Aetna Buying Coventry Health Care

Aetna Healthcare Office Building

Two of Bismarck’s biggest employers are merging.

Aetna has announced plans to acquire Coventry Health Care for $5.7 billion. Aetna agreed to the acquisition to increase its Medicaid and Medicare business since Coventry is one of the largest providers of each program.

Both insurance companies have maintained a presence in Bismarck for some time now. Aetna first came to Bismarck in 1990. Since that time, Aetna’s Bismarck operations have grown significantly from 35 employees to 470 in 2010 (according to a Bismarck Tribune article). Coventry opened its Bismarck office in 2002. Both companies are among the region’s top employers (Aetna is ranked #7, according to the Bismarck-Mandan Development Association).

Aetna Healthcare

At this time, there are no plans to change daily operations at either of the companies’ Bismarck locations.

The deal still requires shareholder and regulatory approval before finalizing.