EX-16(24)(a)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned Director and President of Aetna Insurance Company of America,
hereby constitute and appoint Julie E. Rockmore, Kirk P. Wickman and J. Neil
McMurdie and each of them individually, my true and lawful attorneys, with full
power to them and each of them to sign for me, and in my name and in the
capacities indicated below, any and all amendments, to the Registration
Statements listed below filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940:

Registration Statements filed under the Securities Act of 1933:

                                     33-59749
                                     33-62481
                                     33-63611
                                     33-63657
                                     33-80750
                                    333-22723
                                    333-49581

Registration Statements filed under the Investment Company Act of 1940:

                                    811-8582

hereby ratifying and confirming on this 16th day of April, 1999, my signature as
it may be signed by my said attorneys to any such Registration Statements and
any and all amendments thereto.

    Signature/Title

/s/ Thomas J. McInerney
- -------------------------
   Thomas J. McInerney
  Director and President



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned Director of Aetna Insurance Company of America, hereby
constitute and appoint Julie E. Rockmore, Kirk P. Wickman and J. Neil McMurdie
and each of them individually, my true and lawful attorneys, with full power to
them and each of them to sign for me, and in my name and in the capacity
indicated below, any and all amendments, to the Registration Statements listed
below filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940:

Registration Statements filed under the Securities Act of 1933:

                                     33-59749
                                     33-62481
                                     33-63611
                                     33-63657
                                     33-80750
                                    333-22723
                                    333-49581

Registration Statements filed under the Investment Company Act of 1940:

                                    811-8582

hereby ratifying and confirming on this 16th day of April, 1999, my signature as
it may be signed by my said attorneys to any such Registration Statements and
any and all amendments thereto.

    Signature/Title

/s/ Catherine H. Smith
- -----------------------
    Catherine H. Smith
       Director



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned Director of Aetna Insurance Company of America, hereby
constitute and appoint Julie E. Rockmore, Kirk P. Wickman and J. Neil McMurdie
and each of them individually, my true and lawful attorneys, with full power to
them and each of them to sign for me, and in my name and in the capacity
indicated below, any and all amendments, to the Registration Statements listed
below filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940:

Registration Statements filed under the Securities Act of 1933:

                                     33-59749
                                     33-62481
                                     33-63611
                                     33-63657
                                     33-80750
                                    333-22723
                                    333-49581

Registration Statements filed under the Investment Company Act of 1940:

                                    811-8582

hereby ratifying and confirming on this 16th day of April, 1999, my signature as
it may be signed by my said attorneys to any such Registration Statements and
any and all amendments thereto.

   Signature/Title

/s/ Shaun P. Mathews
- ----------------------
    Shaun P. Mathews
       Director



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned Vice President and Treasurer, Corporate Controller of Aetna
Insurance Company of America, hereby constitute and appoint Julie E. Rockmore,
Kirk P. Wickman and J. Neil McMurdie and each of them individually, my true and
lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for me, and
in my name and in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments, to the
Registration Statements listed below filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of
1940:

Registration Statements filed under the Securities Act of 1933:

                                     33-59749
                                     33-62481
                                     33-63611
                                     33-63657
                                     33-80750
                                    333-22723
                                    333-49581

Registration Statements filed under the Investment Company Act of 1940:

                                    811-8582

hereby ratifying and confirming on this 16th day of April, 1999, my signature as
it may be signed by my said attorneys to any such Registration Statements and
any and all amendments thereto.

    Signature/Title

  /s/ Deborah Koltenuk
- -----------------------------
      Deborah Koltenuk
Vice President and Treasurer,
   Corporate Controller



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned Director of Aetna Insurance Company of America, hereby
constitute and appoint Julie E. Rockmore, Kirk P. Wickman and J. Neil McMurdie
and each of them individually, my true and lawful attorneys, with full power to
them and each of them to sign for me, and in my name and in the capacities
indicated below, any and all amendments, to the Registration Statements listed
below filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940:

Registration Statements filed under the Securities Act of 1933:

                                     33-59749
                                     33-62481
                                     33-63611
                                     33-63657
                                     33-80750
                                    333-22723
                                    333-49581

Registration Statements filed under the Investment Company Act of 1940:

                                    811-8582

hereby ratifying and confirming on this 16th day of April, 1999, my signature as
it may be signed by my said attorneys to any such Registration Statements and
any and all amendments thereto.

    Signature/Title

/s/ David W. O'Leary
- -----------------------
    David W. O'Leary
        Director



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, the undersigned Director of Aetna Insurance Company of America, hereby
constitute and appoint Julie E. Rockmore, Kirk P. Wickman and J. Neil McMurdie
and each of them individually, my true and lawful attorneys, with full power to
them and each of them to sign for me, and in my name and in the capacities
indicated below, any and all amendments, to the Registration Statements listed
below filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940:

Registration Statements filed under the Securities Act of 1933:

                                     33-59749
                                     33-62481
                                     33-63611
                                     33-63657
                                     33-80750
                                    333-22723
                                    333-49581

Registration Statements filed under the Investment Company Act of 1940:

                                    811-8582

hereby ratifying and confirming on this 16th day of April, 1999, my signature as
it may be signed by my said attorneys to any such Registration Statements and
any and all amendments thereto.

   Signature/Title

/s/ Steven A. Haxton
- ----------------------
    Steven A. Haxton
        Director