Aetna U.S. Healthcare to Launch Open Access Health Plans

OPEN MINDS On-Line News Aetna U.S. Healthcare, a unit of Aetna Inc., is preparing to roll out an array of health plans allowing members to see any Aetna participating doctor without getting a referral. John Coyle, head of Aetna US Healthcare's business operations, said that Aetna's product responds to consumer dissatisfaction with the HMO gatekeeper model, which requires patients to see a primary care physician before being referred to a specialist. The new plans will be marketed under the name Aetna Open Access and will be available January 1, 2001. The new plans will be accompanied . . .