Aetna, a health care benefits company, has announced that it is introducing a set of new products in Arizona that are designed to give uninsured small businesses affordable coverage options for their workers. The plans, called ValuePick, are now available for quoting and become effective August 1, 2008.

The ValuePick plans are priced to enable previously uninsured small companies, as well as newly formed businesses, to provide coverage for their employees. They will be marketed primarily through insurance agents and brokers in Aetna’s Arizona markets.

ValuePick features three affordable preferred provider organization plan options, which include coverage for prescription drugs. Employers can offer up to all three of the plans side-by-side, and can choose how much to contribute. Their workers then choose the plan that is best for them.

Gary Mizell, head of small and middle market business at Atena in Arizona, said: As health care costs continue to rise, small businesses face a constant challenge to find affordable health insurance for their workers. To help meet this need, Aetna is actively developing solutions for them as we work to reduce the number of uninsured people in Arizona and throughout the country.