Aetna Student Health
Aetna Student Health, a division of CVS Health's Aetna Inc., administers school-sponsored health insurance to approximately 160 U.S. colleges and universities, covering 360,000+ students with medical, dental, vision, telehealth, and mental health benefits since 1980.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersHartford, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Aetna Student Health does
Aetna Student Health is a Hartford-based division of Aetna Inc. (a CVS Health subsidiary since the 2018 acquisition) that has administered school-sponsored health insurance since 1980, when it created the first school-sponsored student health plan in the United States. The business serves approximately 160 U.S. colleges and universities and administers roughly 470 plans covering about 360,000 students on medical plans and 32,000 on dental plans, with coverage that includes medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs, travel assistance, mental health support through a Student Assistance Program, and dedicated sports accident plans for student athletes.
The underlying platform is anchored by Aetna's national provider network (over 1 million healthcare providers, 5,400+ hospitals, 60,000+ participating pharmacies, and 262,000+ dental practices) and a digital stack that includes the Aetna Health mobile app (with Aetna Smart Compare for doctor matching, smart chat, bill photo matching, and Care Paths), an online provider search directory, a member website at health.aetna.com, and the Aetna Patient Access API for CMS-9115-F interoperability compliance. Distribution combines direct school partnerships (with auto-enrollment and waiver workflows embedded in university systems), a licensed broker/producer channel, the CVS Health retail footprint (MinuteClinic walk-in clinics, CVS Pharmacy, CVS Caremark mail-order and specialty pharmacy, CVS Virtual Care), and third-party mental health telehealth via Teladoc Health.
The revenue model is built on three streams: recurring insurance premiums on fully insured plans where Aetna bears risk, administrative fees on self-funded plans where the school funds coverage and Aetna administers, and subscription revenue from tiered vision products (Vision Preferred and Vision Preferred Direct). Aetna Student Health is not a standalone reporting entity — plans are underwritten by Aetna Life Insurance Company, financials consolidate at CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), and the unit operates as a vertically integrated component of CVS Health's broader health-services portfolio rather than an independent growth-stage company.
Aetna Student Health firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aetna Student Health
- Legal name
- Aetna Inc.
- Website
- https://aetnastudenthealth.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Aetna Student Health, a division of CVS Health's Aetna Inc., administers school-sponsored health insurance to approximately 160 U.S. colleges and universities, covering 360,000+ students with medical, dental, vision, telehealth, and mental health benefits since 1980.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aetna Student Health industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Health Insurance
- NAICS
- Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers (524114), Direct Life, Health, and Medical Insurance Carriers (52411), Insurance Carriers (5241)
- SIC
- Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Health Insurance Plans (University-Sponsored) (FSAIAFAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Student Health Insurance Plans (Individual Market) (HLAEABAI), Student Health Insurance & Benefits Administration (EDALAFAL), Student Health Insurance (Individual) (FSAIAEAJ)
Keywords
Where Aetna Student Health is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hartford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Aetna Student Health business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Insurance Premiums: Student health insurance plans generate revenue through premiums paid by or on behalf of students. Plans include fully insured plans where Aetna bears risk, and self-funded plans where schools fund coverage and Aetna administers.
- Administrative Fees: Fees for administering self-funded student health plans for schools. Aetna provides plan administration, provider network access, and member services.
- Vision Plan Subscriptions: Monthly vision plan premiums for student vision coverage including Value, Select, and Elite plan tiers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Vision Preferred Direct - Value Plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | Vision Preferred Direct - Select Plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | Vision Preferred Direct - Elite Plan |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Aetna Student Health product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aetna Student Health administers school-sponsored student health insurance plans for college and university students through Aetna Life Insurance Company, covering medical, dental, vision, travel assistance, mental health support, prescription drug benefits and sports accident coverage. Plans are distributed primarily through educational institutions and brokers, with members accessing benefits via the Aetna Health app, member website, a national provider network of more than 1 million healthcare providers and integrated CVS Pharmacy/MinuteClinic/CVS Caremark services.
