By Ayla Ellison
Few stories in the healthcare industry have gotten as much national attention recently as news that four of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. are merging into two. If the two proposed transactions receive regulatory approval, Aetna and Anthem will become even more dominant forces than they already are.
The first major transaction, which was announced in early July, would involve Aetna taking over Humana. The two organizations signed a definitive agreement, and the deal, which is valued at $37 billion, now requires regulatory approval. Under the agreement, Humana stockholders will receive $125 in cash and 0.8375 Aetna common shares for each Humana share.