HARTFORD, CT – Aetna is the first U.S. health plan to establish a policy of requiring all of its vendors to provide employees with health insurance by 2011.

Aetna is working with its vendors to assess current healthcare coverage and solicit feedback, but so far its larger vendors are supportive, said spokesperson Susan Millerick.

The initiative is one of Chairman and CEO Ronald Williams’ answers to addressing healthcare affordability and access and reducing the number of uninsured in America.

Millerick said vendor feedback would help Aetna shape “a business-size appropriate strategy” to educate employers about benefit options.

The plan is in its early stages, and Millerick said ideas being considered include online education resources that would link to online brokerage services and various pooling mechanisms.

“Our strong desire is that other companies will join us in this proactive initiative to reduce the number of uninsured,” she said.

No other major payers plan to follow, but all have their own initiatives for addressing this problem.

Daniel Emmer, spokesperson for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, said requiring vendors to provide health insurance for their employees “may create the appearance of a conflict of interest or quid-pro-quo.”