FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * BENNETT ALAN M   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol AETNA INC /PA/ [AET] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Senior Vice President & CFO (Last) (First) (Middle) 151 FARMINGTON AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/27/2006 (Street) HARTFORD, CT 06156 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock (1) 02/27/2006   M   93,332 A $ 10.47 0 D   Common Stock 02/27/2006   S(2)   46,668 D $ 52.2 0 D   Common Stock 02/27/2006   S(2)   9,333 D $ 52.25 0 D   Common Stock 02/27/2006   S(2)   9,332 D $ 52.01 0 D   Common Stock 02/27/2006   S(2)   9,333 D $ 52.1 0 D   Common Stock 02/27/2006   S(2)   9,333 D $ 52.3 0 D   Common Stock 02/27/2006   S(2)   9,333 D $ 52.4 51,968 (1) D   Common Stock               10,673.9108 (3) I By 401(k) Plan

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Employee Stock Option (1)

$ 10.47

02/27/2006

M

93,332

02/27/2004

02/27/2013

Common Stock

93,332

$ 0

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
BENNETT ALAN M 151 FARMINGTON AVENUE HARTFORD, CT 06156			Senior Vice President & CFO

Signatures

Alan M. Bennett by Judith H. Jones, Attorney-in-Fact		02/28/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	On February 17, 2006, Aetna Inc.'s Common Stock was split 2-for-1, resulting in the reporting person's acquisition of additional options and shares of Common Stock.
(2)	The sale reported was effected pursuant to a 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on November 18, 2005.
(3)	Represents pro rata share of the stock portion of Aetna Common Stock Fund held by reporting person on February 24, 2006 pursuant to Aetna 401(k) Plan. The information is based on information provided by the Plan Trustee as of that date. (Figure shown has been adjusted to reflect Aetna's February 17, 2006 2-for-1 stock split.)

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