Product overview
Aetna Student Health is a student health insurance platform offering school-sponsored health insurance plans since 1980. The core product is medical coverage (Aetna Student Health), which operates alongside add-on modules including dental plans, vision plans (Aetna Vision Preferred and Aetna Vision Preferred Direct), travel assistance with emergency medical evacuation, Student Assistance Program for mental health support, prescription drug coverage via CVS Caremark, and sports accident plans. Digital tools include the Aetna Health App and member website for managing coverage, accessing ID cards, finding providers, and tracking claims. The platform serves approximately 160 educational institutions with 470 plans administered, covering about 360,000 students on medical plans and 32,000 on dental plans.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aetna Student Health Medical Plans School-sponsored medical insurance plans for college and university students providing coverage for emergency care, preventive services, mental health, substance abuse treatment, pregnancy care and more, with access to over 1 million healthcare providers nationwide (including 567,000+ primary care doctors and specialists and 5,400+ hospitals). Plans are offered as fully insured (Aetna bears risk) or self-funded (school funds coverage and Aetna administers).
- Dental Plans Dental coverage for students and dependents offering in-network benefits through approximately 262,000 dental practices nationwide, covering routine check-ups, cleanings and dental procedures.
- Aetna Vision Preferred Vision insurance plan providing coverage for routine eye exams, glasses and contact lenses through a network of independent eye doctors, retail locations (LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Target Optical) and online shopping options, with discounts on eyewear and exclusive member offers. Administered with network services from EyeMed Vision Care.
- Aetna Vision Preferred Direct Direct-to-consumer vision plan offered at select schools (including Case Western Reserve University, University of North Florida, West Virginia University, Miami Dade College and Thomas Jefferson University) with three monthly subscription tiers: Value (starting at $10.40/month), Select (starting at $13.13/month) and Elite (starting at $18.33/month), each with tiered copays, frame allowances and progressive lens pricing.
- Student Assistance Program (SAP) Mental health and well-being support service for students including crisis resources, virtual care via Teladoc Health, CVS Virtual Care and MinuteClinic virtual mental health, and in-person counseling referrals, covering stress, anxiety, depression, substance use and eating disorders.
- Aetna Prescription Drug Program Prescription drug coverage administered through CVS Caremark, providing access to more than 60,000 participating pharmacies nationwide, mail-order delivery of regular medications via CVS Caremark Mail Service Pharmacy (up to a 90-day supply), and specialty pharmacy services through CVS Specialty Pharmacy for complex conditions such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.
- Sports Accident Plans Coverage for sports-related injuries for student athletes, providing benefits for athletic accidents as part of comprehensive student health insurance offerings at participating schools.
- Travel Assistance Worldwide travel assistance included with most plans, providing unlimited emergency medical evacuation plus On-Call International services for international students including $50,000 of medical evacuation to home country and $25,000 of repatriation of remains.
Quantifiable outcome
- Serving approximately 160 educational institutions and 360,000 students on medical plans
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Aetna Student Health
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Aetna Student Health technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature5 records
Aetna Student Health partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CVS Health (CVS Pharmacy, MinuteClinic, CVS Caremark)coreDeep integration with CVS Health family of companies including CVS Pharmacy for prescriptions and retail health services, MinuteClinic walk-in clinics offering affordable care, and CVS Caremark Mail Service Pharmacy for medication delivery. CVS Virtual Care provides mental health counseling and telehealth services.
- EyeMed Vision CarecoreEyeMed provides vision network administration and credentialing for Aetna Vision Preferred plans. Network includes thousands of independent eye doctors, LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Target Optical, and online vision retailers.
- Teladoc HealthcoreTeladoc Health provides on-call therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists for mental health support available seven days a week through the Aetna Student Health telehealth program.
- Educational InstitutionscoreApproximately 160 colleges and universities offer Aetna Student Health plans to their students. Schools either auto-enroll students or provide enrollment/waiver options through the Aetna Student Health platform.
- LasikPlus, TLC Laser Eye Centers, LASIK Vision InstituteminorVision discount partners offering members 15% off retail or 5% off promotional pricing on LASIK procedures through lasikdiscounts.com.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Aetna Student Health competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Humana: Humana is a large diversified health insurer whose group and individual products overlap with broader student offerings but does not focus primarily on the student segment, making it an adjacent incumbent rather than a direct specialist competitor.
