated specialists undergo an evaluation process that reviews their delivery of care based on measures of clinical performance and efficiency, including prevalence of complications and repeat procedures.

Members can access the enhanced information by logging on to Aetna Navigator (www.aetna.com), Aetna's password-protected member website, searching for their physician using the "Find Health Care in DocFind" link, and choosing "Provider Detail." Members who view rates will see the actual rates specific to their health plan for office visits, diagnostic tests, minor procedures, major procedures and other services. Rate information is included for up to 30 of the most widely accessed services by specialty. Members interested in clinical quality and efficiency will see whether the physician is Aexcel-designated. For those who are Aexcel-designated, the page will show whether he or she has met the Aexcel criteria for clinical performance, efficiency and volume of Aetna members treated.

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 29.9 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