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 *
  Foreman James K
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
02/01/2006
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AETNA INC /PA/ [AET]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
151 FARMINGTON AVNEUE
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Executive Vice President
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 1,270
D
 
Common Stock 54.743 (3)
I
401(k) Plan

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 Option 06/30/2005 02/14/2015 Common Stock 25,626 (1) $ 67.87 D  
Restricted Stock Units   (2)   (2) Common Stock 10,980 $ 0 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Foreman James K
151 FARMINGTON AVNEUE
HARTFORD, CT 06156
      Executive Vice President  

Signatures

James K. Foreman 02/06/2006
**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) Granted pursuant to Aetna Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan. Options vest in three installments on June 30, 2005; February 14, 2007 and February 14, 2008.
(2) Granted pursuant to Aetna Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan. 1,770 Units vest on February 14, 2006 and 9,210 Units vest on February 14, 2007.
(3) Represents pro rata share of the stock portion of Aetna Common Stock Fund held by reporting person on January 31, 2006 pursuant to Aetna 401(k) Plan. The information is based on information provided by the Plan Trustee as of that date.

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