Aetna Health Insurance and Magic Johnson Enterprises "Team up for a healthy tomorrow"

Aetna health insurance and Magic Johnson Enterprises today announced that they have forged a new, multiyear relationship. Working together, the two companies will strive to empower businesses and ethnically diverse communities to make informed choices about their health care options by improving health care literacy, showing them the benefits of wellness, exercise and healthy eating, and other initiatives. The announcement was made at an event at the Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem by Ronald A. Williams, chairman and CEO, and Earvin "Magic" Johnson, chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises.

"We are extremely pleased to announce this alliance," Williams said. "Having come to know Earvin in recent years, it became evident that our companies have very similar goals. This relationship will combine Aetna's strengths as an experienced and innovative health insurance company with Magic Johnson Enterprise's (MJE) knowledge of diverse communities in key urban areas. It is consistent with our strategy of identifying opportunities in new market segments."

Both Aetna Health Insurance and MJE are committed to improving community vitality by helping reduce the number of uninsured, particularly among entrepreneurial, urban business owners, and we want to improve racial and ethnic equality in healthcare.

Our hope is that through this alliance we can engage people and businesses at the community level to take charge of their healthcare," Johnson said. "If we can improve health care education, show people the benefits of wellness, exercise and healthy eating, and empower the community with knowledge to make informed choices about their healthcare options, we will have achieved significant results."

The principal goals of the relationship between Aetna Health Insurance and Magic Johnson enterprises are A), to help people understand the health resources, products and services available to them, and encourage them to take a more active role in their health and wellness. B), Give credible voice, via a recognized and respected leader, to major issues in healthcare such as the need to improve "health literacy." And C), Raise awareness of racial and ethnic inequality in healthcare within these communities to empower people to ask questions, seek answers and create a demand for high-quality healthcare that respects their cultural preferences.

"I applaud Aetna and Magic Johnson on making this commitment to address health care issues facing residents and business owners in urban areas," said U.S. Representative Charles B. Rangel, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. "Taking a concrete step to provide affordable healthcare coverage is key to moving our country forward and reducing the number of the uninsured, many of whom are disproportionately represented in low-income urban communities." Information and updates on how Aetna Health Insurance and Magic Johnson Enterprises are working together to address the needs of urban areas as well as pressing health issues can be found at www.communityvitality.com.