Aetna Insurance Review

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Contributor, Benzinga
November 29, 2022

In the past, Aetna health insurance plans were available on Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces across the country. Though Aetna no longer offers ACA-compliant plans, the company continues to make healthcare more affordable through Medicare Advantage Part D coverage and dental insurance plans.

Aetna’s Medicare options extend to most parts of the country, and premiums for Advantage plans begin at $0 a month. Part D coverage, which helps pay for prescription drugs, begins at about $7 a month in most states. Additionally, Aetna offers dental insurance and dental discount plan options that anyone who doesn’t have dental coverage through their employer can take advantage of. In addition, Aetna also offers a number of additional benefits not seen with other coverage providers, including discounts on prescription drugs and rewards for meeting health goals. 

 

Best For
  • Member support
Pros
  • Offers multiple mobile app offerings to reward you for reaching fitness goals
  • Dental discount plans may include coverage for prescription drugs
  • Medicare Advantage plans available with no monthly premiums
Cons
  • Vision insurance only available when purchased with a dental plan
  • ACA-compliant health insurance no longer available

Aetna Health Insurance Ratings at a Glance

Aetna Overall Rating
Aetna Coverage Options
Aetna Customer Service
Customer Pricing
Aetna Mobile App
User Benefits

When looking for health insurance companies, the options can seem overwhelming. And when your insurance provider is Medicare, it can be even more so. There are plenty of Medicare healthcare insurance policies to choose from and it's important to select the right health insurance company for you. Here is Benzinga's review of Aetna insurance.

Aetna Overall Rating

Though Aetna health insurance plans are no longer available through the ACA Marketplace, the company continues to offer strong options for Medicare enrollees as well as anyone looking to make dental or vision care more affordable. Aetna’s Medicare Advantage and Part D coverage options are exceptionally affordable — you can even sign onto a Medicare Advantage plan and pay $0 a month in most areas. Part D coverage is also easily attainable for anyone living on a limited income with premiums beginning at a little more than $7 a month.

Aetna’s dental discount and insurance options are also affordable and unique. Though dental insurance plans are a bit more expensive than competitors, the company continues to offer affordable options through its discount plan. You can even add prescription drug discounts to your dental discount plan, which can provide a more holistic opportunity to save. 

Aetna Coverage Options

  • Medicare Advantage plans
  • Medicare Part D coverage
  • Dental insurance plans
  • Dental discount plans
  • Vision insurance plans 

Aetna Customer Service

Aetna offers a few methods you can use to get in contact with the company’s customer service team:

  • By phone: To connect with Aetna’s team by phone, call 800-US-AETNA (800-872-3862). Customer service is available between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST. This is Aetna’s general customer service line, and its team will connect you to a specific department member who has access to your customer information.
  • By online message: In order to contact Aetna’s customer service team directly, start by logging into your Aetna online portal. If you don’t have an Aetna customer portal, you can also send the company a message using its online system

Customer Pricing

The specific pricing you’ll pay for your Aetna health insurance alternative or supplemental plan will vary depending on where you live and the type of coverage you’re signed onto. Take a look at a few of the plan and discount options and how pricing begins for each option:

  • Medicare Part C: Aetna offers Medicare Part C coverage options, which are sometimes referred to as Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Advantage plans are alternatives to Original Medicare coverage offered by private health insurance companies. Medicare Part C plans from Aetna are available in most parts of the country, and premiums begin at $0 a month.
  • Medicare Part D coverage: Many new Medicare enrollees are surprised to learn that Original Medicare does not extend to prescription drugs administered outside of a hospital setting. Medicare Part D coverage options are sold by private health insurance companies that help cover the cost of prescription drugs you take on a regular schedule. Medicare Part D plan options are available from Aetna beginning at $7.20 a month in most areas.
  • Dental insurance plans: A dental insurance plan is a type of coverage that helps you pay for the cost of dental procedures and treatments you receive. Aetna’s dental insurance options cover 100% of preventive care and up to 80% of the cost of dental procedures and treatments. In most areas, premiums for Aetna’s dental insurance plans begin at about $28 a month for individuals with $50 individual plan deductibles.
  • Dental discount plans: A dental discount plan is not the same thing as insurance. Instead of covering a portion of your bills, enrolling in a dental discount plan allows you to save a set upfront percentage when you receive dental services from an in-network provider. Aetna’s dental discount plan can help you save between 15% and 50% off your dental care needs, and plans begin at just $7.99 a month for individuals.
  • Aetna vision insurance: Vision insurance is a type of coverage that helps you cover the costs of things like glasses, eye exams and contact lenses. Aetna’s vision insurance plans can be added to your dental insurance for a few extra dollars a month in most areas. 

