Centene to Buy HealthNet….unless United steps in and offers more for Health Net.
Last week, Centene announced a $6.8 billion offer to buy Health Net. The two companies combined would become one of the nation’s largest Medicaid-focused health insurers.
A Bloomberg article says:
Centene to Buy Health Net
The deal gives Centene the biggest market share among private administrators of Medicaid, the federally funded health program for the poor — a bet that the U.S. government will keep playing a larger role in health care. The transaction would give Centene a bigger presence in the California Medicaid program, which is the largest in the U.S. with more than 12 million individuals, and provides an entry into the Medicare market.
Some stock analysts have suggest that UnitedHealthcare might jump in with a competitive offer for Health Net.