Senior Legal Counsel - Aetna, West Regional Counsel

We’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.

Position Summary

The West Regional Counsel is the primary legal advisor supporting Aetna’s fully insured commercial business across California, Arizona, and Hawaii. This role operates in a highly complex, heavily regulated environment and is critical to managing regulatory risk, enabling business operations, and ensuring compliance.

Major Responsibilities

• Advising on business initiatives, product design, filings, claims, utilization management, pharmacy, and provider network matters;
• Leading responses to regulatory inquiries, investigations, and market conduct exams;
• Providing proactive guidance on evolving state laws and requirements.
• The role also serves as counsel to the Banner | Aetna joint venture in Arizona, advising on governance, regulatory strategy, and business initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of legal experience with a law firm or in-house with a health plan or other highly regulated healthcare organization
• Juris Doctor (JD) and active bar membership

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant experience advising health plans or highly regulated healthcare organizations
• Experience managing regulatory inquiries, investigations, and enforcement matters, including those involving CDI, DMHC and Knox-Keene Act requirements
• Strong knowledge of insurance regulation, managed care law, or healthcare compliance
• Demonstrated ability to advise senior leaders and operate in high-risk, fast-paced environments
• Experience partnering cross-functionally with Compliance, Government Affairs, and business teams
• Ability to collaborate effectively and work as a team player
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, initiative, intellectual curiosity, and drive

Education

Juris Doctorate

Bachelor's Degree

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:

$175,100.00 - $334,750.00

This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls.  The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors.  This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above.  This position also includes an award target in the company’s equity award program. 
 

Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.

Great benefits for great people

We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.

This full‑time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well‑being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.

Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 06/24/2026

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.