Aetna Expands Middle East Health Plan Options

Dubai, UAE, August 01, 2010 — Companies operating across the Middle East now have a new choice in health benefits plans from Aetna Global Benefits (AGB), the international business segment of Aetna (NYSE: ΑET), that provides additional flexibility in cover and affordability. The organization has expanded its Regional Healthcare Plan (RHP) for companies in need of health care cover for their expatriate employees living across the region.

Two RHP plans are now available – RHP Lifestyle Plus and the new RHP Lifestyle plan – which have different levels of cover and benefits. The plans complement AGB’s portfolio of products for individuals and groups of all sizes.
 
“We are extremely pleased to offer an additional medical plan for customers in the region that provides high-quality cover for a range of budgets," said Mark Jardin, AGB managing director in the Middle East and Africa. "We’re committed to providing employers with choices of cost-effective benefits plans and options that can be tailored to bring real value to their investment in employee benefits."

Plan Features

In addition to cover for both hospital stays and out-patient treatment, the Regional Healthcare Plan features benefits not normally found under a local health care plan:

• Access to AGB’s international network of health care providers, which includes over 750 hospitals, labs and medical centres in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Indian Sub-Continent countries;
• Cover and evacuation benefits within the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC), Middle East, Southeast Asia and Indian Sub-Continent countries;
• Out-of-area cover for accident and emergency treatment and for elective treatment in a member’s country of nationality (if outside of the area of cover); and
• Optional benefits including routine dental treatment, pregnancy and childbirth, chronic conditions and wellness.

RHP members also have access to resources and services to help them achieve optimum health and productivity:

• AGB’s online Global Health DataBank, which provides a doctor and medical facility search tool, city profiles, medical translation services, and worldwide safety and security information; and
• The online AGB Health and Wellness Centre, which provides educational information and resources on key, developing health conditions in the region.

About Aetna Global Benefits

Aetna Global Benefits, the international business segment of Aetna, is committed to helping create a stronger, healthier global community by delivering comprehensive health benefits and health management solutions worldwide. AGB's expatriate business is one of the industry's largest and most prominent U.S.-based international health benefits providers, supporting more than 400,000 members worldwide. Our expatriate offerings include medical, dental, vision, life, disability and emergency assistance. The organisation's health management business collaborates with health care systems, government entities and plan sponsors around the world to design and build locally-applied health management solutions to improve health, quality and cost outcomes. For more information, see www.aetnaglobalbenefits.com. 

About Aetna

Aetna is a leading global diversified health care benefits company headquartered in the U.S., serving approximately 35.8 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, behavioural 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, labour groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.