How to check Aetna eligibility
A portal or phone check takes a front-desk staffer 10–15 minutes per patient. A real-time 270/271 check returns plan status, copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums in seconds.
- Payer ID
60054 - Real-time 270/271
- Response verified July 2026
Three ways to verify Aetna coverage
- Payer portal — free, but one patient at a time and 10–15 minutes each with logins.
- Phone (IVR) — hold times vary; no written record for the chart.
Automated 270/271 check
Full benefit detail in seconds, batched for your whole schedule — not one patient at a time.
From $0.50 per check, pay-as-you-go.
Aetna at a glance
What billers need before running a check.
Payer ID
60054Also known as 10004, 10397, 4500, 60054MAReal-time eligibility
AvailableResponses return in 0.9 seconds, 24/7.Coverage
dental, medical, visionOperating area
NationwidePayer website
What a live Aetna check returns
Documented from real 271 eligibility responses. This is the actual level of detail — not a marketing summary.
Coverage
Cost sharing
Why this matters: Aetna returns both the contract amount and the remaining amount for deductible and out-of-pocket max — so the front desk can quote what the patient still owes this year, not just what the plan says on paper.
Supported transactions
What can be exchanged electronically with Aetna today.
Eligibility (270/271)
SUPPORTEDReal-time benefit and coverage checksClaim status (276/277)
SUPPORTEDWhere a submitted claim standsProfessional claims (837P)
SUPPORTEDPhysician and outpatient claimsInstitutional claims (837I)
SUPPORTEDFacility claimsDental claims (837D)
SUPPORTEDDental claimsRemittance (835 ERA)
ENROLLMENT REQUIREDElectronic remittance adviceCoordination of benefits
SUPPORTEDSecondary-payer routingClaim attachments (275)
SUPPORTEDSupporting documentation
Portal vs. phone vs. automated
The same verification, three ways.
| Measure | Payer portal | Phone / IVR | Automated check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time per patient | 10–15 min | 15–30 min | Seconds |
| Cost per check | Staff time, one login per patient | ~$8.57 in staff time* | from $0.50 |
| Record for the chart | Screenshot | None | Full audit trail |
| Whole-day schedule | One at a time | One at a time | Batched overnight |
*A manual eligibility check costs a medical practice $8.57; an electronic one costs $2.00. Source: 2024 CAQH Index.
What Medman does in practices today
- 65%
fewer denials at Valley Diabetes & Obesity
- 90%
of eligibility checks fully automated
- $107–149K
annual savings, small specialty practice
- 24 mo
in production
Frequently asked questions
What is the payer ID for Aetna?
Aetna uses payer ID 60054. It also appears as 10004, 10397, 4500, 60054MA in some systems.
Does Aetna support real-time eligibility verification?
Yes. Aetna accepts real-time 270/271 eligibility transactions, so a check returns plan status and benefit detail in seconds instead of the 10–15 minutes a portal login takes.
How long does a Aetna eligibility check take?
A portal check takes 10–15 minutes of staff time per patient. An automated real-time check returns in seconds and can run for an entire day's schedule overnight.
What deductible information does Aetna return on a 271?
Both the contracted deductible and the remaining balance, split by individual and family coverage level — plus the same pair for out-of-pocket maximum.
Run your first Aetna eligibility check
From $0.50 per check, pay-as-you-go. No annual contract, no implementation project.
Billing more than Aetna? — upload it and see which of your payers run automatically.