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CORRECTING and REPLACING Aetna and H-E-B to Offer Medicare Prescription Drug Plans in H-E-B Stores

Posted on: Monday, 24 October 2005, 15:00 CDT

Please replace contact information with the following: Aetna Media Contacts: Rachelle Cunningham, 925-948-4983 cunninghamr@aetna.com or Christine Erb, 215-775-0409 Erbc@aetna.com or H-E-B Media Contact: Pablo Rodriguez, 210-938-8910

The release reads:

AETNA AND H-E-B TO OFFER MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS IN H-E-B STORES

Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced an alliance today with H-E-B, one of the country's largest privately held companies with a retail presence, to market a new, co-branded Medicare Part D prescription drug plan at H-E-B stores with in-store pharmacies in Texas. This alliance creates one more opportunity for Medicare beneficiaries to learn and make informed choices about the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for Medicare beneficiaries to make informed choices about this new Medicare benefit," said Frank McCauley, head of Aetna Retiree Markets. "With H-E-B, we collectively bring more than 250 years of experience in serving consumers in their local communities. We are excited to work together to provide Medicare beneficiaries with a robust set of prescription drug plans, and to make information readily available at their grocery store pharmacy. This accessibility will help them make the decisions that are right for them and their families."

"H-E-B is committed to helping our customers learn more about this valuable new opportunity from Medicare, and making it easy for them to access the new benefit," said Rob Easley, H-E-B chief marketing officer. "Beginning this week we will offer information about the plans and enrollment materials in our Texas stores and our store champions will be available to answer customer questions."

Working with H-E-B will give Aetna's Part D plans a particularly strong presence in Texas, where the 100-year-old retailer operates more than 300 stores and has significant market share in San Antonio and other areas of south Texas. H-E-B stores will market the Aetna co-branded plan exclusively, with H-E-B "Store Champions" providing information to shoppers and independent agents on hand to offer enrollment services. The H-E-B Medicare drug discount card program enrolled more than 80,000 consumers over the last two years.

Aetna is committed to helping Medicare consumers make decisions that are right for them, by providing clear information in the form consumers are most comfortable using - whether through one-on-one discussions with their local insurance agent, printed materials at their pharmacy or in the mail, a toll-free phone number, the Internet or other familiar resources. Aetna has previously announced alliances with retail pharmacies CVS Corporation and Rite Aid Corporation and with Medicare Supplement provider Standard Life and Accident Insurance Company to broaden the ways consumers can access information about the Medicare prescription drug plans.

Aetna offers three Part D prescription drug plans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Aetna Medicare Rx Essentials(SM) plan is equivalent to the standard Part D benefit, and the Aetna Medicare Rx Plus(SM) and Aetna Medicare Rx Premier(SM) plans are enhanced options. Individual plan premiums for the Aetna Medicare Part D plans range from $27.50 per month to $66.75 per month. Aetna also will be offering Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans in 13 states and the District of Columbia; and regional Medicare PPO plans in three states and the District of Columbia. In addition, $0 premium plan options will be available in some areas that combine a Medicare Advantage plan with Medicare Part D coverage.

About Aetna

As one of the nation's leading providers of health care, dental, pharmacy, group life, disability and long-term care benefits, Aetna puts information and helpful resources to work for its approximately 14.435 million medical members, 12.976 million dental members, 9.117 million pharmacy members and 13.662 million group insurance members to help them make better informed decisions about their health care and protect their finances against health-related risks. Aetna provides easy access to cost-effective health care through a nationwide network of more than 684,000 health care professionals, including over 405,000 primary care and specialist doctors and 4,135 hospitals. For more information, please visit www.aetna.com. (Figures as of June 30, 2005)

About H-E-B

For 100 years, H-E-B has been an innovative retailer. Known for its fresh food, quality products and convenient services, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience at the lowest prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B proudly employs over 56,000 Partners and serves millions of customers in more than 150 communities throughout Texas and Mexico.

Source: Business Wire

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