Aetna Mobile App

Aetna offers 2 unique mobile apps that allow you to manage your plan benefits and take steps toward living a healthier lifestyle:

  • Aetna Health: The Aetna Health app allows you to track your policy benefits and claims and access coverage details on-the-go. Using the app, you can find in-network care providers, view your current claim and deductible information, access your ID card, pay claims and more. You can even set up personalized health reminders customized to your individual care needs.
  • Attain by Aetna: Attain is a new app offering from Aetna that connects directly with your Apple Watch data to help you set more personalized health and fitness goals. You can earn rewards when you meet exercise and calorie consumption goals, get personalized recommendations on healthy sleep habits and schedule reminders for health habits (like exercise and appointments) — all coordinated with your Aetna member portal.

The Aetna Health app is available as a free download for both Apple and Android platforms. Attain by Aetna is currently only available for Apple users. 

User Benefits

The specific benefits and discounts you’ll be able to take advantage of when you sign onto Aetna health insurance through Medicare, a dental insurance or discount plan will vary depending on your location and the option you choose. Some of the most unique benefits offered by the company include the following:

  • Additional benefits on Medicare Advantage plans:  When you purchase a Medicare Advantage plan through Aetna, you’ll be able to take advantage of additional inclusions that help support a healthy lifestyle. For example, most Medicare Advantage plans sold through Aetna include a fitness benefit and hearing coverage.
  • Extra discounts on prescription drugs: If you don’t have health insurance but you take regular prescriptions, you may want to consider Aetna’s dental discount plan plus prescription coverage. This allows you to save up to 40% on generic prescription drugs, which can equal hundreds of dollars saved a year.
  • Online portal access: Managing your plan and benefits doesn’t need to be difficult with Aetna’s comprehensive online portal system. Contact a care provider or representative directly through your portal to access confidential, fast assistance using your benefits. 

Aetna Versus Competitors

Though Aetna doesn’t currently offer health insurance options that are compliant with the ACA, its unique range of benefit options sets it apart from competitors in a few unique ways:

  • Rewards for healthy habits: Attain by Aetna is a unique concept that allows you to earn rewards like gift cards for maintaining healthy and active lifestyle habits.
  • Assistance available in a wide range of languages: Aetna is one of the only health insurance and benefit providers Benzinga has seen to offer customer support in a wide variety of languages. You can access customer assistance in English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Italian, Japanese, German, Russian, French and additional languages. This can make Aetna a particularly strong choice if English isn’t your native language.
  • Discounts on prescription drugs: Though many health insurance companies will allow you to purchase a dental discount plan, most of these plan providers only extend benefits to dental services and treatments. For just a few additional dollars a month, you can add discounts for prescription drugs to your dental discount plan, which can help you save hundreds of dollars a year on some of the most common medications you may need. 
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance
    Best For:
    Nationwide coverage
    securely through Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance's website
  • Sidecar Health Access Plan
    Best For:
    No enrollment period health insurance
    securely through Sidecar Health Access Plan's website

    Plans referred to above are excepted benefit fixed indemnity insurance products marketed and administered by Sidecar Health Insurance Solutions, LLC and underwritten by Sirius America Insurance Company or United States Fire Insurance Company, depending on the state. As an excepted benefit plan, it does not provide comprehensive/major medical expenses coverage, minimum essential coverage, or essential health benefits. You cannot receive a subsidy (premium tax credit and/or cost-sharing reduction) under the ACA in connection with your purchase of such an excepted benefit fixed indemnity insurance plan. Also, the termination or loss of this policy does not entitle you to a special enrollment period to purchase a health benefit plan that qualifies as minimum essential coverage outside of an open enrollment period. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

  • Kaiser Permanente Health Insurance
    Best For:
    Access to Kaiser medical specialists

Get Started With Aetna

If you think that a dental insurance or Medicare plan from Aetna might be right for your needs, it’s a good idea to begin comparing your options and enrollment choices now. In particular, Medicare enrollees should start learning more about plan availability and affordability as soon as possible so they’re prepared for the upcoming Open Enrollment period. Continue to return to Benzinga to compare all of your options and find the best coverage for your budget and needs. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

How much is health insurance per month for a single person?

A

In 2020, the average individual paid about $456 a month for an ACA-compliant health insurance plan, while the average family paid about $1,152 a month for ACA coverage. 

 

Q

Does Aetna offer health insurance?

A

Aetna no longer offers individual or family ACA-compliant health insurance plan options. However, the company continues to offer coverage for dental insurance and Medicare enrollees.

Q

Can I get Aetna through the ACA marketplace?

A

You can no longer get Aetna through the ACA marketplace.

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About Sarah Horvath

Sarah is an expert in the insurance, investing for retirement and cryptocurrency space.