The small-group plans, also available in Pennsylvania, are the first of their kind to be offered by Aetna and offer employers "Wellness on Us," said Patrick Young, president of Aetna's Mid-Atlantic Region small and middle market business.  "With the country facing a difficult economic challenge, it's becoming harder for smaller companies to offer their workers health insurance," said Young.  "At the same time, they want to make sure employees obtain the preventive screenings they need.  By eliminating co-pays for those services, these new Aetna plans remove any potential financial barriers and allow employers to offer both high-quality and affordable coverage."

The plans will be marketed and sold through agents and brokers across the state.

Aetna has not offered HMO-based plans to Delaware small employers since 2002, but Young says the company is well-positioned now to offer valuable options for that employer segment.  "Aetna has gone through a great deal of changes in the past six years," he said.  "We've become much better at designing plans more closely focused on the specific needs of employers of all sizes.  Aetna has talked to agents and brokers, and to small employers, to better understand their benefits needs."

"Aetna's re-entry into the marketplace could not have come at a better time," said Stephen Blewitt, senior vice president, Insurance and Financial Services, LTD of Delaware.  "Delaware employers are eager to have another carrier to choose for their health insurance.  Our clients are looking for insurance that is affordable, simple to understand and provides a choice of plans and providers.  Aetna is positioned to deliver this to them."

Aetna will offer 45 different plan designs for small-group customers in the state.  They include indemnity, point-of-service and PPO options, both with and without referrals.  Many of the plans also can accommodate a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).  The plans also include options for coverage of prescription drugs.

In all of the plans, members will not be charged a co-pay when they visit the doctor for routine vision exams; physicals; well-child visits; gynecological exams; and mammograms. 

Aetna provides health benefits to more than 175,000 members in Delaware.  Those members have access to contracted networks that include 45 acute-care hospitals, and more than 1,400 physicians.

About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.2 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, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see  www.aetna.com.