Aetna Expands Africa Health Plan Options

-- Introduces an enriched plan and benefit options to increase choice and flexibility --

 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, September 26th 2010 [ME NewsWire]:

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aetna (NYSE: AET), a leading global diversified health care benefits company, today announced the launch of a new health benefits plan option for regionally mobile groups and individuals in Africa. The organisation has expanded its Aetna Global Benefits (AGB) Executive Healthcare Plan (EHP) to provide additional flexibility and choice in private health care cover for individuals living across the region.

EHP is offered in partnership with Executive Healthcare Solutions, a medical insurance provider based in Kenya. Three EHP plans are now available – EHP Major Medical, EHP Foundation and the new EHP Lifestyle plan – which have different levels of cover and benefits.

“We are extremely pleased to offer an additional medical plan for customers in the region that provides increased benefits and benefit levels," said Stuart Leatherby, AGB managing director in the Middle East and Africa. "This demonstrates our continued commitment to providing employers and individuals with a wide range of products and services to address their specific benefit or economic requirements."

Lifestyle Plan Features

In addition to cover for hospital stays and outpatient treatment, the new EHP Lifestyle plan includes the following benefits:

• Routine and restorative dental treatment up to US$1,000, subject to a 25-percent co-insurance;
• Vaccinations and inoculations, full refund;
• Routine management of chronic conditions up to US$5,000 per person per year;
• Routine pregnancy and childbirth up to US$8,000 per pregnancy;
• Congenital anomalies up to US$100,000 per medical condition;
• Newborn cover of US$100,000, up to a 90-day hospital stay;
• HIV/AIDS treatment up to US$10,000 per person per year;
• Hormone replacement therapy up to 18 months per medical condition;
• Transportation of mortal remains to country of nationality or residence, or burial costs in current country up to US$10,000;
• Home nursing, full refund up to 120 days per medical condition; and
• Hospital cash benefit of US$100 per night.

EHP members also have access to resources and services to help them achieve optimum health and productivity:

• AGB’s online Global Health DataBank, which provides a doctor and medical facility search tool, city profiles, medical translation services, and worldwide safety and security information; and
• The online AGB Health and Wellness Centre, which provides educational information and resources on key, developing health conditions in the region.

About Executive Healthcare Solutions

Executive Healthcare Solutions Limited (EHS) is a well-established medical insurance provider in Kenya regulated by the Insurance Regulatory Authority. EHS is the principal representative of Aetna Global Benefits and its subsidiary companies for the Executive Healthcare Plan in Africa. As a group, EHS has over 50 years of experience in specialised international insurance arrangements and has operated for over 10 years in the international private medical insurance market. EHS has a diverse portfolio covering approximately 10,000 members throughout Africa with local representation across the African continent. For more information, see www.executive-healthcare.com.

About Aetna Global Benefits

Aetna Global Benefits, the international business segment of Aetna, is committed to helping create a stronger, healthier global community by delivering comprehensive health benefits and health management solutions worldwide. AGB's expatriate business is one of the industry's largest and most prominent U.S.-based international health benefits providers, supporting more than 400,000 members worldwide. Our expatriate offerings include medical, dental, vision, life, disability and emergency assistance. The organisation's health management business collaborates with health care systems, government entities and plan sponsors around the world to design and build locally-applied health management solutions to improve health, quality and cost outcomes. For more information, see www.aetnaglobalbenefits.com.

About Aetna

Aetna is a leading global diversified health care benefits company headquartered in the U.S., serving approximately 35.8 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, behavioural 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, labour groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.

For media enquiries, please contact: Aetna Cynthia Michener, 860-273-8553 MichenerC@aetna.com