Costs not covered by the Medicare program are higher than ever. On average, Medicare beneficiaries spend almost a quarter of their annual income (22 percent) on health care.1 For 2008, just one stay in the hospital under the Medicare program will cost you more than $1,000. (That is the $1,024 Part A hospital deductible.) And that’s just your hospital bill. In addition, you are also required to pay 20 percent of all your doctor bills, lab tests, X-rays and other medical expenses.

Medicare expects you to pay for a portion of almost every medical treatment you receive. If you depend on just Medicare Parts A and B for your health care coverage, you will have to pay a deductible and/or copayment for most services. This includes inpatient hospital stays, outpatient services, blood products, skilled nursing care, doctors’ services, surgical services, physical therapy, diagnostic tests and medical equipment. Plus, you will not be covered if you travel outside of the U.S. and need emergency care.

Individual Medicare Supplement Plan insurance policies help you get more of the protection you need. With a of the Medicare supplement plan, you will find the level of protection you need to help cover the deductibles, copayments and coinsurance that Medicare Parts A and B do not pay. Don’t wait until the bills pile up because of an unexpected medical treatment or hospital stay. Act now to help protect your savings — and your peace of mind.

New to Medicare?
You are guaranteed acceptance during your open enrollment period. If you are at least 65 and enrolling in Medicare Part B for the first time, you are eligible for guaranteed acceptance. This is called your open enrollment period. It lasts for six months and begins on the first day of the month in which you are both age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B.*

Don’t wait, because if you apply for our Medicare supplement plan after your open enrollment period, you may have to answer health questions to be eligible for coverage.

Help protect your hard-earned savings.

Applying for an Individual Medicare Supplement Plan insurance policy during your open enrollment period has many great advantages. Make sure you know what they are before you make your health care coverage decision.

• Guaranteed acceptance. You are automatically qualified for coverage, regardless of your medical   history, when you apply during your Medicare open enrollment period.**
• No health questions to answer during this time.
• Protection from many of Medicare’s major out-of-pocket costs.

The advantages of choosing a MedicareSupplement Insurance policy

1. You can use any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare.
Go to any doctor or hospital — there are no networks or referrals.
And all Medicare-approved services are covered.
2. You are automatically qualified for coverage during your open
enrollment period.
You will not have to answer health questions when you apply during your
open enrollment period.***
3. Your policy cannot be canceled.
As long as you continue to pay your premiums when due, your policy
cannot be canceled.
4. You have virtually no claim forms to file.
Your doctor or hospital sends claims directly through the Medicare program
to us. This means the only time you may have paperwork or bills is if you
have emergency expenses when traveling internationally under Plans C or F.
5. Your satisfaction is guaranteed.
After you are approved, you will receive your insurance policy. You then
have 30 days to review the coverage and decide if it is right for you. If you
are not completely satisfied, simply return the policy with a request to
cancel your coverage within 30 days. Your policy will be canceled and we
will refund any premium payment you have made.

Which plan is right for you?

Choose Plan A if:
… you are looking for the most basic coverage offered. Plan A will help you
pay Medicare’s Part A and B coinsurance amounts, which are the additional
amounts you pay after you have paid the Medicare Part A and B deductibles.
However, Plan A does not cover the $1,024 Medicare Part A hospital
deductible, the $135 Medicare Part B deductible, or the $128 a day
coinsurance you pay for days 21 to 100 in a skilled nursing facility.
Emergency coverage during foreign travel is not offered under Plan A.

Choose Plan B if:
… you want the basic coverage provided by Plan A, but also need
coverage for the $1,024 Medicare Part A deductible. Like Plan A,
emergency coverage during foreign travel and skilled nursing
coinsurance are not offered under Plan B.

Choose Plan C if:
… you want even more coverage. Plan C covers everything Plan B covers,
plus it provides coverage for: the $135 Part B deductible, $128 a day for days
21 to 100 of a skilled nursing stay, and foreign travel emergency services.

Choose Plan F if:
… you want the most coverage offered by Aetna in a Medicare Supplement
Plan. Plan F covers everything Plan C covers — the $1,024 Medicare Part A
deductible, the $135 Medicare Part B deductible, $128 a day for days 21 to
100 of a skilled nursing stay, and foreign travel emergency services — plus it
provides coverage for the difference between what the doctor charges and the
Medicare-approved amount (what is called Part B excess charges).

Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for an Individual Medicare Supplement Plan policy if:

1. You have signed up for enrollment in Medicare Parts A and B, and
continue to pay your Part B premium, and
2. You live in a state where our Medicare supplement plans are available.

Application instructions

1. Review the Outline of Medicare Supplement Coverage and choose the
plan that meets your needs and budget.
2. Complete all areas of the application. Sign and date where indicated.
Include a check or money order for your first month’s premium.
3. Mail the application and payment (if required) to:
Matt Lockard
Medicare Supplement Application Processing
172 Yale Ave
Ventura CA 93003

Once you’ve applied … what happens next?
Once we approve your completed application, you will receive a welcome
packet with your insurance policy and your Aetna Individual Medicare
Supplement Plan insurance identification card. It will also include
information on our electronic funds transfer program, which automatically
deducts your monthly plan premium from the account of your choice if you
choose this option.
Your coverage will begin on the first day of the month after your application
is processed. So if your application is processed on August 28, your coverage
will begin on September 1.
You will have virtually no paperwork to complete to get your claims paid. We
take care of everything with the Medicare program and your doctor.

* Note: You may be eligible for guaranteed acceptance under certain other conditions. See the Guaranteed Issue Guidelines section of the enclosed Outline of Medicare Supplement Coverage for details. Or, you can get more information on Medicare Supplement Insurance at www.medicare.gov or from your state insurance department.
** In New York only: Continuous open enrollment and guaranteed acceptance apply.
*** In New York only: Continuous open enrollment and guaranteed acceptance apply.
**** Call Center statistics, October 2007.