HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) today announced that its Board of Directors increased the companys quarterly cash dividend to $0.175 per share on the companys common stock. The dividend is payable on January 27, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 13, 2012.

The decision to increase the dividend demonstrates confidence in our strategy, our capital position and our cash flow, said Mark T. Bertolini, Aetna chairman, CEO and president. The increased dividend is in keeping with Aetnas commitment to enhance total return for our shareholders.

Declaration and payment of future quarterly dividends is at the discretion of the Board and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change. Most recently, the company paid a $0.15 quarterly dividend on October 28, 2011.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.3 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.

Aetna
Media Contact:
Matt Wiggin, 860-273-4857
wigginm@aetna.com
or
Investor Contact:
Tom Cowhey, 860-273-2402
cowheyt@aetna.com

Source: Aetna Inc.