Here are five reasons:
1. Anthem must sell health insurance under a different brand like Amerigroup because it does not have the Blue Cross license or own a Blues plan, putting it in direct competition with other Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.
2. Anthem has acquired 14 million Cigna health plan members in states where Blue Cross plans have the license to market under Blues brand. These states include Texas, Florida and Illinois, where they are major corporate accounts and company headquarters.
3. Anthem may have to divest some of it’s business when the deal closes next year. Anthem operates plans under the Blue Cross brand in 14 states and the future of those plans is unclear.
4. Anthem has two years after the deal closing to figure out licensing issues.
5. Many officials believe Anthem’s acquisition of Cigna will allow the company to fare well in the market against Blue Cross.
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