Williams continued: "Looking ahead, as the health care reform debate intensifies, we will continue to be an active, constructive voice for a bipartisan solution that gets and keeps everyone covered, builds on the strengths of the employer-based system, and addresses the underlying cost and affordability of health care. We believe that the right reforms can yield positive, market based change that improves the health care system for more Americans."

Joseph M. Zubretsky, executive vice president and CFO, said, "The increase in net income in the third quarter was primarily a result of improved valuations in our investment portfolio. Going forward, we expect that our ongoing medical cost management and pricing action plans will have a noticeable effect beginning in the first quarter of 2010, with additional financial impact realized during the remaining three quarters of the year. As we work through the challenges facing us, our financial position, capital structure and liquidity remain strong and we are committed to making sure our operating expense structure is appropriately aligned with the size, profile and needs of our customers.

Source: Aetna