Sec Form 4 Filing - ROWE JOHN W @ AETNA INC /PA/ - 2006-02-21

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 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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ROWE JOHN W 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 (Last) (First) (Middle) 151 FARMINGTON AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 02/21/2006 (Street) HARTFORD, CT06156 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 02/21/2006 S( 1 )( 2 ) 700 D $ 50.34 0 I By GRATS Common Stock 02/21/2006 S( 1 )( 2 ) 8,000 D $ 50.35 0 I By GRATS Common Stock 02/21/2006 S( 1 )( 2 ) 3,000 D $ 50.37 44,000 ( 3 ) D Common Stock 291.533 ( 4 ) I 401(k) Plan

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 (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 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

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other ROWE JOHN W 151 FARMINGTON AVENUE HARTFORD, CT06156 X Chairman Signatures John W. Rowe by Paige L. Falasco, Attorney-in-Fact 02/23/2006 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )The sale reported was effected pursuant to a Rule 10b-5 trading plan adopted by the John W. Rowe 2004 GRAT on October 6, 2005 and a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the John W. Rowe 2003 GRAT on October 6, 2005. ( 2 )THIS IS FORM 2 OF 2. The number of individual Table I line entries making up the sale reported exceeds the EDGAR system's limitations and, therefore, this filing is being made in two parts. ( 3 )On February 17, 2006, Aetna Inc.'s Common Stock was split 2-for-1, resulting in the reporting person's acquisition of of additional options and shares of Common Stock. ( 4 )Represents the pro rata portion of the stock portion of Aetna Common Stock Fund held by reporting person on January 31, 2006 pursuant to Aetna Inc. 401(k) Plan. The information is based on information provided by the Plan Trustee as of that date. (Figure shown has not been adjusted to reflect Aetna's 2-for1 stock split on February 17, 2006)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* 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).

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