1
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.2
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
     EACH UNDERSIGNED DIRECTOR AND/OR OFFICER OF AETNA INC. (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 AETNA LIFE AND CASUALTY COMPANY, GUARANTEED BY THE COMPANY, 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                            /s/ James H. Dickerson, Jr.
- ---------------------------------------------    ---------------------------------------------
Ronald E. Compton                                James H. Dickerson, Jr.
Chairman, President and Director                 Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Richard L. Huber                             ---------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------    David F. Simon
Richard L. Huber                                 Director
Vice Chairman for Strategy and Finance and
Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)