WASHINGTON — UnitedHealth may quit the nation’s insurance exchanges, but Aetna and Anthem say they are staying and will work on problems with the marketplaces.
Aetna
Posted inPolitics
Short week for Congress yields defense funding, railroad revival
The U.S. House of Representatives was out and the Senate had a shortened work week because of the Veterans Day holiday, but there was still plenty of activity in Congress. The Senate approved a final defense bill that authorizes billions of dollars in spending on weapon systems developed in Connecticut. The Federal Railroad Administration took a big step forward on an ambitious overhaul of the rail system in the Northeast Corridor.
Posted inHealth
AMA asks Justice Department to block Aetna-Humana, Anthem-Cigna mergers
WASHINGTON – Saying it would end competition in key markets and erode patient care, the American Medical Association has asked the Justice Department to quash the proposed mergers between insurance giants Aetna and Humana and Anthem and Cigna.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Clinton has ‘serious concerns’ about Aetna-Humana, Anthem-Cigna deals
WASHINGTON — Planned consolidations by some of the nation’s largest health insurers were propelled into the 2016 race for the White House Wednesday as Hillary Clinton said she has “serious concerns” about Aetna’s plan to acquire Humana and Anthem’s proposal to buy Cigna.
Posted inPolitics
CT ethics office still in ‘conversation’ with Wade about recusal
While Insurance Commissioner Katharine Wade, a former Cigna in-house lobbyist, said she won’t recuse herself from involvement in the $54-billion merger between Cigna and Anthem, the issue has not been settled by the Connecticut Office of State Ethics, which is still in discussions with her about the situation.
Posted inPolitics
This Week in Washington
Congress moved at the 11th hour to avert a government shutdown, but it’s only a short-term fix — with a new budget deadline of Dec. 11. Access Health CT CEO James Wadleigh defended the operations of Connecticut’s health exchange to skeptical GOP lawmakers. Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini’s plans to merge with Humana were also scrutinized by a House panel this week.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Aetna, Anthem merger plans under scrutiny, again, by Congress
WASHINGTON – Members of both political parties expressed increasing skepticism Tuesday when they continued their scrutiny of the proposed mergers of insurance giants Aetna and Humana and Anthem and Cigna.
Posted inPolitics
Connecticut’s Washington Week
Pope Francis’ visit to Washington, which included an address to the joint session of Congress, overshadowed everything this week — except perhaps House Speaker John Boehner’s subsequent resignation.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Blumenthal, others grill Aetna, Anthem chiefs about mergers
WASHINGTON – Skeptical members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday questioned Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini and Anthem CEO Joseph Swedish about their plans to merge with other large insurers, citing concerns about the consolidation’s impact on consumers.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Congress scrutinizes Aetna-Humana and Anthem-Cigna deals
WASHINGTON– Congressional Republicans are blaming a wave of mergers and other types of consolidation by hospitals, pharmaceuticals and insurers, on the Affordable Care Act. That new interest in consolidation on the health care field is bringing unwanted political attention to the proposed Aetna-Humana and Anthem-Cigna mergers.
Posted inPolitics
Aetna-Humana, Anthem-Cigna mergers spark D.C. lobbying war
WASHINGTON — With high stakes in play, Aetna, Inc. has hired four high-powered Washington lobbying firms to help the company win federal approval of a merger with Humana. Cigna followed by hiring three D.C. lobbying firms this week to press its case to merge with Anthem.
Posted inHealth
Regulator lowers most proposed health insurance rate hikes
Most insurance companies selling health plans in the state’s individual market will get to raise customers’ premiums in 2016, but not by as much as they proposed, and one major carrier will have to lower its rates, according to decisions released by the Connecticut Insurance Department Saturday.
Posted inHealth, Politics
For insurers, Supreme Court could demolish a growing line of business
Washington – The nation’s health insurers, including leading companies like Aetna, are hoping the Supreme Court does not strike down a provision of the Affordable Care Act that has brought them millions of new policyholders and provided new growth opportunities for the industry.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut’s taxes should help build equality, opportunity
Thinly veiled threats from hundred billion-dollar corporations that the proposed state tax increases are “truly discouraging”’ and that General Electric would “seriously consider whether it makes any sense to continue to remain in Connecticut” are not to be ignored. We the people have a choice before us — one that requires us to choose the economic principles fundamental to the type of society we desire to create and live in.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Tax hikes in Connecticut Dem’s budget are disheartening, unacceptable
Connecticut already places and insurmountable tax burden upon our residents. To ask any more is unconscionable. All of my Republican colleagues, and even 11 Democrat legislators, shared this sentiment when we voted against the Democrat-proposed tax hike. Unfortunately, this was not enough to steer the State of Connecticut off its self-destructive path.