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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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Foreman James K   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) Executive Vice President (Last) (First) (Middle) 151 FARMINGTON AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/21/2006 (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 (4) 02/21/2006   M   9,212 A (2) 9,212 D   Common Stock 02/21/2006   F   3,621 D $ 49.71 10,557 (4) D   Common Stock               54.743 (5) I 401(k) Plan

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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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

Restricted Stock Units (1)

(2)

02/21/2006

M

9,212

(3)

(3)

Common Stock

9,212

$ 0

9,208

D

Reporting Owners

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

Signatures

James K. Foreman by Paige L. Falasco, Attorney-in-Fact		02/22/2006
**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)	Outstanding units adjusted as a result of Aetna's 2-for-1 stock split on February 17, 2006.
(2)	Each Restricted Unit represents a right to receive one share of Aetna Inc. Common Stock net of taxes.
(3)	Restricted Stock Units granted under the Aetna Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan; 9212 vested on February 21, 2006 and 9,208 units vest on February 14, 2007.
(4)	Reflects additional shares issued as a result of Aetna's 2-for1 stock split on February 17, 2006.
(5)	Represents pro rata portion of the stock portion of Aetna Common Stock Fund held by reporting person on January 31, 2006 pursuant to Aetna Inc. 401(k) Plan. The information is based on information provided by the Plan Trustee as of that date. (Figure shown has not been adjusted for Aetna's 2-for-1 stock split on February 17, 2006.)

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