Cigna to buy Express Scripts for $67 billion
Cigna, one of the largest health insurers in the country, is set to acquire pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts (ESI) in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $67 billion. The proposed deal has Cigna acquiring ESI at a 31% premium and is expected to close by the end of 2018.
While the acquisition is certainly the result of market pressure given the recent integrations of UnitedHealth/OptumRX and Aetna/CVS, this deal also makes good sense from a market-facing perspective as Cigna and ESI both have tremendously strong roots in the mid-market. Should the deal be approved, ESI will continue to operate as a separate pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), with it’s position as one of the largest in the country made even stronger. Additionally, this move validates the pharmacy carve-out model since all of the major health plans will own a PBM with carve-out business, which is a win for employers.
Scott’s Pharmacy Practice, Rx Advantage, is acutely aware of the operational concerns associated with such a large merger. Our team has already had discussions with ESI’s leadership on behalf of our clients and we will continue to work to optimize ESI’s performance during the integration period. Pharmacy continues to be a top priority at Scott as we create world-class health plans for mid-market employers.
Contact a Scott Benefits Consultant with any questions or concerns about the Cigna/ESI deal or to discuss how we can help improve your performance as you navigate the current landscape.
