Aetna Passes Buying Power On To Customers Through Unique Discount And Savings Program

HARTFORD, Conn., May 20, 2009 — As part of its commitment to find new and innovative ways to help customers during times of uncertainty, Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced that it will enhance customer access to discounts and savings through its Aetna Resource Connection program. The program, available to brokers and those employers with 1-300 employees, leverages Aetna’s buying power to provide discounts and savings to customers to help them save time and money on their monthly business expenses. Customers can learn more about the program by visiting www.AetnaResourceConnection.com.

“We understand the challenges that small business owners are facing as a result of the economic downturn,” said Mary Claire Bonner, head of Local and Regional Business, a combined organization which includes Aetna Small and Middle Market Business. “By working closely with Small Business owners we have been able to develop innovative and low cost products and services designed to meet their health and financial needs. Aetna Resource Connection is a great example of this.”

Aetna Resource Connection offers discounts and savings on payroll & human resources, operations, marketing and financial services. Participating vendors have been selected based on the unique nature of what they offer, the quality of the organization, and the savings they can bring to customers. Current Aetna Resource Connection vendors include:

• Staples - the world's largest office products company;
• The BOSS Group – a leading provider of niche staffing solutions for marketing, creative and interactive professionals;
• PrimePay - offering fully integrated payroll and HR Management solutions;
• HR & Benefits Essentials - an easy-to-use online library featuring thousands of pages of key information on employee benefits, human resources as well as federal and state HR and benefits laws;

“Each vendor has created a special offer designed to help our customers maintain a healthy business,” said Bonner.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, there were 27.2 million businesses in the United States in 2007. Small firms with fewer than 500 employees represented 99.9 percent of these businesses. While small businesses have demonstrated tremendous growth over the last 10 years, rising business costs, reduced profits and increasing health insurance premiums are impacting their ability to grow and be successful.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our nation’s economy,” said Bonner. “By providing them with the tools and resources needed to succeed, we can help preserve their future.”

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 and Aetna's Annual Report at www.aetna.com/2008annualreport.