health insurer mergers News

Court Battles Begin as U.S., States Sue to Halt Anthem, Aetna Mergers

U.S. antitrust enforcers roundly rejected a pair of proposed deals that would consolidate the nation’s five biggest health insurers into just three. The Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit to stop Anthem Inc.’s merger with Cigna Corp. in federal court …

U.S. Expected to Sue to Stop Anthem, Aetna Deals

U.S. antitrust officials are poised to file lawsuits to block Anthem Inc.’s takeover of rival health-insurer Cigna Corp. and Aetna Inc.’s deal to buy Humana Inc., according to a person familiar with the matter. Justice Department officials, who are responsible …

New York Gives Aetna-Humana Merger Green Light with Conditions

New York’s insurance regulator has conditionally approved Aetna Inc.’s $37 billion takeover of Humana Inc., one of the last state sign-offs needed for the deal, people familiar with the matter said. The transaction is still under review by U.S. officials. …

Health Insurer Merger Interest Could Turn to Smaller Plans

A breakup of Anthem Inc.’s $48 billion bid for Cigna Corp., under scrutiny by U.S. antitrust regulators, could spark new deals for smaller health plans in a continued wave of industry consolidation. Smaller insurers could become targets for Cigna, including …

Anthem Says It’s Not Walking Away from Cigna Merger

Anthem Inc. said it’s not in discussions with Cigna Corp. to end their $48 billion tie-up, as speculation about the health insurance deal’s fate mounts. The New York Post reported earlier that Anthem may be ready to walk away, citing …

Democratic Senators Oppose Health Insurer Mergers

Seven Democratic senators urged the U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday to block two mergers of major health insurance companies, saying that the proposed deals would mean higher premiums and lower-quality healthcare for consumers. The department is reviewing Aetna Inc.’s $33 …

Health Insurers Next on Justice Department’s Antitrust Agenda

Bill Baer was the ultimate Washington antitrust insider when he came to the Justice Department in 2013: At law firm Arnold & Porter LLP, he’d counseled the biggest U.S. companies, including deal machine General Electric Co., on getting mergers over …

Virginia to Hold Hearing on Anthem’s Proposed Acquisiton of Cigna

Virginia’s State Corporation Commission (SCC) announced that it will hold a public hearing in May to consider the competitive impact of Anthem Inc.’s proposed acquisition of Cigna Corporation and its subsidiaries. As part of that merger, the SCC must consider …

Hospitals Say Anthem-Cigna Merger Will Empower Blue Cross, Hurt Consumers

U.S. hospitals are stepping up their bid to stop Anthem Inc.’s takeover of rival health insurer Cigna Corp., saying the deal will increase the dominance of Blue Cross Blue Shield plans and potentially raise premiums for consumers. The enhanced bargaining …

15 State AGs Join Federal Antitrust Probe of Giant Health Insurers’ Mergers: Reuters

About 15 state attorneys general have joined the Justice Department’s probe of two big insurance mergers, according to people familiar with the matter, increasing the scrutiny on proposed deals that would reduce the number of nationwide health insurers to three …