Hartford health insurer Aetna said it will establish a minimum hourly wage for its employees of $16 starting in April, which will lift the pay rates of approximately 5,700 U.S. employees.
For some of those workers — who mainly work in customer service, claims administration and plan sponsor eligibility — it will represent a pay increase of as much as $4.
Aetna Chairman and CEO Mark Bertolini announced the change Monday in Florida during a meeting video streamed to other offices.
“When you look at the size of our company, the cost of investing in the financial and health security of our employees is not significant,” Bertolini said in a statement. “The turnover, lost productivity and recruitment costs that this should help address are significant. I’m willing to make this investment.”
The company is also offering a new medical benefits program for 7,000 eligible employees that the company said could lower out-of-pocket costs.
