Aetna Reaches Agreement with Lee Memorial Health System

FT. MYERS, Fla., March 28, 2009 — Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced today that it has reached agreement with Lee Memorial Health System (LMHS) on a new three-year contract that provides access for Aetna's Medicare Advantage members to LMHS facilities and physicians.

Aetna and LMHS previously operated under a contract that applied only to members of Aetna's commercial plans.

Under this new agreement, Aetna Medicare Advantage plan members will be able to receive covered services, at in-network rates, from LMHS' four hospitals in the South Florida area.

"Aetna is very pleased to announce this new contract with Lee Memorial Health System, building on an already strong relationship," said Jim McCunney, Aetna's vice president of network management for the Tampa area.  "Lee Memorial has provided valued care and services to our commercial-plan members in the Ft. Myers area for several years, and we're happy to be able extend that access to our Medicare Advantage plan members."

"We are pleased to expand our relationship with Aetna to include our many community members who are covered by an Aetna Medicare product.  Our participation will give our citizens peace of mind that they have access through this contract to the many unique services and programs that are provided by Lee Memorial Health System," said Anne Rose, executive director of Lee Memorial Health System's Business Development.  "We look forward to serving our community and continuing to provide access to quality health care."

Aetna provides health benefits to approximately 437,000 members in the Tampa area.  Those members have access to a network that includes 60 contracted hospitals and more than 7,000 primary care physicians and specialists.

About Lee Memorial Health System
Open since 1916, Lee Memorial Health System (LMHS) is the fifth-largest public health system in the United States and the largest community-owned health system in Southwest Florida.  With over 8,500 employees, LMHS is made up of four acute care hospitals and two specialty hospitals, as well as outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers and primary care physician offices.  An award-winning health care system, LMHS provides regional programs, such as the Trauma Center and Children's Hospital, which serve community members from Tampa to Miami. Visit www.leememorial.org for more information.

About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.5 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.