Aetna Ranks No. 1 in Survey by Northeast Business Group on Health

Northeast Business Group on Health (NEBGH) today awarded Aetna the 2011 eValue8 performance award for the New York-metropolitan area. Aetna was the only health plan in the New York-metropolitan area to earn this distinction.

“Today more than ever, employers are searching for ways to improve employee health, reduce absenteeism and get more for their healthcare dollar,” said Laurel Pickering, NEBGH’s President and CEO. “The eValue8 survey is a rigorous examination of health plans, and this year Aetna came out on top in the region.”

The eValue8 survey was developed by the National Business Coalition on Health to help employers identify health plans with the highest levels of quality and value. eValue8 ranks plans in seven categories: consumer engagement, plan profile, provider measurement, pharmaceutical management, prevention and health promotion, chronic disease management and behavioral health.

Aetna ranked No. 1 in the New York City market in all categories.

“We are honored to be recognized by NEBGH as the region’s top-performing health plan,” said Lonny Reisman, M.D., Aetna’s Chief Medical Officer. “Although we were ranked No. 1 this year, we will continue to search for innovative ways to work with NEBGH, healthcare providers and businesses in the region to engage members, and provide easy access to safe, cost-effective, high-quality health care.”

About Aetna

Aetna (NYSE: AET) is one of the nation's leading diversified healthcare benefits companies, serving approximately 36.3 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary 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 healthcare management services for Medicaid plans. Aetna 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, visit www.aetna.com.

About Northeast Business Group on Health

Northeast Business Group on Health is a network of employers, providers, insurers, and other organizations working together to improve the quality and reduce the cost of health care in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Since its inception in 1982 as New York Business Group on Health, the organization has spearheaded important initiatives, conducted breakthrough research and launched innovative programs that have brought meaningful change to the healthcare marketplace for employers in the New York-metropolitan area. In November 2010, the organization changed its name to the Northeast Business Group on Heath and expanded its mission to serve employers across the region. For more information, visit www.nebgh.org or call [phone] x223.