Groups blast 'rubber stamping' of Aetna-Humana merger

Opponents of the Aetna-Humana merger are angry with what they say was a lack of public input in the Connecticut Insurance Department's decision to approve the deal, according to the Connecticut Mirror. A statement from the state's insurance department said it determined the merger "would not substantially lessen competition or create a monopoly in Connecticut as Humana has a small market footprint in this state." Yet state lawmakers had lobbied for public hearings on insurer mergers, a call that the insurance department ignored by "rubber stamping this deal in the dark of night," Tom Swan, executive director of the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, tells the publication. The Aetna-Humana merger has so far gained regulatory approval in 15 of the 20 states it needs to move forward. Article