Aetna Announces Convenient Option for Members to Receive Flu Shots; Company Urges Vaccination for Members in High Risk Groups

This broadened access is available to members in addition to theoption of receiving the vaccination from their physician. As withvisits to any healthcare provider, members should take their Aetna IDcard with them when visiting a Maxim flu clinic.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for our members,especially those in the high risk groups for influenza, to get a flushot this year," said Charles M. Cutler, M.D., Aetna's nationalmedical director for Quality Management. "Getting vaccinated is themost important step a member can take to improve their chances ofavoiding the flu. If a member can't get to their doctor's office forthe shot, then we hope they will receive a flu shot at one of theconveniently located Maxim flu clinics."

2005 Vaccination Guidelines

Maxim flu clinics will begin on October 1, 2005. In accordancewith the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, Maxim willadhere to a two-tiered flu schedule for administering flu shots thisyear.

Before October 24, 2005, only those people categorized by the CDCas high risk for influenza will be offered flu shots. Individuals whoare not considered high risk will not be able to get a flu shot untilOctober 24, 2005.

The CDC defines those with an increased risk of developinginfluenza-related complications as:

-- Persons 65 years of age or older

-- Residents of long-term care facilities

-- Persons 2 to 64 years of age with comorbid (more than one disease) conditions

-- Children six to 23 months of age

-- Pregnant women

-- Healthcare personnel who provide direct patient care

-- Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children under 6 months of age

Also, the CDC has issued interim vaccination recommendations forpeople who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Displacedindividuals over 6 months old who are living in crowded group settingsshould receive the flu vaccine and displaced children who are over 8years should be administered 2 doses, at least 1 month apart.

Bring Your Aetna Member ID Card / Cost Information

Maxim is not collecting fees at the flu shot clinics from Aetnamembers presenting their Aetna ID card. Maxim will first bill Aetnaand will later bill the member for any amount not covered by themember's plan. Most Aetna plans provide full coverage for fluvaccines, but members should consult their plan documents to determinetheir individual coverage, or call Member Services at the number ontheir Aetna ID Card. Maxim does not charge a copay. Members notpresenting their Aetna ID cards will be asked to pay at the time theflu shot is given. Maxim is charging the public $25.00 for the flushot.

Note: This excludes Maxim flu clinics held at Costco locations.Costco limits the availability of the flu shot to Costco members anddoes not accept insurance. However, they will accept Medicare.

Finding a Maxim Flu Clinic

There are two ways Aetna members can find the Maxim flu clinicnearest to them.

-- Visit Maxim's website at www.findaflushot.com and enter their zip code and the distance they want to travel, or

-- Call Maxim's automated locator system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week toll free at 1-866-466-2976 and enter their area code and the first digits of their telephone number. Information is available about the flu shots clinics in English or Spanish.

About the Flu

Influenza is a serious health threat for adults over the age of 50and children 6 - 23 months of age as well as for anyone 2 years andolder with chronic conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructivepulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease,diabetes and chronic renal failure. Children under 9 years old who arein the high risk group should be vaccinated by their physician.

According to the CDC, on an annual basis, between 5 and 20 percentof the population gets the flu, more than 114,000 are hospitalized asa result of complications, and an average of 36,000 people die frominfluenza. For more information about influenza, visit the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/.

As one of the nation's leading providers of health care, dental,pharmacy, group life, disability and long-term care benefits, Aetnaputs information and helpful resources to work for its approximately14.435 million medical members, 12.976 million dental members, 9.117million pharmacy members and 13.662 million group insurance members tohelp them make better informed decisions about their health care andprotect their finances against health-related risks. Aetna provideseasy access to cost-effective health care through a nationwide networkof more than 684,000 health care professionals, including over 405,000primary care and specialist doctors and 4,135 hospitals. For moreinformation, please visit www.aetna.com. (Figures as of June 30, 2005)