Dear Valued Business Partner,
As the national media spotlight the potential for a swine flu epidemic or pandemic in the United States, Mexico and elsewhere in the world, individuals are becoming increasingly concerned. Companies such as yours are wondering what you should be telling your employees about this and other potential health risks. Many of you with employees in areas where swine flu has been found are particularly concerned. And some are wondering what Aetna’s response would be if swine flu begins to spread more rapidly.
Aetna’s Coverage Policies Will Follow Government Recommendations for Swine Flu
We are closely monitoring the recommendations of government organizations. If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other federal agency makes recommendations on vaccinations or treatments for swine flu, we will adapt our coverage policies accordingly.
As a health benefits provider we do not offer health care itself, although we do take initiatives to facilitate care and enhance access to care. One example of this is our relationship with Maxim Health Systems, which makes flu vaccines readily available in communities to our members in thousands of retail locations nationwide each year.
Could swine flu become a pandemic? What is Aetna doing to prepare?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is closely monitoring the currentoutbreak of the swine flu.A number of people in Mexico have died from swine flu. Others, including a small number in different areas of the United States, have become less seriously ill. However, governments and health care systems around the world are acting quickly to try to stop the spread of this disease.
Aetna has plans in place to deal with a pandemic situation and to continue to serve your Aetna plan members. We understand that the services we provide are critical to our plan sponsors and members, particularly during a health care crisis. That's why we believe it's important to share with you insight into how we have prepared for a pandemic.
We have placed an overview on the employer pages of aetna.com. This overview includes:
- Our plans to continue our business operations during and following a pandemic, including our readiness to change coverage or other policies as needed
- Educational information you can share with your employees, including an online training course
- Answers to common questions plan sponsors are asking related to our pandemic response in general and swine flu in particular.
- Where you can go for more information
Want to Know More?
There are excellent resources available for plan sponsors seeking to learn more or stay updated on the potential of pandemic.
For comprehensive information on the potential for pandemic, including continually updated information on the swine flu situation, we encourage you to refer regularly to the U.S. government’s official pandemic website,
The site includes a checklist for business pandemic planning that was developed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There is also good information on the swine flu, Swine Fluand You, on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
We hope you find this information helpful. If you have questions, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Arne D. Bjarno
Client Executive
Aetna Signature Administrators