Hospital inks insurance deal with Aetna

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Catalina Island Medical Center got a boost in its efforts to expand as they have signed a major contract with Aetna, one of the largest insurance companies in the country.

Jason Paret, CEO of Catalina Island Medical Center, said the contract was signed May 21 and will allow the facility to service a number of employees on the island that recently transitioned from another carrier.

Paret said Catalina Medical reached out to Aetna and “they provided us with a fair and equitable proposal.”

Aetna, founded back in 1853, has become one of the country’s healthcare giants. A spokesman for the company confirmed this week that they had indeed signed a new contract with Catalina Island Medical. “We are pleased to be able to offer our members access to the health services provided at Catalina Island Medical Center,” said, Chandra Welsh, Aetna’s head of network in California. “The addition of the hospital will provide greater access to care for our members who live on Catalina Island,” she added.

No details of the agreement were released but Paret said the facility was very happy to now be able to accept Aetna’s insurance.