- Elevance Health (Anthem): Elevance Health/Anthem is a major diversified health insurer whose Blue Cross Blue Shield plans compete in the student health segment as part of a broader portfolio, overlapping with Aetna Student Health in select geographies.
Direct peers
- Academic HealthPlans: Academic HealthPlans is a specialized administrator and broker focused exclusively on student health insurance, providing comparable school-sponsored plans and competing head-to-head with Aetna Student Health in the university segment.
- UnitedHealthcare Student Resources: UnitedHealthcare's student health division is the largest direct competitor to Aetna Student Health, offering school-sponsored medical, dental, and vision plans to colleges and universities across the US with comparable broker and school-based distribution.
- Wellfleet Student Insurance: Wellfleet is a specialized student health insurance carrier offering fully insured and self-funded school-sponsored plans, competing directly with Aetna Student Health for university contracts and broker-led distribution.
- Cigna Student Health: Cigna offers student health plans through its health services portfolio, competing with Aetna Student Health for school-sponsored coverage and leveraging its global network particularly relevant for international students.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (various state plans): Regional Blue Cross Blue Shield plans (e.g., BCBS student plans in multiple states) offer school-sponsored student health insurance that directly competes with Aetna Student Health, often leveraging strong regional provider networks.
- International Student Insurance (ISO): ISO is a specialized broker and provider of international student health insurance plans, competing for international student segment share that Aetna Student Health targets with its worldwide travel assistance and email enrollment features.
- GeoBlue (international student plans): GeoBlue specializes in international student and scholar health insurance, overlapping with Aetna Student Health's international student offering and competing for inbound student coverage mandates at US universities.
Regional players
- Kaiser Permanente: Kaiser Permanente offers integrated health plans in select states (CA, CO, DC, etc.) and partners with some universities for student coverage, representing a regional/integrated alternative rather than a national student specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aetna Student Health social profiles
Digital presenceAetna Student Health compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Aetna Student Health financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aetna Student Health leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Aetna Student Health funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aetna Student Health M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aetna Student Health
What does Aetna Student Health do?
Aetna Student Health administers school-sponsored student health insurance plans for college and university students through Aetna Life Insurance Company, covering medical, dental, vision, travel assistance, mental health support, prescription drug benefits and sports accident coverage. Plans are distributed primarily through educational institutions and brokers, with members accessing benefits via the Aetna Health app, member website, a national provider network of more than 1 million healthcare providers and integrated CVS Pharmacy/MinuteClinic/CVS Caremark services.
Is Aetna Student Health a public or private company?
Aetna Student Health is a public company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Aetna Student Health founded?
Aetna Student Health was founded in 1980. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Aetna Student Health based?
Aetna Student Health is headquartered in Hartford, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aetna Student Health make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Insurance Premiums are the primary driver. The others are administrative Fees and vision Plan Subscriptions.
Who are Aetna Student Health's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Humana and Elevance Health (Anthem). Direct peers are Academic HealthPlans, UnitedHealthcare Student Resources, Wellfleet Student Insurance, Cigna Student Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield (various state plans), International Student Insurance (ISO) and GeoBlue (international student plans). Kaiser Permanente is listed as a regional player.
Does Aetna Student Health have an API?
Yes. Aetna Patient Access API enables members to direct Aetna to share their claims data, encounter data, and clinical data (health data) held by Aetna to designated third-party applications. This follows federal interoperability rules (CMS-9115-F). Currently available to Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Qualified Health Plans on the Federally Facilitated Exchanges, and certain commercial members. Third-party apps register with the platform to access member health data at their direction. Developer documentation is at www.aetnastudenthealth.com/en/health-data-access.html.
What industry is Aetna Student Health in?
Aetna Student Health's product category is Student Health Insurance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAIAFAI, Student Health Insurance Plans (University-Sponsored), with a secondary code of HLAEABAI, Student Health Insurance Plans (Individual Market). Its NAICS code is 524114 and its SIC code is 6321.