Shareholder Class Action Filed Against Aetna Inc. by the Law Firm of Schiffrin Barroway Topaz & Ke...( RADNOR Pa. Oct. 24 /- The followi...),Health

RADNOR, Pa., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement was issued today by the law firm of Schiffrin Barroway Topaz & Kessler, LLP:

Notice is hereby given that a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on behalf of all securities purchasers of Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) ("Aetna" or the "Company") from October 27, 2005 through April 27, 2006, inclusive (the "Class Period").

If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Schiffrin Barroway Topaz & Kessler, LLP (Darren J. Check, Esq. or Richard A. Maniskas, Esq.) toll free at 1-888-299-7706 or 1-610-667-7706, or via e-mail at info@sbtklaw.com.

The Complaint charges Aetna and certain of its officers and directors with violations of sections 10(b), 18, and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that during the second half of 2005, Aetna touted its expanding membership rolls as a primary reason for a growth in operating income.

The Company's Medical Cost Ratio ("MCR") is the percentage of dollars a company spends on health care, including physician reimbursement, and is the key number for health plans in terms of their level of profitability. For six months, defendants misrepresented or failed to disclose the rise in Aetna's MCR. Unbeknownst to investors, however, from at least as early as September 2005, defendants had in their possession information that contradicted or rendered statements made by the defendants throughout the Class Period false.

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