October 8th, 2008

The following is a news brief from today’s Philadelphia Inquirer:

Blues’ executives testify on merger

Independence Blue Cross and Highmark Inc. executives testified yesterday before the Pennsylvania Senate Banking and Insurance Committee about their proposed merger. Tomorrow, the Insurance Department, which must decide on the merger, will close the public-comment period. At that point, the Senate and House will have 45 days to make comments on the merger and the Insurance Department must consider those comments for 60 days. A decision on the merger could come as early as mid-December, but is more likely to come in January. The merger would create the largest health insurer in Pennsylvania and among the largest in the nation. – Jane M. Von Bergen