Insurance departments in five states approved Centene's proposed $17.3 billion acquisition of WellCare Health Plans, bringing the total number of state approvals to 24.
According to an Oct. 18 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, insurance departments in Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Ohio and Texas are the most recent to approve the deal. Centene filed for approval in 27 states.
The insurers anticipate their transaction will close in the first half of 2020, according to the filing.