Aetna Inc. on Tuesday became the second major insurer to leave the health insurance industry’s largest trade group, a setback to the membership organization that was a major force during the crafting of the Affordable Care Act.
Aetna, the third-largest U.S. health insurer, said it wouldn’t renew its membership for 2016 with America’s Health Insurance Plans, a national association with almost 1,300 companies.
In a statement, the company said it would “continue to partner with other groups in the interest of expanding access to high-quality, affordable health care.”
An Aetna spokeswoman declined to comment beyond the company’s statement.
UnitedHealth Group Inc. in June left the trade group, saying its interests no longer were being best represented. The company at the time said AHIP has such diverse members that it understandably results in a more limited advocacy focus.
