Aetna Enhances Secure Provider Website with NaviMedix

HARTFORD, Conn., February 26, 2008 — Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced today that it has launched a new secure provider website with NaviMedix, a leading innovator in automating health care provider communications. Through NaviNet, NaviMedix’s multi-sponsor health care communication platform, health care providers have easy, one-stop access to most major payers and select regional carriers, improved security options and improved electronic administrative transaction capabilities.

"Building on Aetna’s solid foundation and investment in timely, easy-to-use, meaningful communications for providers, we are taking the next step by transitioning our secure provider website to NaviNet. Through the new platform, Aetna will be able to provide physicians, hospitals, other health care providers and their staffs with new and increasingly efficient electronic options to transact business and receive information," said Paul Marchetti, head of National Networks and Contracting Services, Aetna.

Now located on the NaviNet portal available at https://navinet.navimedix.com, Aetna’s secure provider website via NaviNet offers many easy-to-use features to both participating and nonparticipating physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals.

• Free real-time transactions are available with Aetna as well as other payers including major health plans and the Medicare program.
• Enhanced administrative options provide one-stop service. Only one user name and password is needed to interact with Aetna or other health plans.
• Improved functionality provides customized transactions with more detail and easier navigation. Health care providers can check eligibility and benefits in real time, submit or inquire about claims, review claim payment policies, view and print explanation of payments online within 24 hours of claims processing, obtain electronic remittance advices, access Aetna’s education site and conduct many other activities.
• Easy-to-use support tools help providers use the site and manage transactions.
• With increased, HIPAA-compliant security options, providers can also define access within Aetna’s secure provider website for different users. For example, health care providers can give staff responsible for appointments and check-in access to eligibility information only, while accounting staff may have additional access to claim and payment information. Convenient access to important messages from Aetna can also be customized according to users’ roles.

"Building its secure provider communications on NaviNet is one way Aetna is moving aggressively to assist providers and members in navigating the health care system and their options," said Tim Hargarten, president and chief executive officer of NaviMedix. "Our platform is extremely attractive to providers as a much more efficient way to engage patients and to help providers more efficiently and easily manage consumer-directed products and health care consumerism."

"The new website is more streamlined and user-friendly. I am delighted that we can access our payment information online and request claim reconsiderations. The precertification code tool is extremely valuable. I am impressed by the amount of online information from Aetna," says Donna Putnam, billing/collection supervisor for Medical Oncology, LLC, in Baton Rouge, LA.

NaviNet will serve as the foundation for Aetna’s future secure provider communications strategies, including additional interactive and clinical features. Aetna continues to support health care provider offices as they convert to NaviNet from Aetna’s existing secure provider website, which will retire in spring 2008.

For more information about Aetna’s provider website via NaviNet, or to enroll, providers may visit www.aboutnavinet.com/aetna.

About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.7 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 and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans and expatriates. www.aetna.com

About NaviMedix
NaviMedix is the industry leader in healthcare provider communications, with a national network of over 350,000 subscribed providers using its solutions and services. NaviNet®, the company’s sophisticated Web-based communications solution, allows providers to interact with the country’s leading health plans, including four of the six largest payers, and other sponsoring healthcare service organizations. NaviNet enables sponsors to reach into a national network of providers who tap into the solution frequently for medical and business interactions. NaviMedix solutions deliver relevant information from multiple sources into the provider office to support clinical, administrative and financial decision-making and drive more effective physician engagement. For more information, please visit www.navimedix.com or call us at 617-715-6000 or 800-805-7569.