<PAGE> 1
                                                        EXHIBIT 24
                            POWER OF ATTORNEY


We, the undersigned directors and officers of Aetna Inc. (the 
"Company"), hereby severally constitute and appoint Thomas J. 
Calvocoressi, Richard L. Huber and Robert J. Price, and each of them 
individually, our true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them and 
each of them to sign for us, and in our names and in the capacities 
indicated below, the Company's 1996 Form 10-K and any and all amendments 
thereto to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, hereby ratifying and confirming our 
signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys to the Form 10-K 
and to any and all amendments thereto.

WITNESS our hands and common seal on this 24th day of February, 1997.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                       <C>

                                                                       
_____________________________             _____________________________
Ronald E. Compton                         Gerald Greenwald
Chairman, President and Director          Director
(Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ Leonard Abramson                                                   
_____________________________             _____________________________
Leonard Abramson                          Ellen M. Hancock  
Director                                  Director


_____________________________             _____________________________
Betsy Z. Cohen                            Michael H. Jordan
Director                                  Director


_____________________________             _____________________________
William H. Donaldson                      Jack D. Kuehler      
Director                                  Director


_____________________________             _____________________________ 
Barbara Hackman Franklin                  Frank R. O'Keefe, Jr.
Director                                  Director


_____________________________             _____________________________ 
Jerome S. Goodman                         Judith Rodin    
Director                                  Director


____________________________              _____________________________ 
Earl G. Graves                            Richard L. Huber
Director                                  Vice Chairman for Strategy and Finance
                                          (Principal Financial Officer) and Director

</TABLE>

<PAGE> 2
                            POWER OF ATTORNEY


We, the undersigned directors and officers of Aetna Inc. (the 
"Company"), hereby severally constitute and appoint Thomas J. 
Calvocoressi, Richard L. Huber and Robert J. Price, and each of them 
individually, our true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them and 
each of them to sign for us, and in our names and in the capacities 
indicated below, the Company's 1996 Form 10-K and any and all amendments 
thereto to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, hereby ratifying and confirming our 
signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys to the Form 10-K 
and to any and all amendments thereto.

WITNESS our hands and common seal on this 28th day of February, 1997.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                       <C>

/s/ Ronald E. Compton                     /s/ Gerald Greenwald         
_____________________________             ____________________________ 
Ronald E. Compton                         Gerald Greenwald
Chairman, President and Director          Director
(Principal Executive Officer)


                                          /s/ Ellen M. Hancock         
_____________________________             ____________________________ 
Leonard Abramson                          Ellen M. Hancock  
Director                                  Director


/s/ Betsy Z. Cohen                        /s/ Michael H. Jordan        
_____________________________             ____________________________ 
Betsy Z. Cohen                            Michael H. Jordan
Director                                  Director


/s/ William H. Donaldson                  /s/ Jack D. Kuehler          
_____________________________             ____________________________ 
William H. Donaldson                      Jack D. Kuehler      
Director                                  Director


/s/ Barbara Hackman Franklin              /s/ Frank R. O'Keefe, Jr.    
_____________________________             ____________________________ 
Barbara Hackman Franklin                  Frank R. O'Keefe, Jr.
Director                                  Director


/s/ Jerome S. Goodman                     /s/ Judith Rodin             
_____________________________             ____________________________ 
Jerome S. Goodman                         Judith Rodin    
Director                                  Director


                                          /s/ Richard L. Huber         
_____________________________             ____________________________ 
Earl G. Graves                            Richard L. Huber
Director                                  Vice Chairman for Strategy and Finance
                                          (Principal Financial Officer) and Director

</TABLE>