January 23rd, 2009

If Independence Blue Cross and Highmark Inc. had agreed to let another “Blue” company sell health insurance in the Philadelphia market to provide competition, their proposed merger probably would have been approved, Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario said yesterday.

His comment, at a news conference here attended by more lobbyists than reporters, came on the day after the two health insurers withdrew their merger request.

“The simplest and most direct” way to add competition to the “Pennsylvania market would be to create ‘Blue on Blue’ competition,” Ario said, referring to the popular Blue Cross Blue Shield trademarks. Read more from The Philadelphia Inquirer