Aetna Insurance

As competition increases and technology becomes more readily and widely available to the greater population, innovation becomes more and more arduous for the visionaries of the business world.  Re-engineering established business practices especially in the enterprise level is a gigantic achievement.  Companies with a sharp incisive foresight, ambition, goal and deep desire for innovation are really hard to come by — and in this arena, 21st Century Insurance is definitely ahead of the flock!

 Located in Los Angeles, 21st Century Insurance caters and provides insurance to approximately 1.2 million automobiles.  It can also boast of the distinction of being among the list of insurance companies with the highest annual renewal rates.  This is a clear proof of the company’s dedication to delivering superior and reliable customer service.  21st Century was established by Louis W. Foster in 1958.  He led the way of selling and marketing insurance policies directly to its clients.  His vision of eliminating the middleman from the picture worked wonders and resulted to what is now known as the world’s seventh largest automobile insurance corporation in California with an astounding assets amounting to more than 1.3 billion US dollars.

 With the company’s principal goal of providing its clients with self-service functionality and a better streamlined customer service, it has shifted its ways to utilizing the power of the internet.  21st Century recognizes the facility of the internet to extend to a greater number of audiences acting as an extra wing of the conventional practice of direct-to-customer marketing.  In lieu of this, the company has set up an IT strategy to transfer from the traditional platform to the modern web technology.

 The task is daunting to perfect. Utilizing the company’s existing resources at the earliest and most crucial time, has given them the leverage and competitive advantages.  Their eagerness to take the first steps to an evolution of the insurance world has absolutely put them on the lead.

 With 21st Centuries’ desire to nurture fresh sales forum and at the same time getting rid of the use of some call centers, they tied with Jacada.  21st Century and Jacada Consulting forged solutions to meet the ever growing demands of the insurance policyholders.  Now, policyholders are able to view their current insurance balance, payment history, and even allow them to pay their outstanding bills online.  Later on, the project incorporated the “Change Policy” function, which would permit clients to change facets of their policies or make amends that would cater to their problems. 

Although introducing this technology made 21st Century understandably nervous with customers directly interacting with the mainframe, it is overweighed with the aspiration of being able to process massive daily transactions which is previously impossible with just human employees doing the task.  This system all made it possible for 21st Century to deliver fast and reliable service.  Although hurdles like providing 24 hours customer service has been met due to mainframe batch cycles, 21st Century together with Jacada were able to circumvent the problem with some witty coding and decoding. For 21st, this is just one way of getting way ahead of the regular flock.

When John Filer, acclaimed the “Father of Corporate Philanthropy” became Aetna’s chairman in 1972, he founded the Aetna Foundation.  It is the sovereign and philanthropic wing of Aetna, Inc.  Aetna Foundation aimed to help build healthier communities by encouraging volunteerism, shaping partnerships and funding campaigns, projects and initiatives that will improve the quality life.

 Its main focus is on building a world where access to healthcare is equally available to all.  The foundation regularly works with hospitals, universities and schools, helping them financially with projects involving improvement of health care.  It also gives charitable grants to deserving organizations that advocates volunteerism for healthier communities.

 But even before Filer made Aetna Foundation a nationwide leader in the corporate philanthropy, Aetna has already been nurturing a legacy of caring and helping others prior to his tenure and the formation of the Aetna Foundation.

In 1931, Aetna initiated a yearly employee campaign, the United Way/Combined Health Charities Appeal Campaign.  Aetna volunteers supplied additional staffing to hospitals and first aid centers during the 1941 Hartford, Connecticut’s dreadful circus fire.  Harry Beers, Aetna chairman in 1959 acknowledged corporate accountability and employee volunteerism as vital business objectives, conveying values that had long been put into practice.  These actions led the way for the cultivation of Aetna’s culture of caring which still continues today.

By way of the Aetna Foundation, Aetna has been able to support most gripping American issues not just in Connecticut but also in numerous states in the country.  The foundation has reinforced disease prevention plans, aid the revitalization of several neighborhoods, supported the arts and education and has helped thousands people in need.  Aetna Foundation has listened and responded to the voices of difference that forms American society.

