Isabella Carter
Aetna, a health insurance company, has been involved in political donations and lobbying, although the company does not publicly disclose its funding sources. From 2005 to 2008, Aetna contributed $950,717 to state-level campaigns in 42 states, with Californians receiving the most at $229,150, or 24%. The Florida Republican Party was the top recipient of Aetna's contributions, receiving $91,500. Aetna has also been accused of making hidden political donations, with reports of the company giving millions of dollars to politically active groups, including over $3.3 million to the conservative American Action Network (AAN). In 2013, Aetna spent almost $6 million on state and federal lobbying, and the company generally supported the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, in 2016, Aetna announced its intention to withdraw from ACA participation in 11 out of 15 states, citing financial losses as the reason.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of donation | 2005-2008 |
| Total amount donated | $950,717 |
| Top recipient state | California ($229,150) |
| Top recipient political party | Florida Republican Party ($91,500) |
| Total amount donated to Republican candidates and committees | $681,554 |
| Percentage of total amount donated to Republican candidates and committees | 58% |
| Political action committee | Aetna PAC |
| Aetna PAC board of directors' role | Managing all political contributions made by Aetna PAC and legally permissible corporate contributions made directly by Aetna |
| Factors influencing candidate contribution decisions | Candidate's voting record, leadership positions, and committee assignments |
| Support for Affordable Care Act | Yes |
| Year of latest donation data | 2016 |
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What You'll Learn
- Aetna donated $950,717 to state campaigns from 2005-2008
- The largest recipient of this was the Florida Republican Party, receiving $91,500
- In 2016, Aetna offered health plans in 15 states through the ACA
- In 2017, Aetna withdrew from 11 of these 15 states, sparking responses from Clinton and Trump campaigns
- Aetna has been accused of hiding political donations by ethics group CREW
Aetna donated $950,717 to state campaigns from 2005-2008
Between 2005 and 2008, Aetna donated $950,717 to state campaigns in 42 states. This is a substantial amount, but it is worth noting that other large health insurance companies contributed more during this period. WellPoint, for example, contributed $4.3 million, and UnitedHealth Group gave $2.2 million.
Aetna's political donations have not always been fully transparent, and the company has faced some criticism and scrutiny over its spending. In 2015, 71% of Aetna shareholders voted against a proposal that would have required the company to disclose its political donations, particularly those directed toward not-for-profit groups. This was not the first time such a proposal had been made and rejected; similar proposals failed at Aetna's 2012 and 2014 meetings.
Despite this lack of transparency, some details of Aetna's political contributions have been made public. During the study period from 2005 to 2008, Californians received more from Aetna than any other state, with $229,150, or 24% of the company's total contributions. The Florida Republican Party was the top recipient of Aetna's contributions, receiving $91,500.
Aetna's political contributions are managed by its board of directors, which interacts with policymakers at both the federal and state levels. The company primarily contributes to political causes through its political action committee, Aetna PAC, which supports candidates who share Aetna's healthcare mission. Aetna PAC is bipartisan and supports candidates through voluntary contributions from Aetna employees.
Aetna's political involvement also extends to its support for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The company coordinated with the federal government to provide health benefits to consumers following the ACA's passage. However, in 2016, Aetna announced its intention to withdraw from ACA participation in 11 out of 15 states, citing financial losses as the reason. This decision sparked reactions from both the Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump campaigns.
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The largest recipient of this was the Florida Republican Party, receiving $91,500
Between 2005 and 2008, Aetna contributed $950,717 to state-level campaigns in 42 states. This included donations to state office-holders, political parties, and ballot measure committees. Aetna's political donations have been the subject of controversy, with some accusing the company of engaging in "hidden" or "clandestine" political spending. Watchdog groups, such as Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), have called for greater transparency and accountability in Aetna's political contributions.
In 2012, CREW sent a letter to Aetna's president, Mark Bertonini, expressing concern over the company's involvement in partisan politics and its lack of transparency. Aetna responded by stating that it "participates in the political process at all levels of government" and supports candidates and organizations that align with its views on healthcare and the country.
Despite the calls for transparency, Aetna shareholders have consistently rejected proposals to disclose the company's political donations. Similar proposals failed at the company's 2012, 2014, and 2015 meetings, with 71% of shareholders voting against the measure in 2015.
Now, to focus on the Florida Republican Party, the single largest recipient of Aetna's donations, receiving $91,500. This amount accounted for a significant portion of the company's total contributions during the study period. The Florida Republican Party's sizeable donation from Aetna reflects the company's interest in influencing politics in the state of Florida, which has a significant impact on healthcare policy and regulation.
Aetna's donations to political parties and candidates are coordinated by its political action committee, Aetna PAC. This committee is responsible for managing all political contributions made by the company and its employees. Aetna PAC makes decisions based on various factors, including the candidate's voting record, leadership positions, and committee assignments.
