Highmark and Independence Blue Cross withdraw merger plans

Highmark and Independence Blue Cross (IBC) have submitted the applications to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) in April 2007.

In a joint statement, Kenneth Melani, president and CEO of Highmark, and Joseph Frick, president and CEO of IBC, said: “As we move forward as separate, financially stable, Pennsylvania-based companies, we believe we will continue to be the health insurer of choice in each of our markets because of our passionate commitment to serving our customers’ needs. As we have for decades, Highmark and IBC will continue to work together under the Blue Cross and the Blue Shield banners.”