Anthem said it's concerned that its deal with Bloomfield-based Cigna might fall apart if no decision is reached soon.
Health insurers Aetna and Anthem are both bargaining with federal courts about the upcoming anti-trust trial over their merger plans.
In independent court filings this week, the two companies asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to hold separate hearings on each merger proposal, instead of a single trial.
Aetna requested that its proceeding go forward this fall, before the December 31 deadline for the completion of its $33 billion merger with Humana. It's seeking to limit the trial to two weeks.
Anthem said it’s concerned that its deal with Bloomfield-based Cigna might fall apart if no decision is reached soon, pointing out that the two have so far had a testy relationship in regards to their proposed match-up.
For its part, the Department of Justice, which filed the lawsuits on July 21 seeking a ruling on anti-trust concerns if the mergers go forward, said it wants a hearing in February of next year. The two deals would reduce the number of major national insurers from five to three. The DOJ contends that this would reduce competition, and potentially drive up prices for consumers. It's also concerned that it would lessen the push for innovation in the health insurance marketplace.
