Aetnas Maternity Program And Pregnancy Support Services

Introduction

Aetna offers a comprehensive Maternity Program designed to support individuals from family planning through pregnancy and postpartum care. The program provides various resources and services at no additional cost to eligible members. While traditional product samples and promotional offers are not prominently featured in the available information, Aetna does provide valuable educational materials, specialized support services, and partnerships with external resources to support maternal and infant health.

Aetna Maternity Program Overview

The Aetna Maternity Program is staffed by nurses with maternity experience who provide support throughout the pregnancy journey. The program is accessible to Aetna members and offers several key components:

• Educational materials available in both English and Spanish covering prenatal care, labor and delivery, and newborn care
• A pregnancy survey to help identify potential risks for complications
• A specialized preterm labor program for high-risk women
• Access to specially trained nurses for mothers-to-be with high-risk pregnancies
• One-on-one counseling to assist pregnant women in quitting smoking
• Partnership with Text4baby for ongoing health messaging

Educational Resources

The Maternity Program provides comprehensive educational materials to support expectant parents through all stages of pregnancy and early parenthood. These materials cover critical topics including:

• Prenatal care guidance
• Labor and delivery preparation
• Newborn care essentials

The resources are available in both English and Spanish to accommodate diverse language needs among the membership. Educational content is designed to empower expectant parents with knowledge to make informed decisions about their healthcare and their baby's wellbeing.

Risk Assessment and High-Risk Support

Aetna's program includes a pregnancy survey that helps determine whether a pregnant individual may have a risk for certain complications. This early identification allows for:

• Timely intervention when needed
• Personalized care plans
• Appropriate referrals to specialists

For those identified as high-risk, the program offers enhanced support through:

• A specialized preterm labor program
• Access to nurses specifically trained in high-risk pregnancy care
• Additional monitoring and resources as needed

Smoking Cessation Support

Recognizing the significant risks associated with smoking during pregnancy, the Maternity Program provides one-on-one counseling to help pregnant women quit smoking. This service addresses:

• The specific challenges of quitting during pregnancy
• Evidence-based cessation strategies
• Ongoing support throughout the quitting process

Text4baby Partnership

Aetna has partnered with Text4baby, a free service that provides health and safety tips via text message. The service has been an Aetna outreach partner since 2010, with hundreds of thousands of moms and moms-to-be having utilized the program.

Text4baby delivers three text messages per week throughout pregnancy and the baby's first year. The messages contain expert information on:

• Prenatal care
• Nutrition
• Safe infant sleep practices
• Other health and safety topics important for maternal and child health

Participants may cancel the service at any time according to their preferences.

Preventive Health Services Coverage

Most Aetna medical plans cover several preventive services for women at no extra cost, including:

Pelvic and Breast Exams

• Purpose: Physical changes or concerns
• Location: Gynecologist office
• Timing: Usually 3 years after being sexually active or by age 21, whichever comes first
• Frequency: Annually

Pap Smears

• Purpose: Cancerous or pre-cancerous cells
• Location: Gynecologist office
• Timing: Usually every 3 years for women aged 21 to 65
• Frequency: Annually until age 30; may move to every 3 years after age 30

Mammograms

• Purpose: Changes in breast health, including suspicious lumps that could be cancerous
• Location: Imaging center
• Timing: Age 40; earlier if breast cancer runs in the family
• Frequency: Every 1 to 2 years

HPV Vaccine

• Purpose: Prevents HPV, a leading cause of cervical cancer
• Location: Gynecologist, pediatrician and primary care doctor offices; retail health clinics like MinuteClinic at CVS locations
• Timing: Recommended at 11 or 12 years old; available anytime between ages 9 to 45
• Dosage: Two- to three doses, depending on age at first vaccination

Menstrual and Menopause Support

As part of its women's health services, Aetna provides support for menstrual and menopause-related concerns:

• Many MinuteClinic locations offer PMS and menopause treatment
• Irregular period evaluations
• Birth control consultations
• Most Aetna plans cover birth control at no extra cost

CVS Health, Aetna's parent company, has reduced the cost of its brand period products by 25% to increase accessibility. Qualifying products include CVS Health and Live Better by CVS Health brand tampons, menstrual pads, liners, and cups at core CVS Pharmacy locations.

For members with an over-the-counter (OTC) allowance in their plan, funds can be used to select period products, providing additional savings. Members can either visit a local CVS store or log in to their OTC account to order online.

Postpartum Mental Health Support

Postpartum mental health is addressed through the program, with recognition that:

• One in five women experience postpartum anxiety
• Approximately one in seven women experience postpartum depression

For those needing support, Aetna helps connect members with mental health professionals who can provide appropriate care. The program acknowledges the prevalence of these conditions and ensures that members have access to necessary resources.

Ovarian Cancer Awareness

The program highlights the importance of recognizing symptoms that could indicate ovarian cancer, noting that effective screening options are limited. The program encourages attention to symptoms that persist or occur frequently, such as:

• Abdominal bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Difficulty eating
• Feeling full after eating small portions
• Frequent urination or persistent urge to urinate

Members are advised to consult with their healthcare provider if they notice any changes in their body that are not normal for them.

Program Enrollment and Accessibility

To access the Aetna Maternity Program, eligible members must enroll in the program. Once enrolled, participants gain access to all the resources and services described above. The program is designed to be accessible through various channels, including:

• Online resources
• Telehealth options
• In-person consultations with maternity nurses
• Partnerships with healthcare providers

Important Considerations

When accessing Aetna maternity and women's health services, members should be aware of several important factors:

• Health benefits and health insurance plans contain exclusions and limitations
• The information and products outlined may not reflect availability in all states; Arizona residents must contact Aetna directly or their employers for specific product and service information
• Links to non-Aetna sites are provided for convenience only, and Aetna is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of these linked sites

Conclusion

The provided source material outlines Aetna's comprehensive approach to maternal health through its Maternity Program. While the information does not detail traditional free product samples or promotional offers, the program provides valuable resources including educational materials, specialized nursing support, risk assessment tools, smoking cessation counseling, and partnerships like Text4baby. The program also covers important preventive services for women and provides support for menstrual health and postpartum mental health needs. For members seeking to maximize their benefits, understanding the full scope of available services and how to access them is essential.

Sources

1. Aetna Maternity Program
2. Aetna Women's Health and Reproductive Health