Aetna Foundation Supporting Six Organizations Working In Haiti

As an urgent need for funds is made clear by relief organizations already equipped to mobilize relief efforts in Haiti, the Aetna Foundation has identified six organizations that will each receive $10,000 immediately to help fund their relief efforts. This $60,000 in Haitian relief contributions will be nearly doubled by an estimated $25,000 that Aetna employees have already pledged to relief efforts, which is being matched by the Aetna Foundation dollar for dollar for an additional $25,000.

The Aetna Foundation is providing this support to:

• The University of Miami – Global Institute for medical missions to Port-au-Prince, including neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons and trauma/emergency physicians.
• The Miami-Dade United Way, for Operation Helping Hand, of which 100 percent of funds are earmarked for Haiti.
• Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)’s United States operations. MSF has already treated more than 1,000 people in Haiti since Tuesday, and is deploying an inflatable hospital with operating theaters in the next day.
• Food for the Poor, an organization that routinely provides food for thousands of Haitians daily. Food for the Poor has extensive relief operations in place in Haiti and is sending 400 containers of rice, beans, water, blankets, lumber and repairing zinc.
• The American Red Cross, which is using its significant domestic and international disaster relief capabilities to help meet priority needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support, as well as blood and blood products.
• The United Nations Foundation for the UN Central Emergency Response Fund.

“As a physician, a mother, and a human being, it is heartbreaking to witness this tragedy in Haiti, and we all want to do something,” said Anne C. Beal, M.D., M.P.H., president, Aetna Foundation, Inc. “Our hope is that these contributions will help save lives and protect the precarious state of population health in Haiti -- a hope we know we share with these fine organizations who are working so feverishly right now.”

As previously announced, Aetna has activated its 47 Volunteer Councils across the country to engage with relief agencies and support collection of goods and funds and offering other assistance. In addition, Aetna is responding in the following ways:

• Aetna Behavioral Health is offering its Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to all Aetna plan sponsors, regardless of whether or not they are Aetna EAP customers, during this time of need. Aetna members can contact Aetna EAP 24/7 for telephonic consultation, support, information and referral to a full spectrum of resources including community-based, governmental and relief agencies.
• Aetna Global Benefits’ International Health Advisory Team is also available 24/7 as a single point of contact to provide members with additional support, including coordination of medical evacuations.
• Aetna Group Life and Aetna Disability are helping families in need by expediting the claim process, extending deadlines for filing life or disability claims, and modifying procedures to speed payment.

Aetna’s international or U.S.-based customers, members or employees who need help can reach Aetna at the following toll-free numbers.

• Aetna Global Benefits International Service Center and International Employee Assistance Program: 1-800-231-7729 (toll-free) or 1-813-775-0190 (collect)
• Aetna U.S. Employee Assistance Program: 1-888-AETNA-EAP (1-888-238-6232) or 866-843-6323 (for the hearing impaired)
• Aetna U.S. Member Services: 1-800-443-AETNA (1-800-443-2386)
• Aetna Group Life: 1-800-523-5065
• Aetna Disability and Absence Management – 1-866-537-7628

About the Aetna Foundation

The Aetna Foundation is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc. Founded in 1972, the Foundation promotes wellness, health, and access to high-quality health care for everyone, while supporting the communities Aetna serves. The Foundation's 2010 giving will focus on addressing the rising rate of obesity in the U.S., promoting racial and ethnic equity in health care, and advancing integrated health care. Since 1980, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed over $359 million in grants and sponsorships. For more information on the Aetna Foundation visit www.aetnafoundation.org.

About Aetna

Aetna (NYSE: AET) is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care 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 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 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, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.