HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 7 -- Aetna issued the following news release:

As part of its efforts to meet the unique needs of the Hispanic business community, Aetna (NYSE: AET (http://www.aetna.com/investor)) has announced an agreement with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) to offer Individual products to their members. The Individual plans available to USHCC members through this agreement will include services above those offered in Aetna's standard plans, including a new consumer portal for online services and a Member Assistance Program. The plans will initially be offered in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas but access will be expanded to more than 200 local chambers and nearly three million USHCC member companies across the country.

"Aetna has a long standing commitment to meeting the needs of the diverse communities we serve," said Aetna Chairman and CEO Mark Bertolini. "We are honored to have the opportunity to work with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to fulfill their mission and help Hispanic-owned businesses across the country achieve their goals."

USHCC members will be able to select from a wide variety of plan options*, including PPO-style plans; high-deductible health plans compatible with health savings accounts; preventive and hospital plans that combine coverage for preventive care with catastrophic coverage for services like inpatient hospital care and outpatient surgery; and an optional dental PPO plan. In addition to the different plan choices, Aetna will offer value-added options such as a Member Assistance Program (MAP) and Concierge Services, which can help individuals better manage work and life issues. USHCC members will also be able to obtain Vital Savings by Aetna(R) discount cards for Dental and Pharmacy services.

Individual plans are particularly attractive to sole proprietors, who make up the majority of the Chamber membership, and will help them manage one of the biggest challenges facing their businesses today - the rising cost of health insurance coverage.

"Access to affordable, quality health care services is critical to the success of any business," said USHCC President and CEO Javier Palomarez. "The contributions of the Hispanic business community are critical to the U.S. economic recovery and we are pleased to have the opportunity to work with Aetna, one of the premier health benefits companies in the nation, to provide our members with the support they need."

USHCC members will have access to a new consumer portal for online quoting and rating, as well as dedicated telephonic access to Aetna sales representatives. Once enrolled, members will have access to a number of different resources, such as Aetna Navigator(R), Aetna's password-protected member website, as well as the CareEngine-powered Personal Health Record (PHR).

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