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Aetna is the health insurance arm of CVS Health, which also operates Caremark (pharmacy benefit management) and MinuteClinic. For a practice, the operationally relevant facts are the substantial self-funded book, the separate dental network, and heavy use of Availity for provider transactions. Payer content ages fastest of anything on this site. Portals move, forms change, payer IDs get reassigned, and timely filing limits are contract-specific regardless of what any table says. Treat this page as orientation; the payer’s own current documentation and your executed contract are authoritative. Checked August 2026.

Who they are

Plan types on the card

Aetna Choice POS II, Managed Choice, Open Access plans, HMO products, Medicare Advantage, and Aetna Better Health Medicaid plans. A substantial share is self-funded ASO.

Enrollment and credentialing

Start at aetna.com/health-care-professionals. Many provider transactions run through Availity. Credentialing generally pulls from CAQH.

EDI, ERA, and EFT

Standard three-part enrollment. Confirm ERA routing to your current clearinghouse and EFT to the PC’s operating account.

Appeals

Reconsideration then formal appeal, with the track depending on plan type and line of business.

Quirks worth knowing

  • Aetna Dental is a separate network with separate credentialing. Medical participation does not include dental.
  • Behavioral health may be carved out depending on the plan — confirm per contract.
  • Self-funded volume is substantial, so ERISA analysis applies to a large share of appeals.