CVS Health is reportedly in talks to buy the nation's third-largest health insurer, Aetna — a deal that would allow the pharmacy giant to expand into an entirely new arena of health care.
A successful deal could push millions of Aetna's members toward CVS's retail pharmacies, walk-in MinuteClinics and home services for infusion drugs at a time when retail pharmacy companies are facing stiff competition.
It would also give Aetna the ability to move deeper into the lives of the 44.7 million people it serves and manage their health care more efficiently. For example, the insurer might be able to create better coordination of care using insights from CVS's retail clinics and pharmacies.