Exclusive: State attorneys general joining probe of health insurer mergers

By Diane Bartz WASHINGTON (Reuters) – About 15 state attorneys general have joined the Justice Department's probe of two big insurance mergers, according to people familiar with the matter, increasing the scrutiny on proposed deals that would reduce the number of nationwide health insurers to three from five. The formation of a large group to scrutinize Aetna Inc's plan to buy Humana Inc and Anthem Inc's bid for Cigna Corp complicate what is already expected to be a tough and lengthy review by federal antitrust enforcers. Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts and Tennessee are among the states that have joined forces to investigate the proposed deals, according to sources close to the states, who spoke to Reuters over recent days.

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Exclusive: State attorneys general joining probe of health insurer mergers