Justice Department Moves To Block 2 Big Health Insurance Mergers : The Two-Way : NPR : npr

as declared in npr

Justice Department Moves To Block 2 Big Health Insurance Mergers : The Two-Way : NPR

Justice Department Moves To Block 2 Big Health Insurance Mergers : The Two-Way : NPR

Justice Department Moves To Block 2 Big Health Insurance Mergersi toggle caption Michael Conroy/AP Michael Conroy/APThe Justice Department is suing to block two proposed mergers between major health insurance companies, saying the deals violate antitrust laws and would lead to higher health care costs for Americans.U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch explained the decision at a press conference:"If allowed to proceed, these mergers would fundamentally reshape the health insurance industry.They would leave much of the multitrillion-dollar health insurance industry in the hands of three mammoth insurance companies, drastically constricting competition in a number of key markets that tens of millions of Americans rely on to receive health care.


by the same token on nytimes

Justice Dept. Will Seek to Block 2 Health Insurance Mergers

Justice Dept. Will Seek to Block 2 Health Insurance Mergers

PhotoThe Justice Department is preparing lawsuits to block two giant health insurance deals, according to a person briefed on the matter, continuing a spate of antitrust actions in a whirlwind year for mergers and acquisitions.Antitrust officials are concerned that Aetna's $37 billion deal with Humana, and Anthem's $48 billion pursuit of Cigna, will harm competition in the health insurance industry, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the suits had not yet been filed.The deals would have decreased the number of the largest insurers to three, from five.


additionally nbcnews

U.S. Moves to Block Health Insurance Mergers

U.S. Moves to Block Health Insurance Mergers

The Justice Department went to court Thursday seeking to block two mergers involving four of the nation's five health insurance giants.Arguing that the deals would limit competition, the government hoped to stop the planned mergers of Aetna and Humana and of Anthem and Cigna."These mergers would reshape the industry, eliminating two innovative competitors — Cigna and Humana — at a time when the industry is experimenting with new ways to lower health care costs," the government said in its court filings.