title: Health care's new behemoths.
abstract: Merger mania has been sweeping the insurance industry for years; what's raising eyebrows these days is the sheer pace of consolidation and the startling size of the plans being created. What are the implications of these megaplans for hospitals and for health care in general? As their clout in the marketplace increases, so does the scrutiny they're coming under.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carpenter
mesh_terms: D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004465:Economic Competition / Q000639:trends; D004469:Economics, Hospital / Q000639:trends; D005249:Fees and Charges / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D033161:Government Regulation; D019981:Health Care Sector / Q000639:trends*; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D017008:Negotiating; D009935:Organizational Affiliation / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D011209:Power, Psychological; D014481:United States