WASHINGTON — Anthem said Thursday it will appeal a federal court’s decision to block the health insurer’s planned merger with Cigna. The decision to appeal came quickly on the heels of U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson’s ruling late Wednesday that the $54 billion merger would reduce competition in dozens of insurance markets across the nation.
Justice Department
Posted inHealth, Politics
Federal judge rejects Anthem-Cigna merger
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department won a second big health insurer antitrust case late Wednesday when a federal judge blocked a proposed merger between Anthem and Cigna. The Justice Department said the merger would stiffle competition, resulting in higher premiums and poorer medical care.
Posted inHealth
Aetna-Humana antitrust trial wraps up before questioning judge
WASHINGTON — The antitrust trial over a proposed merger between Aetna and Humana wrapped up Wednesday, with U.S. District Court Judge John Bates asking probing questions of both Justice Department lawyers seeking to block the deal and attorneys for the insurers defending their plan.
Posted inHealth, Justice
DOJ says Aetna left ACA marketplaces in reaction to merger suit
Updated at 6:35 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Justice Department attorneys on Monday continued to try to undercut arguments by Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini that his company’s Medicare Advantage program competes with government-run Medicare.
Posted inHealth, Justice
Aetna, Humana defend merger plans in court
Updated at 4:57 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Opening salvos were fired Monday in the antitrust case against the proposed merger of Aetna and Humana, with Justice Department attorneys arguing the tie-up would mean sharp price hikes for Medicare Advantage plans and a disintegration of choice for people purchasing insurance on Affordable Care Act exchanges.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Aetna-Humana antitrust trial to have a different twist
WASHINGTON – As the first part of the antitrust trial on a proposed merger of Anthem and Cigna is wrapping up, a similar challenge to Aetna’s plan to merge with Humana will begin Monday. While both are the result of lawsuits to block the mergers filed by the Justice Department on the same day in July, the trials will be much different.
Posted inHealth
Trial begins in U.S. antitrust battle against Anthem, Cigna
WASHINGTON — Anthem, Cigna and the U.S. Justice Department on Monday tried to sway a federal judge with widely differing views on the impact a proposed merger of the insurers would have on the U.S. health care market.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Feds to monitor election in Hartford, New Britain, other CT towns
WASHINGTON — Federal monitors will watch elections in Hartford, West Hartford, East Hartford, New Britain, Farmington, Middletown and Newington on Tuesday. Secretary of the State Denise Merrill says they will observe the new voting system for the disabled.
Posted inHealth, Politics
UnitedHeathcare a player in insurance merger lawsuits
WASHINGTON – UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest health insurer and former potential suitor to merge with Cigna, provided the Justice Department with a large amount of sensitive, proprietary and confidential information to help the government investigate and block the mergers by its rivals.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT is Exhibit A in antitrust fight against Anthem-Cigna merger
WASHINGTON — In its court battle to block the merger of Anthem and Cigna, the U.S. Justice Department plans to use Connecticut’s market as a prime example of why increased consolidation in the health insurance field would hurt consumers. “It was clear to us… that if Connecticut had not decided to participate in the lawsuit, (the state) would have been a focal point of the case anyhow,” said Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen, who has joined the DOJ lawsuit.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Senators press fight with Aetna over quitting ACA exchanges
Updated at 5:12 p.m.
WASHINGTON — A group of liberal senators and Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini continued their battle Friday, with the lawmakers accusing the insurance executive of avoiding their questions about Aetna’s decision to quit 11 health insurance exchanges.
Posted inHealth, Politics
AMA says Anthem-Cigna deal would shrink insurer choices in CT
WASHINGTON — The American Medical Association, strongly opposed to the merger of Anthem and Cigna, said the deal would greatly limit competition in Connecticut and nine other states, leading to premium increases and fewer choices of doctors and hospitals for the state’s patients.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Warren, Sanders demand Aetna explain decision to quit ACA exchanges
Updated 5:27 p.m.
WASHINGTON – In a strongly worded letter to Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and several other Democrats, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, have asked the company to explain why it entered into a “risky” merger deal with Humana that now makes it financially unable to sell policies in 11 state health insurance exchanges.
Posted inHealth
Aetna said it would pull back from exchanges if merger wasn’t approved
WASHINGTON — Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini told the Justice Department the insurer would have to pull back from the Affordable Care Act’s state insurance exchanges if a proposed merger deal with Humana was not approved, provoking strong reaction on Capitol Hill.
Posted inHealth, Justice
Aetna offers divestitures, Cigna looking at its options
WASHINGTON — Aetna and Humana said Tuesday they have an agreement to sell Medicare Advantage business covering 290,000 people to rival insurer Molina if their planned merger is allowed to be completed. Aetna also said it is halting 2017 plans to expand participation on public exchanges and is reviewing all of its current participation on Affordable Care Act exchanges.