<span class="articleLocation”>A U.S. federal judge blocked on Monday health
insurer Aetna Inc’s proposed $34 billion merger with
rival Humana, saying it was illegal under antitrust law.

Judge John Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District
of Columbia said the proposed deal would “substantially lessen
competition in the sale of individual Medicare Advantage plans
in 364 counties identified in the complaint and in the sale of
individual commercial insurance on the public exchanges in three
counties in Florida.”

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit on July 21, 2016 to
block Aetna’s acquisition of Humana and Anthem Inc’s purchase of Cigna Corp, saying the two deals would lead
to higher prices.