Even the merging of nonprofits can face stiff antitrust
scrutiny. In Pennsylvania regulators are taking a hard look at the merger of
two nonprofit health insurers, Independence Blue Cross and Highmark Inc.,
which combined control about 53% of the state's market based on premiums,
according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. The nearest competitor, for-profit
Aetna Inc., only has a a 10th of the market share of the combined Blues.
Although the two Blues agreed to merge in March, at the current pace, the
Inquirer reports odds are slim the deal will receive approval before August
2008. — Matthew Wurtzel
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