MURPHY STATEMENT ON AETNA, CIGNA PROPOSED MERGERS

WASHINGTON – In light of two proposed health insurance mergers involving Aetna and Humana and Cigna and Anthem, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after writing to Aetna Chairman & CEO Mark Bertolini and Cigna President & CEO David Cordani. Murphy emphasized his commitment to working with Aetna and Cigna leadership to support local jobs and ensure that the two Connecticut-based companies remain in the state.

“Above all, my priority is protecting and growing jobs in Connecticut. I’m committed to working with Aetna and Cigna leadership to do everything I can to make sure that happens,” said Murphy. “I trust the Department of Justice to review the merits of the proposed mergers and come out with a ruling that is fact-based and fair. And while I leave to the experts judgment on the merits of the mergers, I understand why Aetna and Cigna believe the mergers are beneficial to their businesses. As our health care system continues to evolve – away from a system that rewards volume and instead to a system that prioritizes value – insurers, hospitals and providers are all looking for greater scale and efficiencies. I have been a proponent of delivery system reform for a long time, and believe that this shift towards value-based reimbursement holds the key to better care at lower prices for consumers.”