Aetna Inc. is a major American health care and insurance company founded in 1853 and headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. Since November 2018, Aetna has operated as a subsidiary of CVS Health following a $69 billion acquisition. Prior to the acquisition, Aetna was a public company and a Fortune 100 member. As of 2018, the company had approximately 47,950 employees and reported revenue of $60.6 billion.
Aetna is a diversified health care benefits company offering a wide range of insurance products and related services. Its offerings include medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, long-term care, and disability plans. These products are sold to a variety of customers, including employer groups, individuals, college students, and government-sponsored plans. The company's network is extensive, serving millions of members through a vast network of health-care professionals and hospitals.
As an operating company, Aetna's patent litigation profile primarily involves defending against infringement claims. The provided data shows Aetna as a defendant in one case and as a plaintiff in none, a typical posture for a large company focused on products and services rather than patent assertion. The single tracked case, initiated by Sampo IP, LLC in 2013, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, a venue historically popular with patent plaintiffs.
The acquisition by CVS Health in 2018 marked a significant event, aiming to create an integrated health care model combining Aetna's insurance capabilities with CVS's pharmacy and retail presence. Aetna now operates as a standalone business unit within the CVS Health enterprise. The combination was intended to increase access to care, improve health outcomes, and reduce medical costs.