CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 23, 2004--Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced William Berenson as general manager for Small Group in the North Central region.

"Bill will lead the development and execution of Aetna's strategy to design health and related benefits that cater to the unique needs of small businesses for choice, simplicity and affordability," said Felicia Norwood, Aetna's head of small group and individual products. "With more than 20 years experience in the industry, including a previous stint at Aetna as manager of Business Services in Chicago from 1995 to 2001, Bill is the right person to lead the North Central team in growing our business and achieving our membership goals."

Berenson joins Aetna from Cigna where he served as regional sales manager for Cigna's Group Insurance Midwest market, responsible for the overall market performance with respect to full profit and loss and attainment of sales goals. He began his career with Unum Life Insurance Company in Portland, Maine. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Southern Maine.

Aetna Small Group provides health and related benefits plans to meet the needs of companies with two (a) to 50 employees. Designed to provide choice, simplicity and affordability to small business, Aetna Small Group's products are offered in several states and include HMO, PPO, dental, life and short-term disability products, prescription drug coverage and a broad network of participating providers. ((a) one employee in some states).

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 13.4 million medical members, 11.4 million dental members, 8.1 million pharmacy members and 12.6 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 633,000 health care professionals, including over 377,000 primary care and specialist doctors and 3,866 hospitals. For more information, please visit www.aetna.com (figures as of June 30, 2004).

    CONTACT: Aetna
             Wendy Morphew, 312-928-3108
             morphewWS@aetna.com

    SOURCE: Aetna