Aetna refiling federal review notice of proposed Humana merger

Health insurer Aetna Inc. said it will give federal antitrust regulators an additional month to review its proposed acquisition of rival insurer Humana Inc.

In a form submitted Monday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Aetna said it planned to refile the premerger notification required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 on or before Wednesday of this week.

The refiling will trigger a new 30-day waiting period under the Antitrust Improvements Act, during which the U.S. Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission will gain extra time to review Aetna's proposed $37 billion merger with Humana.

Aetna originally filed its premerger notification in July.

The health insurer said it has already filed all required state-level applications for regulatory approval of the deal, which it still expects to complete in the second half of 2016.