Several major health plans have recently enacted policies regarding coverage status for Remicade (infliximab) and its biosimilars, Inflectra (infliximab-dyyb) and Renflexis (infliximab-abda). Most of these plans are limiting coverage for the biosimilar products to very specific circumstances. Some have also begun denying claims for biosimilars and instructing patients to switch to Remicade. The plans implementing…
Humana Out of Individual Market, With or Without Obamacare Repeal
NEW YORK (Reuters)—Humana Inc. will not return to the individual insurance market after it exits the Obamacare exchanges this year, a market that Republicans are trying to repeal and replace through new legislation, Humana’s top executive said on Thursday. Republicans in the U.S. Senate released a draft of their bill to undo Obamacare, officially called…
U.S. Regulators Sue to Block Anthem-Cigna & Aetna-Humana Mergers
NEW YORK (Reuters)—U.S. antitrust officials on Thursday moved to block an unprecedented consolidation of the national health insurance market, filing suit against Anthem Inc.’s proposed purchase of Cigna Corp. and Aetna Inc.’s planned acquisition of Humana Inc. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) says the two mergers would reduce competition, raise prices for consumers and…
U.S. Justice Department Has Concerns about Aetna-Humana Deal
(Reuters)—The U.S. Department of Justice has significant concerns about Aetna Inc.’s proposed acquisition of health insurer Humana Inc., a source familiar with the situation said on Thursday, and shares of Humana fell more than 11%. Aetna’s purchase of Humana would combine two of the largest providers of Medicare Advantage plans for elderly people, and investors…
Aetna’s Deal for Humana May Push Up Costs for Seniors
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—Aetna Inc.’s plan to buy smaller insurer Humana Inc. for $31 billion will mean seniors will pay higher Medicare Advantage premiums, according to a new report by the think tank Center for American Progress (CAP). Aetna’s proposed deal for Humana would combine Aetna’s 7% of the Medicare Advantage market with Humana’s 19%, and make…
U.S. Antitrust Lawmakers Express Concern About Insurance Mergers
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—Republican and Democratic lawmakers expressed concern about two multi-billion dollar insurance mergers on Tuesday, using a Senate hearing to take issue with the companies’ arguments that they face expanding competition from new rivals. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee, said he was worried that consumers would be “locked…