Aetna and Southern Ocean County Hospital Reach New Three-Year Agreement

MANAHAWKIN, New Jersey, February 05, 2009 — Aetna (NYSE: AET) and Southern Ocean County Hospital (SOCH) today announced a new agreement bringing the hospital into Aetna's New Jersey network. 

The three-year agreement will enable Aetna members who participate in all medical products, including Medicare, to access SOCH services and health professionals on an "in-network" basis, which will mean lower costs for those members under most plan designs. 

"The addition of SOCH is an extremely positive development for Aetna members in Manahawkin and Southern Ocean County, as it will mean easier access to this outstanding 176-inpatient bed facility at in-network rates," said Joseph DiRienzo, Aetna's Vice President of Network for Northern New Jersey.  "During these tough economic times, improving access to care and helping to reduce out-of-pocket costs for our members is a stronger priority than ever for Aetna, and we warmly welcome this new agreement with SOCH and its health care professionals.  We are also working to directly contract with community physicians who admit to SOCH and welcome additional physician participation."

The agreement between Aetna and SOCH will be effective on February 15, and will bring the hospital in-network for covered member care needs such as emergency, acute and specialized care services on both an in- and out-patient basis - not only for members who live in work in southern Ocean County, but also for members from outside the area who vacation in the area's seaside communities.

"We are very pleased to have come to agreement with Aetna.  Our goal at SOCH is to improve the quality of life in our community by providing comprehensive wellness and health services.  SOCH is a beacon of medical excellence in southern Ocean County and a vibrant health care resource residents and visitors can depend on.  This agreement expands access to our broad array of quality health services - delivered by more than 240 physicians and more than 1,000 dedicated health care professionals - to many more individuals and families in the region," said Joseph Coyle, president and CEO of Southern Ocean County Hospital.

Aetna provides health benefits to approximately 1.3 million  members in New Jersey, providing access to a contracted network of 69 hospitals and more than 16,000, primary care and specialist physicians in the state.

About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 37.2 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, go to www.aetna.com.

About SOCH
Southern Ocean County Health System is a not-for profit provider of health services, which includes Southern Ocean County Hospital a 176-bed hospital in Manahawkin that has added services and expanded tremendously over the past 37 years.   Southern Ocean County Health System also operates health care and wellness facilities throughout the neighboring communities in southern Ocean County. These enhanced treatment options and programs designed to meet the growing needs of the community are complimented by the team of over 1,400 dedicated physicians, nurses and health care professionals. For more information, go to www.soch.com.