Decision On Aetna Purchase of Humana Could Come By Fall
HARTFORD — The U.S. Justice Department could approve the proposed $37 billion acquisition of Humana Inc. by Aetna Inc. before the end of September, but not without forcing Aetna to shed Medicare Advantage plans to strengthen competition, two Bloomberg analysts said Monday.
A meeting Friday between the two insurers and Department of Justice lawyers "isn't positive" for the companies' proposed deal, "but may simply be tough advocacy by the parties in a bid to limit required divestitures," Jennifer Rie, a litigation analyst, and Jason McGorman, an industry analyst said in an analysis posted on the Bloomberg website.
"Closing the deal will require a large number of Medicare Advantage plans to be sold. The parties may believe they have good arguments as to why this should be limited," they said.
A spokesman for Aetna said the Hartford-based insurer is cooperating with the Department of Justice, but would not comment further. A spokesman for Humana did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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