Aetna SmartSource Enhanced To Help Members More Easily Find Health Information Tailored To Their Needs

HARTFORD, Conn., April 08, 2009 — Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced that an enhanced version of Aetna SmartSource^SM, the industry's first personalized health and health benefits search engine developed in collaboration with Healthline Networks, is now available to 7 million members. Aetna first announced Aetna SmartSource in March 2008 as part of a pilot with approximately 980,000 members and 19 large national customers, including BMC Software and King County Government (Washington state). Aetna plans to make the new and improved search engine, which incorporates feedback from pilot program participants, available to all users with access to Aetna Navigator®, the company's secure member website, by 2010.

"BMC Software is the leading global provider of enterprise management software solutions," said Alan Hait, BMC's senior director for global benefits.  "Our employees are part of a culture that prizes high performance and agility, both individually and collectively.  BMC encourages our employees and their families to pursue positive personal health in a highly committed way.   Not only does that kind of engagement deliver better health outcomes, it also directly impacts health care cost and affordability for all."

"In 2008, we surveyed employees to find out what they needed from their employee benefits. Among other things, our employees told us they wanted personalized health information so they could be better informed about their health and make smarter decisions about their health care," said Brooke Bascom, communications director of King County Government's Health Reform Initiative. "Aetna SmartSource helped us deliver the information our employees asked for, while providing a tool that helps us empower employees to take control of their health and health care decision-making."

Aetna SmartSource is an online search tool that connects members to health information and Aetna programs and resources specific to their needs. Aetna SmartSource delivers search results that are relevant to each member, based on his or her gender, age, zip code, health plan and employer, as well as information stored in his or her Personal Health Record. Once a member enters a medical search term, Aetna SmartSource searches various Aetna resources to provide:

• Easy-to-understand health information;
• Doctors in the local area who participate in his or her health plan;
• Commonly used medications and treatment options;
• Estimated health care costs; and
• Aetna programs and discounts that can help members manage their health needs.

Aetna SmartSource is available online and can be accessed through Aetna Navigator, Aetna's member self-service website, the CareEngine-powered Personal Health Record (PHR), and Simple Steps To A Healthier Life®, Aetna's online wellness program. 

2009 Enhancements
During the pilot program, members had the option of filling out an online OpinionLab^TM survey to suggest improvements and provide feedback on the overall functionality and appearance of Aetna SmartSource. Based on feedback from over 300 users, Aetna found that the most common requests were for additional search capabilities and an enhanced design and layout. Now, Aetna SmartSource offers members the ability to search for information on medications, tests, procedures and immunizations; the ability to search Aetna's clinical policy bulletins; and new navigation that makes finding information even easier. To learn more about Aetna SmartSource, visit http://www.aetna.com/showcase/smartsource/.

"Aetna SmartSource was developed to take the complexity out of searching for health information by using members' personal information -- where members live, their selected health plan, and specific health conditions -- to deliver personalized health and health benefits information," said Meg McCabe, Aetna's head of Marketing and Engagement Strategy. "The enhancements put in place this year take Aetna SmartSource to the next level - pulling together more of Aetna's extensive online resources and serving up information in an easy to navigate format."  

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