Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF 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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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  McCarthy Margaret M
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
02/26/2010
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AETNA INC /PA/ [AET]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
151 FARMINGTON AVENUE
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
CIO/SVP/Innov, Tech & Serv Ops
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

HARTFORD, CT 06156
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 Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 10,476
D
 
Common Stock 946 (1)
I
By 401(k)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Options 02/11/2006(2) 02/11/2015 Common Stock 6,204 $ 33.375 D  
Employee Stock Options 06/23/2006(2) 06/23/2015 Common Stock 12,460 $ 41.54 D  
Stock Appreciation Right 02/10/2007(3) 02/10/2016 Common Stock 23,310 $ 50.205 D  
Stock Appreciation Right 02/09/2008(3) 02/09/2017 Common Stock 49,380 $ 42.57 D  
Restricted Stock Unit 11/12/2008(4) 12/12/2010 Common Stock 556 $ (5) D  
Stock Appreciation Right 11/12/2008(3) 11/12/2017 Common Stock 11,687 $ 53.96 D  
Stock Appreciation Right 02/08/2009(3) 02/08/2018 Common Stock 73,636 $ 50.7 D  
Restricted Stock Unit 04/25/2009(4) 05/25/2011 Common Stock 14,211 $ (5) D  
Stock Appreciation Right 02/13/2010(3) 02/13/2019 Common Stock 130,801 $ 32.11 D  
Market Stock Unit   (6)   (6) Common Stock 53,767 $ (7) D  
Stock Units   (8)   (8) Common Stock 6,967 $ (8) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
McCarthy Margaret M
151 FARMINGTON AVENUE
HARTFORD, CT 06156
      CIO/SVP/Innov, Tech & Serv Ops  

Signatures

Margaret M. McCarthy by Judith H. Jones, Attorney-in-Fact 03/08/2010
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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) Represents the pro rata portion of the stock portion of Aetna Common Stock Fund held by reporting person on February 26, 2010. The information is based on information provided by the Plan Trustee as of that date.
(2) Stock Option granted under the Aetna Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan.
(3) Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Aetna Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan.
(4) Restricted Stock Units granted under the Aetna Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan.
(5) Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a right to receive one share of Aetna Inc. Common Stock net of taxes.
(6) Market Stock Units granted under the Aetna Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, units will vest on 3/8/12.
(7) Each Market Stock Unit represents a right to receive up to 1.5 shares of Aetna Inc. Common Stock net of taxes, depending on the weighted average closing stock price for the thirty day trading days prior to the vest date.
(8) Reflects deferred stock unit account. Each unit represents a right to receive one share of Common Stock net of taxes 6 months following termination of employment.

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