Georgia officials postpone Aetna-Humana merger hearing

ATLANTA — After the U.S. Department of Justice announced last week that it is challenging the proposed merger of health insurance companies Aetna and Humana, Georgia officials are delaying a state-level look at the issue.

Aetna Inc. wants to purchase Humana Inc. in a $33 billion deal. Reuters reported that the Justice Department filed suit Thursday to block the merger, which had been in the works for more than a year. Antitrust reviewers said the combination will hurt consumers and the companies’ proposed fix — selling some health plans to a competitor — was insufficient.

The Georgia Department of Insurance had scheduled a hearing today on the merger, but has postponed the hearing in the wake of the federal agency’s challenge, according to the office of state Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens.