Aetna agreed to a $2 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging that its previous policies discriminated against LGBTQ+ policyholders by denying coverage for certain fertility treatments. As part of the settlement, Aetna revised its policies to make intrauterine insemination a standard benefit and adjusted its IVF criteria in line with American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines, ensuring greater accessibility for LGBTQ+ individuals.

A federal judge approved a landmark class action settlement in New York addressing a lawsuit against Aetna for denying fertility treatment to same-sex couples. Under the settlement, Aetna, a subsidiary of CVS Health Corp., will begin covering artificial insemination and work towards equal access to in-vitro fertilization procedures for all its customers nationally.

The article highlights that Aetna, as part of CVS/Aetna, is involved in extensive political contributions and lobbying efforts alongside other major health insurers. Data from OpenSecrets.com shows that a vast majority of Congressional incumbents received contributions from Big Insurance, indicating an influence on political decision-making that potentially undermines democratic accountability and public health priorities.

The OpenSecrets profile on Aetna reveals the company’s historical lobbying activities and notes that it did not report lobbying on specific bills in 2024. This aggregated data provides insight into Aetna’s ongoing engagement in political lobbying, reflecting its broader influence in public policy debates.

A report by OpenSecrets revealed that health companies, a category that includes Aetna, spent over $739 million on federal lobbying in 2023. This contribution was a significant part of the record $4.2 billion spent overall, indicating a strategic effort by health industry players to influence federal policymaking in favor of corporate interests.

A class-action lawsuit filed in New York alleges that Aetna's student health plan imposes a discriminatory one-year waiting period for fertility treatments on LGBTQ+ couples, effectively denying them timely access to coverage and violating federal and state non-discrimination laws.

Aetna Inc. has engaged six lobbying firms, including four newly hired firms, to secure government approval for its $37 billion acquisition of Humana, demonstrating significant corporate political influence.

Aetna published its modern slavery statement summary in 2023, outlining measures to mitigate modern slavery risks in its supply chains. The disclosure emphasizes transparency regarding how the company is addressing modern slavery and labor rights challenges within its supply chain.

Aetna, in conjunction with Humana, spent approximately $1.2 million in lobbying during the third quarter as part of efforts related to their pending merger and antitrust reviews. The expenditure, detailed in disclosure filings, comes in contrast to competitors Anthem and Cigna, which spent significantly more lobbying funds.

The OpenSecrets profile reveals that Aetna Inc contributed approximately $1.29 million during the 2018 cycle and spent over $7 million on lobbying in 2017 and 2018. The report also highlights that a significant proportion of Aetna Inc lobbyists previously held government positions, indicating a pronounced revolving door dynamic.

Two Democratic senators, Ron Wyden and Patty Murray, sent a joint letter to Aetna Chairman and CEO Mark Bertolini over concerns that a former medical director had not reviewed patients' full medical records during claims determinations, raising questions about Aetna's claims review procedures and potential non-compliance with federal law. The inquiry also referenced a 2009 fine related to improper claims handling.

Aetna has enlisted six lobbying firms, including Bloom Strategic Counsel, CGCN Group, and others with strong political ties, to influence the regulatory review of its $37 billion acquisition of Humana. The move is intended to secure government approval amid antitrust concerns.

Investors, including unions, state pension funds, and other groups, are pressuring Aetna to disclose details of its political and lobbying contributions. The controversy centers on a $3 million donation to the conservative American Action Network and a $4 million donation to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which CEO Mark Bertolini described as 'educational activities.' Critics argue that this framing obscures the political nature of the contributions, raising concerns about the insurer’s indirect support for far‐right agendas.