Article archive / August 1, 2016
Originally published: . Volume 7, No. 8. Source pages: 16.
DOJ Blocks Insurance Companies Merger
In a July 21 press release, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch announced that the U.S. Department of Justice and attorneys general from multiple states and the District of Columbia sued to block Anthem’s proposed acquisition of Cigna and Aetna’s proposed acquisition of Humana, alleging that the transactions would increase concentration and harm competition across the country, reducing from five to three the number of large, national health insurers in the nation.
The announcement noted that the two mergers – valued at $54 billion and $37 billion – would harm seniors, working families and individuals, employers and doctors and other healthcare providers by limiting price competition, reducing benefits, decreasing incentives to provide innovative wellness programs and lowering the quality of care.
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