Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal has written to the Department of Justice asking it to block both of the two current proposed mergers in the health insurance industry. Blumenthal believes the tie-ups between Aetna and Humana -- and Anthem and Cigna -- will be bad for consumers.
"These mammoth mergers are job-killing," Blumenthal told a news conference. "They threaten jobs, hike prices, lessen choices and lower health care quality."
Blumenthal said he’s not anti-business, but he doesn’t believe this is the way forward for the industry.
"We need them as thriving, independent competitors," he said. "Competition is vital, and the effect of these proposed mergers on competition is unacceptable and illegal."
Blumenthal refused to comment on the current controversy surrounding Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Katharine Wade, a former Cigna employee, who says she will not recuse herself from considering the merger plans of her former company.
