Experts consider health care deals under Trump Justice Department

The proposed health insurance megamerger between Anthem and Cigna headed to court Monday, as the companies face off against a Justice Department seeking to block their $48 billion deal.

“If these mergers were to take place, the competition among insurers that has pushed them to provide lower premiums, higher-quality care and better benefits would be eliminated,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in July when she announced the government’s decision to challenge these mergers.

[...] the election of Donald Trump could recalibrate how vigorously the federal government handles these two mergers, as well as the many other deals now taking place in health care, according to legal experts.

The companies contend people would benefit because a bigger company would be more efficient and better able to strike deals with hospitals and doctors that result in lower prices for medical care.

Anthem attorney Christopher Curran responded that the combined company will be able to offer lower rates to health care providers, who will pass on the savings to consumers.