EXHIBIT 24.1

POWER OF ATTORNEY

EACH UNDERSIGNED DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF AETNA LIFE AND CASUALTY COMPANY
(THE "COMPANY") HEREBY CONSTITUTES AND APPOINTS ZOE BAIRD, THOMAS J.
CALVOCORESSI AND WILLIAM J. CASAZZA, AND EACH OF THEM INDIVIDUALLY, WITH FULL
POWERS OF SUBSTITUTION AND RESUBSTITUTION, TRUE AND LAWFUL ATTORNEYS, WITH FULL
POWER TO THEM AND EACH OF THEM TO SIGN FOR THE UNDERSIGNED, IN THE UNDERSIGNED'S
NAME AND IN THE CAPACITIES INDICATED BELOW, THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM
S-3 FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND ANY AND ALL
AMENDMENTS TO THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION,
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENTS AND ANY AMENDMENT OR AMENDMENTS OR ADDITIONAL
REGISTRATION STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 462 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED, INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF SECURITIES FOR WHICH REGISTRATION IS
BEING SOUGHT), IN CONNECTION WITH THE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED, OF DEBT SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY, GUARANTEED BY AETNA INC.,
AND TO FILE OR CAUSE TO BE FILED THE SAME, WITH ALL EXHIBITS THERETO AND OTHER
DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION,
GRANTING UNTO SAID ATTORNEYS, AND EACH OF THEM, FULL POWER AND AUTHORITY TO DO
AND PERFORM EACH AND EVERY ACT AND THING REQUISITE AND NECESSARY TO BE DONE IN
CONNECTION THEREWITH, AS FULLY TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES AS THE UNDERSIGNED
MIGHT OR COULD DO IN PERSON, AND HEREBY RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING ALL THAT SAID
ATTORNEYS, AND EACH OF THEM, OR THEIR SUBSTITUTE OR SUBSTITUTES, SHALL DO OR
CAUSE TO BE DONE BY VIRTUE OF THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY.

WITNESS OUR HANDS ON THIS 28TH DAY OF JUNE, 1996.

/s/ Ronald E. Compton
- --------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
Ronald E. Compton Michael H. Jordan
Chairman, President and Director Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/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/ Earl G. Graves
- --------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
Earl G. Graves Judith Rodin
Director Director
/s/ Gerald Greenwald /s/ Richard L. Huber
- --------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
Gerald Greenwald Richard L. Huber
Director Vice Chairman for Strategy and Finance
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Robert J. Price
- --------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
Ellen M. Hancock Robert J. Price
Director Vice President and Corporate Controller
(Controller)