HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced a new product offering specifically designed for the more than 40,000 Connecticut Chambers of Commerce members. Through the new “Integrated Benefit Solution,” Connecticut small businesses can obtain affordable health insurance and complementary benefits through a single source.
“Small businesses are one of the most important driving forces in our economy,” said Mark Bertolini, CEO and President of Aetna. “Aetna is committed to offering small businesses innovative health benefits solutions that enable these organizations to have greater financial security. We’re particularly pleased that this new product offering for small businesses is in our home state.”
“We worked closely with Aetna to develop a program that would offer products and services that were valuable to small businesses in Connecticut,” said Michael Nicastro, President of the Chamber Benefits Centers Leadership Cabinet. “We know that health insurance can be a major issue for small businesses, and we feel like this option can have a really positive impact for many chamber members.”
Integrated Benefit Solution
As part of this program, chamber members can initially choose any Aetna Small Group plan design. This includes several consumer-directed, HSA-compatible options.
With these Small Group plans, chamber members will also receive access to Aetna’s industry-leading online tools, as well as other Aetna resources specifically designed for small businesses:
- The recently launched small business “tax credit calculator.” This tool may be able to quickly help small business owners determine if their companies are eligible for a tax credit through the Affordable Care Act.
- The Aetna Resource Connection, which gives participating small businesses access to discounts on a variety of services.
After selecting a Small Group plan, chamber members then have the exclusive opportunity to offer additional coverage by combining their health insurance plan with one of Aetna’s Hospital Indemnity Plan options. If purchased, these plans provide consumers with a flat dollar payment for a hospital stay, as well as a per diem payment for each day in the hospital.
These payments are often used for expenses directly associated with a hospital stay, such as deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance. The payments may also be used for indirect costs such as travel expenses, child or elder care, and loss of income – anything the member wishes.
Finally, Chamber members can add an optional dental plan to their benefits package. They can choose from 100 percent preventive group dental coverage or the Vital Saving by Aetna® discount program. The Vital Savings program provides discounts on dental services from participating Aetna Dental Access® providers ranging from 15 to 50 percent.
“This is a comprehensive benefits package that will allow small employers in Connecticut to choose the options that best fit the specific needs of their business and their employees,” said Martha Temple, head of the New England market for Aetna.
The Integrated Benefit Solution is being sold by local agents who are also Chamber of Commerce members, with plan effective dates starting March 1. Chamber members from any Connecticut Chamber of Commerce can receive a quote for their business by calling the Chamber Insurance Trust at 1-800-953-4467.
Expanding a Positive Relationship
The Integrated Benefit Solution builds on similar collaborative efforts between Aetna and the Connecticut Chambers of Commerce over the past several years. Aetna has offered Aetna Advantage Plans for Individuals and Families to chamber members since 2008. More than 1,500 members and their families now have access to health care coverage through these products.
In 2009, Aetna and Pets Best Insurance also began giving chamber members access to discounted rates on pet insurance plans.
“Our previous work with Aetna has been successful, and we are confident that the Integrated Benefit Solution will help many chamber members throughout the state,” said Stephen Glick, Administrator of the Chamber Insurance Trust. “Aetna and the Chamber Insurance Trust are working together to help chamber members control their health care costs, and we think the combination of available plan designs can help us achieve that goal.”
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 35.3 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 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, see www.aetna.com. To learn more about Aetna's innovative online tools, visit www.aetnatools.com.
About Chamber Insurance Trust
Chamber Insurance Trust (CIT) is a voluntary alliance of all participating Chambers of Commerce across Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. Created to bring the combined buying power of thousands of Chamber members, CIT's complete range of insurance options offer small, mid-sized and large businesses competitively priced benefit packages. From its inception in 1992, CIT serves more than 10,000 businesses from the Chambers of Commerce in Connecticut and Massachusetts. For more information about the Chamber Insurance Trust insurance offering, go to www.citrust.com.