Aetna Launches New Sales, Enrollment and Billing Platform with Benefitfocus Technology

CHARLESTON, S.C., Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Benefitfocus today announced that Aetna has selected the BENEFITFOCUS® Platform to integrate online sales, enrollment and benefits management for Aetna customers. By providing Benefitfocus technology across all market segments and lines of business, Aetna delivers a consistent, unified experience to its brokers, plan sponsors and members, who will be able to manage all of their Aetna benefits in one place.  

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"Aetna is dedicated to helping lower the overall cost of health care by developing innovative online capabilities that make the health care system work more effectively," said Frank McCauley, Senior Vice President and Head of Aetna's Local Employers and Consumers business. "We are pleased to work with Benefitfocus – a leader in providing technology that works for individual consumers, small employers and large complex employers – to help achieve these objectives."

Once the end-to-end solution is completed, Aetna's individual and employer customers of all sizes will be able to use the Platform to:

• Shop for benefits and evaluate options with advanced plan comparison tools;
• Learn with integrated video and decision support tools;
• Manage eligibility and enrollment for all types of benefits;
• View and pay invoices, making real-time adjustments as needed; and,
• Communicate with live chat, personalized messages and the latest social media tools.

Aetna's Employers

Prospective employers will be able to shop online, complete applications, and review and accept quotes. Once they become Aetna customers, benefit administrators can manage enrollment and billing activities year round. When it is time for Open Enrollment, they will be able to leverage industry-leading technology for employee self-service, as well as a suite of sophisticated management tools that includes benefit mapping, work flow and reporting.

Aetna's Consumers

Consumers will be able to shop and apply for health and voluntary benefits online, while comparing all Aetna products and rates. Once approved, individuals can accept coverage and pay online. Consumers will also be able to manage their benefits on an ongoing basis, make recurring payments and manage health care finances.

Aetna's Broker Community

Brokers will be able to manage prospects, provide quotes and complete the sales process for consumers, small employers and large employers. After the sale, brokers will be able to use the technology to analyze their client base, provide ongoing support and manage the renewal process. Having all of this information in one place will help brokers provide better service to their clients.

"Today's health care consumers want to shop, apply and pay online for their benefits in the same way that they make other purchases," said Shawn Jenkins, President and CEO of Benefitfocus. "Aetna is making a big leap forward by providing technology that engages consumers and enables them to do all of their benefits shopping on one website. What is even more exciting is that Aetna is extending the capabilities to employers and brokers as well, staying in front of customer expectations while preparing for the many layers of health care reform. We are proud to be selected by Aetna and to partner with them to respond to the new market dynamics."

Aetna has been a member of the Benefitfocus network of data exchange partners for many years. They have also deployed Benefitfocus software to meet specific market needs. For example, Aetna previously launched the Platform's electronic enrollment software for its Small Group business and also uses online enrollment and billing capabilities for its dental, supplemental life and disability products. The expanded capabilities across other business areas will be introduced to the market starting in the fall of 2011 and continuing through 2012.

"This is currently being incorporated and built into our Voluntary business, and we feel that the Platform will provide a differentiated sales and service experience for our members, plan sponsors and brokers," said James Reid, Head of Aetna Voluntary Plans. "We look forward to our continued work with Benefitfocus and leveraging their technology across our entire customer base."

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.5 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. 

About Benefitfocus

Benefitfocus is the largest health care and voluntary benefits software provider in the U.S. with 14,099,528 consumers, 308,583 employers, 61,022 agents and 3,519 carrier representatives live on the Benefitfocus Platform. Benefitfocus offers a single Web-based platform for benefit shopping, enrollment, management and industry-standard data exchange. Benefitfocus – All Your Benefits. One Place. www.benefitfocus.com

Benefitfocus.com, Inc.
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SOURCE Benefitfocus