UnitedHealth will buy DaVita Inc.’s physician network business for $4.9 billion, adding hundreds of medical clinics to the health insurer’s business of providing direct medical care.

The proposed acquisition is more about vertical integration and combining data streams, including employee benefit plan information.

As the specter of Amazon.com looms over the healthcare industry, it’s easy to see the tech giant’s threat as a major factor behind the megadeal between CVS and Aetna.

How an acquisition is structured, as a stock sale or an asset sale, could affect the continuation of employee perks.

PCSA Chairman Ken Raskin says the organization will keep existing events and products, add additional resources and educational services.

PCSA Chairman Ken Raskin says the organization will keep existing events and products, add additional resources and educational services.

The ben admin platform aims to bring small business clients and brokers together through improved technology.

To date, nearly 150 firms have engaged in some form of M&A deal within 2017, nearly surpassing both 2015 and 2016 records.

Firms look to leverage each other’s strengths, grow with focus on technology, voluntary and retirement benefits.

Success hinges more on broker dedication to benefits expertise than firm size.

Since its launch earlier this year, the nation’s seventh largest employee benefits firm has been on a growth spree.

Financial incentives are one of a number of tools employers can use during a merger or acquisition.

Financial incentives are one of a number of tools employers can use during a merger or acquisition.

But, as in the House bill, states could receive waivers of some of Obamacare’s consumer protections including provision of 'essential health benefits.'

Humana, in particular, is seen by analysts as an attractive takeover target because of its focus.

The companies came to a mutual agreement to terminate the deal, and Aetna will pay Humana a $1 billion breakup fee, or about $630 million after taxes.

After 18 months of courtship and court cases, two massive deals that would have reshaped the U.S. health insurance industry have both been declared dead, blocked by judges who said they’d do unacceptable harm to competition in the industry.

Nearly 450 recorded deals were made in the U.S. and Canada, with employee benefit agencies accounting for 20%.

The transaction would violate antitrust laws by reducing competition among insurers, U.S. District Judge John D. Bates in Washington ruled on Monday.

Rob Lieblein, chief development officer of the now 7th largest employee benefit firm in the nation, shares company growth plans.