Aetna and the Aetna Foundation adhered to the examples set by the late Arthur R. Ash, Jr., one of the most distinguished Aetna board members.  His commitment in honoring differences, human rights and unwavering stand against prejudice and intolerance kept on inspiring the whole of Aetna community.  He once said that he could never forgive himself if he elected to live without human purpose, or not trying the unfortunate and the needy, even not admitting that perhaps life’s purest joy comes with simple ways of trying to help others.

In 2006, over half a million dollars was granted to support a range of initiatives intensifying Aetna’s enduring pledge to diversity.  This has given birth to Aetna’s Voice of Conscience Award.  Through this program, Aetna pays tribute to individuals, groups or corporations who enhanced human rights, opportunity and dignity.  The Voice of Conscience Award was formed in honor to former chairman, Arthur Ash, Jr.  Aetna also published calendars highlighting the remarkable historical contributions of African Americans.  The year 2007 celebrated the 26th anniversary of the Aetna African American History Calendar.  Relative to this commemoration, Aetna published the calendar entitled “A Healthful Life Approach:  African Americans Addressing Obesity”.

Over the decades, these and all the other projects initiated and supported by Aetna are just a few examples of how Aetna cultivated and continued to nourish a caring legacy extended to all those who is part of Aetna and the community it deeply values.

Aetna has been supplying Americans with insurance for about 150 years now.  Today, it already has 40 million plant holders and has polished a wide array of products ranging from life insurance, health and dental, to Medicare plans catering for seniors comprised of Medicare Supplement, Medicare Prescription Drug coverage and Medicare Advantage.

 Like all other insurance companies, Aetna started out from scratch.  It was founded in 1850 in Hartford, Connecticut as a life insurance company.  Mt. Etna, an 11,000-foot mighty Sicilian volcano is the inspiration behind the company’s name.  Aetna has bore witness to World Wars and the Great Depression and survived both.  Since then, it became one of America’s largest insurance companies.

 With Aetna’s visions and forward-thinking, it has spent millions and millions of dollars helping the uninsured population get easy and uncomplicated access to health care.  It has taken a big leap into the future with their Physicians Transparency Program.  This is very innovative in the consumer-driven healthcare world.  This online tool will enable members of Aetna to evaluate and compare prices of general medical procedures from different providers, thus, empowering them to choose and control aspects of their healthcare.

 Aetna has been highly praised by numerous publications and national organizations for its enduring commitment to diversity, its ground-breaking technology, and for various employment-related accolades.

 Aetna won the National Business Group on Behavioral Health award for its dedication to assisting workers and their families in dealing with mental health and with disorders cause by substance abuse.  Aetna’s venerable record of diversity and social responsibility was recognized by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, granting the company the 2007 A. Leon Higginbotham Corporate Leadership Award. 

In 2006, it was honored by National Committee for Quality Assurance for Innovative Programs with Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award for Aetna’s delivery of quality care to culturally, linguistically and ethnically disparate populations.  It was also ranked second in 2007 and 2006 Most Admired Companies’ listing of Fortune magazine.  Fortune magazine says that making it to number 2 of the Most Admired list is the ultimate report card on corporate character and reputation.  The company has also earned the 2006 Large/Affiliated Innovation and Excellence Award for Chronic Care, given by America’s Health Insurance Plans Foundation.   This is credited to Aetna’s integrated approach in helping diabetic members manage their conditions.

 Aetna’s volunteerism was honored by The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network with an Award for Excellence in Workplace Volunteer Programs in 2005.  This recognition is bestowed to businesses that have made dedication to effectively engage their employees in volunteer works.
 These are just some of the numerous awards Aetna has earned and they are too many to mention.  Aetna has a collection of them!   Ranging from recognitions for product excellence, technological innovation, to awards for commitment to diversity – but what makes Aetna really proud of these recognitions is that, it is a definitive indication that the company’s efforts and struggles have made a difference and has contributed to a better and healthier communities.  These awards are testimonies of Aetna’s tradition of excellence in delivering quality products. 

                  Aetna (NYSE:AE) is America’s foremost health care benefits company. It offers a wide range of conventional and consumer directed health care insurance policies and plans, and all health care related services such as dental, behavioral health, medical, pharmacy, group life, disability plans, medical management capabilities, and long-term care.  It is also a proud member of the Fortune 100.  Fortune 100 refers to the best 100 American public corporations or firms as determined by their annual gross revenues.

