Green Bay Area Legislators Call for Careful Review of Proposed Humana-Aetna Merger Print
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Written by GBP Staff   
Monday, 28 March 2016 17:08

humanaProposed merger between two of the five largest health insurers in the U.S. to receive hearing March 30 before Gov. Scott Walker’s Insurance Commission. Humana employs over 3,000 people in Green Bay and De Pere, jobs that could be outsourced to other states.


GREEN BAY - Representative Eric Genrich (D-Green Bay) and Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) sent a joint letter today to Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel asking him to ensure that Wisconsin workers and consumers are protected should the proposed merger of Humana and Aetna gain state approval.

eric-genrichThe proposed merger would create one of the nation’s largest insurers and employ a Wisconsin workforce of 3100 employees, mostly at the Humana offices in Green Bay and De Pere. The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) has scheduled a public hearing for March 30 to review the proposal and decide what, if any, requirements Wisconsin will place on the transaction.

“Humana and its employees are a vital part of our northeast Wisconsin community. It is imperative that Commissioner Nickel and representatives from Humana and Aetna work together to ensure that the merger serves not only the shareholders and management of the two companies but the citizens of Wisconsin as well,” said Genrich.

dave-hansenThe letter asked Commissioner Nickel to ensure that OCI receive a guarantee of zero job reductions within Humana’s Wisconsin locations should the proposed merger proceed and asked OCI to work with Aetna and Humana to control drug prices and premiums for Wisconsin consumers as well as maintain a competitive array of choices in providers.

“Humana and its employees have been a great community partner and we want to see that continue,” said Hansen. “OCI can help by working with Humana executives to protect their employees here in Wisconsin and keep drug prices and premiums low.”

Genrich continued, “Wisconsin has an extraordinary opportunity to set an example for the rest of the country of how to approve this merger in a manner that benefits all parties. I hope Commissioner Nickel takes this into account as the process continues.”