CA insurance commissioner urges DOJ to block Anthem-Cigna merger

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today urged the U.S. Department of Justice to block the proposed merger of Anthem and Cigna. "When it comes to the Anthem and Cigna merger, bigger is not better for California's consumers or the health insurance market," said Jones. After a review of the proposed merger, Jones issued detailed findings showing that if the merger is allowed to move forward it would harm California consumers, businesses and the California health insurance market. Specifically, his report found that Anthem's market share would exceed 50 percent in 28 California counties and 40 percent in 38 counties, which would negatively impact California consumers with likely reductions in “access, quality of care and affordability of health insurance.” In a Feb. 29 letter to DOJ, AHA highlighted why Anthem’s proposed acquisition of Cigna “would irreparably harm competition and consumers.”