Court must prevent merger from cornering markets in Medicare advantage

"The American Medical Association supports the U.S. Department of Justice and the bipartisan group of state attorney generals as they begin today their antitrust trial to block Aetna’s $37 billion acquisition of Humana. A court injunction would prevent Aetna from eliminating head-to-head competition with rival Humana in highly concentrated public exchange markets for the sale of individual insurance in numerous counties across Florida, Georgia and Missouri.

"Blocking this merger would also protect elderly Americans by preventing Aetna from cornering the Medicare Advantage markets. Aetna and Humana are among the 4 largest sellers of Medicare Advantage plans in the nation. Together they would create an insurer Goliath with the market power to raise premiums, lower plan quality, and eliminate choice for a vulnerable population of seniors in the Medicare Advantage program.