Wonkbook: Aetna warned it would drop out of Obamacare exchanges if its merger was blocked

By Carolyn Y. Johnson Insurance giant Aetna's announcement this week that it would sharply curb its participation in the insurance exchanges set up under the Affordable Care Act was seen by some as payback to the Obama administration for blocking its proposed merger with Humana. After all, in April, Aetna chief executive Mark Bertolini had called …   The latest economic and domestic policy from Wonkblog   (Jessica Hill/AP) By Carolyn Y. Johnson Insurance giant Aetna's announcement this week that it would sharply curb its participation in the insurance exchanges set up under the Affordable Care Act was seen by some as payback to the Obama administration for blocking its proposed merger with Humana. After all, in April, Aetna chief executive Mark Bertolini had called selling insurance in the exchanges "a good investment." Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (N.J.), ranking Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, issued a statement Tuesday saying he was "troubled by reports this announcement could be in retaliation" to the Justice Department's decision. Earlier this month, after Aetna announced in an earnings call this month that it was reevaluating its participation in the exchanges, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote on Facebook: "The health of the American people should not be used as bargaining chips to force the government to bend to one giant company's will." Read the rest on Wonkblog.   Chart of the day In Huntington, W.Va. on Monday, 26 people overdosed on heroin in a period of four hours. Drugs now kill more Americans than cars every year. Christopher Ingraham has more. ADVERTISEMENT   Most Recent Posts from Wonkblog Trump’s new campaign manager Kellyanne Conway doesn’t like his name-calling 'Maybe it's the mother in me.' By Danielle Paquette  •  Read more »   Why making a backup plan may set you up to fail Research shows there's a danger in contemplating options other than success. By Ana Swanson  •  Read more »   The celebrities both Republicans and Democrats love, according to research It's interesting to see whom both Republicans and Democrats really like. By Jacob Bogage  •  Read more »   The stuff we really need is getting more expensive. Other stuff is getting cheaper. The central paradox of today's economy. By Christopher Ingraham  •  Read more »   Aetna warned it would drop out of Obamacare exchanges if its merger was blocked In July, Aetna's chief executive said it was "very likely" the company would abandon the exchanges altogether. By Carolyn Y. Johnson  •  Read more »   Why America’s biggest lawyers group finally took a stand against sexual harassment "I think the rule is an enormous achievement for the profession," said one lawyer, who serves on the American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession. By Sarah Larimer  •  Read more »   The latest overdose outbreak shows just how dangerous the heroin epidemic has gotten In one West Virginia town, 26 people overdosed on heroin in four hours. By Christopher Ingraham  •  Read more »   Yet another federal court has told the DOJ to stop harassing medical marijuana providers The DOJ had been leaning on a "tortured" interpretation of a federal spending bill. By Christopher Ingraham  •  Read more »   An English soccer team still explains America’s job woes Why filling jobs and signing players would make everyone happier on both sides of the pond. By Jim Tankersley  •  Read more » ADVERTISEMENT   Recommended for you   Federal Insider Federal news and policy update, in your inbox daily. Sign Up »         Share Wonkbook:       Twitter      Facebook Trouble reading? Click here to view in your browser. You received this email because you signed up for a Wonkblog newsletter. For additional free newsletters or to manage your newsletters, click here. We respect your privacy. If you believe that this email has been sent to you in error or you no longer wish to receive email from The Washington Post, click here. Contact us for help. ©2016 The Washington Post, 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071