Pennsylvania's health insurance giant, Highmark, says it hopes to grow by adding Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and the 13 counties it covers at a time the health care industry is consolidating and adjusting to the 2010 federal health care law. The companies said they submitted a merger filing Tuesday to the state Department of Insurance. Insurance Commissioner Michael Consedine said his agency will review the filing with an eye toward protecting consumers and ensuring the companies remain financially strong and the insurance market is competitive.
