HARTFORD, Conn., April 28, 2008 — It’s no secret that accessing health care is a challenge for the 47 million Americans who are uninsured. In fact, a recent survey by Plan for Your Health, the public education program from Aetna (NYSE: ΑET) and the Financial Planning Association^®(FPA^®), found that 82 percent of uninsured adults do not receive regular medical care and nearly half avoid care because of their lack of health insurance. Less widely known is the fact that free or low-cost health insurance programs — such as Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP) — are available, but 11 million Americans who are eligible for these programs are not enrolled and remain uninsured. As part of Cover the Uninsured Week, Plan for Your Health and Magic Johnson Enterprises are kicking off an educational campaign to inform eligible Americans about these programs.

"Lack of information should never be a barrier to better health. Yet, that’s exactly what is occurring with the 11 million Americans who are eligible for free or low-cost health insurance programs, yet remain uninsured," said Aetna Chairman and CEO Ronald A. Williams. "That’s why Aetna and Magic Johnson Enterprises are committed to reaching these individuals, educating them about their options, and providing them with information on how to access the health care services they need. Connecting eligible individuals with available programs can have an enormous impact on their health and quality of life, while helping to reduce the number of uninsured in this country."

Insure Your Health: A State-by-State Guide to Finding Free or Low-Cost Health Insurance Programs, was created by Aetna in partnership with Magic Johnson Enterprises to raise awareness about publicly available programs that can provide health insurance to the uninsured. The guide provides health insurance basics, defines key terms and includes contact information for publicly available programs that can help people who don’t have insurance. The guide can be ordered for free at www.PlanforYourHealth.com, or by calling 1-877-GUIDE-14. Electronic copies of the guide can be downloaded in English at the website, and will soon be available in Spanish at www.PlanifiqueParaSuSalud.com.

"Maintaining good health is easier said than done for the millions of Americans who are living without health insurance," said Earvin "Magic" Johnson, chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises. "If you or your family qualify for coverage, you really owe it to yourself to find out about the available programs.

"That’s why I’m excited to play a role in delivering the message that free and low-cost health insurance programs are available to many Americans in their own communities, you just need to know where to look. Individuals who take advantage of our resource guide are taking a first step on the road to better health," added Johnson.

"We believe that Earvin’s unique ability to successfully reach into diverse and urban communities will carry our message far and wide, and have a real and positive impact on the number of individuals enrolling in free and low-cost health insurance programs," said Williams. Aetna and Magic Johnson Enterprises recently launched a multiyear relationship aimed at empowering businesses and ethnically diverse communities to make informed choices about health care options.

According to the recent Plan for Your Health survey of 1,133 uninsured adults:

• More than three-quarters of respondents (78 percent) say that although they are currently uninsured, they feel that it’s important to have health insurance. Over one-third of respondents (37 percent) feel that their lack of health insurance has worsened their health.
• Eighty percent of uninsured Americans feel they cannot obtain health insurance because of financial reasons. However, the majority of people surveyed (63 percent) report being unaware or only slightly aware of their state’s programs that help the uninsured.
• When it comes to medical care, almost half of uninsured adults (47 percent) have recently experienced a time that they needed to see a doctor, but their lack of insurance prevented them from doing so. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) report that they only receive emergency medical treatment.