Aetna Tacks on EAP to LTD Offering

May 24, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Aetna is automatically offering an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with its long term disability insurance plans for employers with 51 or more employees and members insured through Aetna's Association and Affinity programs.

An Aetna news release said that the move is an effort to help employers reduce sick leave and work-related accidents, while helping employees return to work faster.

The addition of an EAP helps members and their families cope with the often difficult financial and emotional challenges of a lengthy disability, the announcement said. The EAP is available to all members and their families. Aetna’s EAP can help members access professional help to address stressful life events before the event causes a stress-related disability.

“Aetna’s research suggests that there is a direct link between depression and the length of time a member is disabled,” said Eric Reisenwitz, head of Aetna Disability and Leave Management Services, in the news release. “These findings, as well as the fact that a disability can impact the whole family, spurred Aetna to offer our insured long term disability members and their families an employee assistance program to meet their behavioral health needs. By addressing these needs, we can help improve the quality of life for employees and better manage overall medical costs faced by employers.”

More information is at  www.aetnaeap.com .

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