Imperial Valley News Imperial Valley News Center Justice Department Requires Divestiture of Tufts Health Freedom Plan in Order for Harvard Pilgrim and Health Plan Holdings to Proceed With Merger Details Written by IVN
Washington, DC - The Department of Justice announced today that it would require Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (Harvard Pilgrim) and Health Plan Holdings (fka Tufts Health Plan) to divest Tufts Health Freedom Plan Inc. (Tufts Freedom), in order to proceed with their merger. Tufts Freedom is Health Plan Holdings’ commercial health insurance business in New Hampshire.
The department has approved UnitedHealth Group Inc. (United), as the buyer. Health insurance is an integral part of the American healthcare system, and the proposed settlement will maintain competition for the sale of commercial health insurance to private employers in New Hampshire with fewer than 100 employees.
Dec 15, 2020 3:08pm
Officials in the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, along with the New Hampshire Office of Attorney General, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire to stop the deal between Harvard Pilgrim and Health Plan Holdings. (Getty Images)
The Department of Justice is seeking to block Harvard Pilgrim Health Care s proposed merger with Health Plan Holdings unless it divests the Tufts Health Freedom plan, officials said Tuesday.
Officials in the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, along with the New Hampshire Office of Attorney General, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire to stop the deal.
Federal and state regulators are opposing a major health insurance merger between Harvard Pilgrim and Tufts Health Plan, now called Health Plan Holdings, but say the deal can still move forward if Tufts agrees to sell off its New Hampshire operations to a rival company.
Citing the risk of less competition and increased prices, the U.S. Attorney and the state Attorney General filed an antitrust lawsuit on Monday.
“The combination of Harvard Pilgrim and Health Plan Holdings - two of the largest suppliers of health insurance in New Hampshire for certain employers purchasing group coverage for their employees - into one firm would likely lead to higher prices, lower quality, and reduced choice for consumers of commercial group health insurance in New Hampshire,” the lawsuit alleges.
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December 15, 2020
The United States and New Hampshire have filed a civil antitrust action in the District of New Hampshire to halt the proposed merger of two commercial health insurance sellers, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc. and Health Plan Holdings, Inc. Monday’s filing alleges that consolidation will likely harm New Hampshire commercial group health insurance purchasers by raising prices, decreasing quality, and reducing healthcare choices.
According to the filing, Harvard Pilgrim has over one million members who subscribe to its commercial group health insurance. Its customers are reportedly small and large employer groups in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine.
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