LOS ANGELES, August 4, 2014 - Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced today that it has signed a new contract with Antelope Valley Hospital. Aetna members who receive care at Antelope Valley Hospital will be covered at the in-network level of benefits. The new contract, which took effect August 1, returns Antelope Valley Hospital to the Aetna network for the first time since July 2009.

"This agreement is good news for our members," said Shawn Forrester, vice president of Aetna's network management for Southern California. "We are pleased to once again be able to offer our members access to the health services provided by Antelope Valley Hospital."

"Our ability to once again see Aetna members as a contracted provider further increases access to our hospital for many people who live and work in our community," said Dennis Knox, Antelope Valley Hospital's Chief Executive Officer. "As the only full-service hospital in the Antelope Valley, this is a vital connection and we welcome the opportunity to provide exceptional care to members of the Aetna family."

Aetna serves more than 1.1 million members in Southern California, providing them with access to a combined contracted network of 191 Southern California hospitals and 30,600 primary care doctors and physician specialists.

About Antelope Valley

Celebrating almost 60 years of caring for the community, Antelope Valley Hospital is located in the city of Lancaster in Northern Los Angeles County. The 420-room district hospital is a Level II trauma center and provides a full array of medical/surgical services, pediatric treatment, NICU, mental health, cancer care and more. More information is available at www.avhospital.org or by calling 661-949-5000.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving an estimated 45 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com and the 2014 Aetna story about how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world.

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