AUDITOR'S CONSENT EX 23.1

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement (No. 333-178272) on Form S-3 and the registration statements (No. 333-52120, 52122, 52124, 73052, 87722, 87726, 124619, 124620, 136176, 136177, 168497, 168498, 176009 and 176011) on Form S-8 of Aetna Inc. of our reports dated February 24, 2012 with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Aetna Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2011 and the related financial statement schedule, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, which reports appear in the December 31, 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Aetna Inc.