Together, health insurers Aetna and Cigna spent over $1.3 million on outside lobbyists last year, according to The CT Mirror.
The groups work to win governmental approval of the insurers' respective mergers with Humana and Anthem.
Cigna hired three groups — Alexandria, Va.-based Polaris Government Relations, Washington, D.C.-based Heather Podesta + Partners and Washington, D.C.-based Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr — and paid them $552,250 in the first three quarters of fiscal year 2015.
Aetna hired five Washington, D.C.-based groups — Bloom Strategic Counsel, CGCN Group, The Gibson Group, West Front Strategies and Empire Consulting — and spent $765,000 in the first three quarters of 2015.
The insurers both have their own in-house lobbying groups as well. From January to September 2015, Aetna spent $2 million on these efforts and Cigna spent $3.5 million.
The news follows Aetna's decision to leave America's Health Insurance Plans last week. According to The Hill, Aetna paid AHIP approximately $1.1 million in dues each year.
United Healthcare, the largest U.S. insurer, left AHIP last June. Cigna, Humana and Anthem are still members, according to AHIP spokeswoman Clare Krusing.