Effective January 1, 2009, the following changes occurred with regard to domestic partner coverage with Aetna:

Aetna small group health insurance plans will allow domestic partner coverage in Illinois, although it is not state mandated. Coverage is available to eligible dependents who are same sex or opposite sex partners to groups with 5 or more eligible employees, and is available with the 2007 and future portfolios of plans. Existing Aetna groups who want to provide domestic partner coverage will need to convert to a 2007 or later plan design (2009 plans effective 4/1/09) and it can only be added at renewal.

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Tags: Aetna, domestic parter coverage, domestic partner insurance law, Illinois domestic partner

HARTFORD, Conn. – September 20, 2008. – Aetna announced that it has contracted with Maxim Health Systems for the fifth year in a row to administer influenza vaccinations (flu shots) to all members enrolled in its health benefit plans. In addition to receiving the vaccination from their physicians, Aetna members will have the option to get their flu shot at one of Maxim’s more than 25,000 sites in retail facilities and corporations, as well as other clinics across the country. The flu shot clinics will begin on October 1 and continue through mid-November 2008.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for our members, especially those in the high risk groups for influenza, to take this important preventive step,” said Troyen Brennan, M.D., Aetna’s chief medical officer. “These flu shot clinics allow our members and their families to find times and locations that are convenient for them.”

To find a Maxim flu clinic, members can go to a website Maxim has set up (www.findaflushot.com) and enter their zip code and the distance they want to travel. They can also call a toll-free phone number (1-866-466-2976) to help locate a clinic or obtain information about the flu shots in either English or Spanish.

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HARTFORD, Conn. – September 3, 2008. – Aetna announced today that it has made its CareEngine-powered Personal Health Record (PHR) available to current Aetna Medicare members who purchased their Medicare plans individually. This unique, interactive tool is designed to better engage Medicare members in managing their own health, as well as make it easier for members to share health information with their physicians.

Aetna’s PHR combines a wide variety of health information gathered from across the health care spectrum — such as physician offices, labs, diagnostic treatment and pharmacies — with user-entered information such as family history or allergies, and houses it in a secure, online location. This type of tool is especially important to Medicare members as more and more of them use the Internet. A May 2008 study from the Pew Internet & American Life Society estimates that 35 percent of individuals age 65 and over use the Internet, and the percentage increase for this age group has been greater than any other since 2000.

“This is a great example of the value that we provide to our Medicare members,” said Frank McCauley, head of Aetna’s Consumer Business Segment. “Instead of storing medical records in a file cabinet or a shoe box, Aetna’s PHR allows members to access their medical information any place an Internet connection is available.”

With permission from the member, the Personal Health Record can be shared online with physicians and other health care professionals. In addition, members can easily print copies to bring to office visits to help fill out forms. They also have the ability to create and print a wallet-sized Emergency Information Card that contains important information such as name, date of birth, blood type, emergency contacts, allergies, medications, and physician and insurance information.

Aetna’s PHR also uses patented CareEngine technology that continuously scans an individual’s health data and claims information and compares it to current, established medical best practices. It can then alert members and doctors about possible urgent situations and opportunities to improve care.

Recent Enhancements

Through a recent pilot program that made the PHR available to more than 750,000 members, Aetna discovered that members with an ongoing health condition were twice as likely to use their PHR as those without one. In part because of this finding, Aetna added Health Trackers to the PHR to help members better follow their health data. With this new feature, members can more effectively monitor their blood glucose levels, blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI and more.

Aetna has also made the PHR available online to treating physicians’ offices (if given access by the member) through Aetna’s secure provider website via NaviNet®.

“With age usually comes an increased need for health care services, and our Medicare members are more likely to have chronic conditions they need to monitor on an ongoing basis,” McCauley said. “These new features will give them the ability to better track their own health information and share it with their physicians. Improvements in both of these areas can help our members make better decisions concerning their health care.”

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Tags: Aetna, Aetna Medicare, Medicare, monitor health, Organize medical information, Personal Health Record

Aetna Medicare is happy to announce the addition of Resurrection Healthcare to our Aetna Golden Medicare (HMO) and Aetna Golden Choice (PPO) network! Resurrection Healthcare operates nine hospital facilities throughout the city of Chicago and suburban Cook County.

The Resurrection Health Care facilities include:

* Resurrection Medical Center

* Our Lady of Resurrection

* Holy Family

* St. Elizabeth

* St. Mary

* St Joseph

* Westlake

* West Suburban

For a complete list of Resurrection Healthcare programs and services, visit Reshealth.org

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Tags: Aetna, aetna illinois, hillary clinton, illinois network, Medicare, medicare network illinois

Beginning June 1, 2008 Aetna will be offering new standalone dental plans. The Dental Advantage Individual Plans are a more comprehensive option to Aetna’s existing PPO Max under 65 dental rider plans, but will be available on a standalone basis, which means individuals will not have to enroll in a medical plan to be eligible for these plans. In addition, the new standalone plans offer a more comprehensive level of benefits covering services such as crowns, bridges and dentures.

The 2 Dental Passive PPO Max plans that are being offered are:

* Aetna Individual AdvantageSM PPO Plan

* Aetna Individual AdvantageSM PPO Plus Plan

Please note: The term “passive” means that for preventative , basic, and major services the coinsurance levels, deductibles, and annual maximums appear the same for both participating and non-participating benefits.

Also, the term “max” refers to the out-of-network (OON) reimbursement level. Opposed to OON based on UCR, the PPO Max plan reimburses using the PPO negotiated fee . Out-of-network or non-participating dentists have NOT agreed to accept that as payment in full and could balance bill. For for information, please visit the individual dental website or contact Illinois Health Agents.

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Tags: Aetna, Dental Insurance