 The company’s vision has always been to provide health and financial benefits to all its plan holders with the highest degree of customer satisfaction.  Benefits are extended to customers with the aid of safe and accessible, cost effective and superior quality health care services.  Aetna strives and does its best to protect the finances of its clients against health related troubles.  Aetna has an opulent heritage when in comes to caring for the public health system.  It pioneered the development of numerous innovative health care benefits and products.  Whether you’re an employer or an individual, there will always be an Aetna plan that will surely meet your needs.

 Let us track Aetna’s milestones to better understand what made Aetna the successful health care benefits provider that it is today.  Aetna actually started as an Annuity Fund to vend life insurance organized by Aetna Insurance Company in 1850.  This Annuity department later became Aetna Life Insurance Company with Eliphalet A. Bulkeley becoming its first president.  The name Aetna was enthused by the most active volcano in Europe found in Sicily, Mt. Etna.

 It was in 1861 that Aetna began selling participating life insurance policies.  A plan that paid policyholders with dividends just as mutual’s did.  This strategy coupled with aggressive promotional efforts gave Aetna better ability to compete in the marketplace.  The outbreak of Civil War and the terror it produced sparked the surge of need for life insurance purchases so by the end of the war, Aetna became one of America’s leading life insurers.

 Aetna entered the arena of health insurance in 1899.  The company was one of the first stock insurance companies to participate in the health insurance business.  The new product was then offered only to Aetna accident or life insurance policyholders only and was aimed to spur sales of the mentioned insurances.  Liability coverage was later on offered by Aetna in 1902 in response to the gained political momentum of the social reform movements.  Liability coverage further branched out into lines of property and casualty insurances.  Aetna’s first corporate seal was introduced in 1904.  The Aetna logo conveyed the company’s status as the biggest life insurer in the world, ranging from accident, life, health to liability coverage.

 From then on, Aetna’s continues to grow and expand.  By 1912, they are already offering automobile policies combined with several coverages in just one contract.  And a year after that, Aetna formed a Group department to sell group life insurance which was the foundation of Aetna’s current health care business.

 Today, Aetna is catering to the health care needs of 15.8 million medical members, 13.185 million dental members, 10.586 million pharmacy members, 13.68 million group insurance members, 700,000 health-care professionals, 418,000 primary-care doctors and specialists and more than 4,000 hospitals.

Aetna Insurance is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving members with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care.  They offer a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care and disability plans and medical management capabilities. The Aetna Insurance customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans and government-sponsored plans.

The Aetna Insurance, the first national and full-service health insurer to offer a consumer-directed health plan, continues to lead the way with its Aetna HealthFund2 line of products, including HSA, HRA and RRA options. They offer a wide array of programs and services that help control rising employee benefits costs while striving to improve the quality of health care such as case management, disease management, patient safety programs, integrated medical, dental, pharmaceutical, behavioral health and disability information. The Aetna Insurance Company provides members with access to convenient tools and easy-to-understand information that can help them make better-informed decisions about their health and financial wellbeing.

Aetna Insurance Company provides the benefits through employers in all 50 states with products and services targeted specifically to small, mid-sized and large multi-site national employers. They also serves individuals, Medicare, and Medicaid beneficiaries in certain markets.

The Aetna Insurance Company’s focus on corporate responsibility is evident in everything they do, from adherence to strict ethical guidelines and corporate governance standards to longstanding support of the communities where they do business. Aetna Insurance has a clear track record for social responsibility that starts with their member-focused mission statement and set of values and culminates in responsible business policies and practices. It is a record that speaks directly to the priorities of many firms today that want and expect to do business with socially responsible companies.

Even as the Aetna Insurance Company focuses on delivering value in an ever-changing marketplace, however they are committed to transforming the health care system in America. In recent years, the Aetna Insurance Company has sought to shed light on important health care issues facing the nation such as health literacy, racial and ethnic disparities and the uninsured. They are committed to bringing together different perspectives and competing points of view in order to hasten workable solutions to challenging problems affecting access, quality and the affordability of care.