Ownership Submission
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 *
WILLIAMS RONALD A
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AETNA INC /PA/ [AET]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Chairman and CEO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
AETNA INC., 151 FARMINGTON AVENUE
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/09/2009
(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 02/09/2009   M   33,592 A (1) 0 D  
Common Stock 02/09/2009   F   11,001 (2) D $ 34.21 0 D  
Common Stock 02/10/2009   M   85,650 A (1) 0 D  
Common Stock 02/10/2009   F   35,502 (2) D $ 32.19 241,149 (3) D  
Common Stock               10,000 (4) I By 2002 GRAT
Common Stock               65,000 (4) I By 2008 GRAT

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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 Unit (1) 02/09/2009   M     33,592   (5)   (5) Common Stock 33,592 $ 0 33,592 D  
Restricted Stock Unit (1) 02/10/2009   M     85,650   (5)   (5) Common Stock 85,650 $ 0 0 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
WILLIAMS RONALD A
AETNA INC.
151 FARMINGTON AVENUE
HARTFORD, CT 06156
  X     Chairman and CEO  

Signatures

 Ronald A. Williams by Judith H. Jones, Attorney -in-fact   02/11/2009
**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) Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a right to receive one share of Aetna Inc. Common Stock net of taxes.
(2) Represents tax withholding on vesting of previously reported Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
(3) Includes 120,000 shares held in the Williams Family Trust of which Mr. Williams and his spouse are sole trustees and beneficiaries, and 454 shares acquired under the Aetna Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan. In addition, on 12/30/08 65,000 shares from sole account were voluntarily transferred to a 2008 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust.
(4) Shares held in Grantor Retained Annuity Trust of which Mr. Williams is the sole trustee.
(5) Restricted Stock Units granted under the Aetna Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan.

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