In conclusion, while Aetna has come under scrutiny for its political donations and lack of transparency, the company continues to play an active role in influencing politics, particularly in states like Florida, where its donations can have a significant impact on healthcare-related issues. The Florida Republican Party, as the largest recipient of Aetna's donations, highlights the company's strategic approach to political contributions and its efforts to shape policies that align with its interests.
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In 2016, Aetna offered health plans in 15 states through the ACA
As of March 2016, Aetna offered health benefit plans through the health insurance marketplace in 15 states. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance plans are offered or underwritten or administered by various subsidiaries of Aetna Inc. in different states. These include:
- Aetna Health of California Inc.
- Aetna Health Inc. (Florida)
- Aetna Health Inc. (Georgia)
- Aetna Life Insurance Company
- Aetna Health of Utah Inc.
- Aetna Health Inc. (Pennsylvania)
- Aetna Health Inc. (Texas)
In August 2016, Aetna announced its intention to withdraw from the ACA in 11 of the 15 states in 2017, citing financial losses as the reason. This announcement sparked reactions from the 2016 presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
Aetna primarily contributes to political causes through its political action committee (PAC), which supports candidates who share its healthcare mission. The company has coordinated with the federal government to provide health benefits to consumers following the passage of the ACA. Aetna's political donations have been directed towards state-level campaigns and candidates, with the company contributing $950,717 to state campaigns across 42 states from 2005 to 2008. The largest recipients of Aetna's contributions during this period were California, receiving $229,150 (24%), and the Florida Republican Party, receiving $91,500.
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In 2017, Aetna withdrew from 11 of these 15 states, sparking responses from Clinton and Trump campaigns
In 2016, Aetna offered health benefit plans through the health insurance marketplace in 15 states. However, in August of that year, the company announced its intention to withdraw from 11 of those 15 states in 2017, citing financial losses as the primary reason for the decision. This move sparked responses from both the Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump campaigns.
A spokesperson for the Clinton campaign, Jesse Ferguson, emphasised the progress made since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law, stating that ""The progress we’ve achieved since the Affordable Care Act became law is undeniable." On the other hand, the Trump campaign's response focused on criticising the ACA, with Trump himself calling for the termination of the law and a replacement with a new system.
Aetna's withdrawal from these states highlighted the ongoing debate around healthcare policy and the role of the ACA. The company's decision was influenced by its financial considerations, but it also had political implications, given the ongoing discussions around healthcare reform.
It is worth noting that Aetna has generally supported the ACA, viewing it as favourable to its business. However, the company has faced criticism for its lack of transparency in political contributions, with shareholders and investor groups pushing for more disclosure. Despite this, Aetna maintains its involvement in the political landscape, contributing to state-level campaigns and engaging with policymakers at the federal and state levels.
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Aetna has been accused of hiding political donations by ethics group CREW
Aetna has been accused of hiding political donations by the ethics group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). CREW is a watchdog group that uses legal actions against government officials and advocates for greater disclosures of potential conflicts of interest and money in politics.
In a letter to Aetna President Mark Bertonini, CREW accused the company of actively engaging in partisan politics and hiding its activities, despite its stated policy of transparency and accountability. CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan said that Aetna's reference to lobbying expenses as "educational" was misleading, suggesting that attack ads were the real purpose of the donations.
Aetna's filings with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners revealed that the company gave nearly $4.3 million to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and $3 million to the American Action Network (AAN), a conservative group that seeks to promote right-wing policies. Aetna's donations to AAN were listed as "in support of lobbying" but were later deleted from the company's filings after they were questioned about them.
In response to CREW's accusations, Bertonini stated that Aetna "participates in the political process at all levels of government" and supports candidates and organizations that align with its views on healthcare and the country. He also claimed that the company discloses all its political donations in an annual Political Contributions and Related Activity Report posted on its website. However, critics argue that Aetna's failure to disclose donations to groups like AAN and the Republican Governors Association (RGA) and Democratic Governors Association (DGA) indicates a pattern of undisclosed contributions.
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Frequently asked questions
Aetna and its subsidiaries gave a total of $950,717 to state campaigns from 2005 to 2008.
Californians received the most donations from Aetna, with a total of $229,150, or 24% of the total donations.
The Florida Republican Party was the top recipient of Aetna's contributions, receiving $91,500.
Yes, Aetna has been criticized by ethics groups for its "hidden" political donations and lack of transparency. In 2015, shareholders voted against a measure that would have required the company to disclose its political donations to not-for-profit groups.
Yes, Aetna worked with the federal government to provide health benefits to consumers following the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, in 2016, Aetna announced its intention to withdraw from ACA participation in 11 states due to financial losses.
