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.”

The full text of the letter to Aetna can be found here. The full text of the letter to Cigna can be found here.