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Let the deal music play. In affirming a central tenet of the Affordable Care Act for the second time, the U.S. Supreme Court has removed a major source of uncertainty for the insurance industry. That is good news for investors banking on consolidation. Indeed, within hours of the decision, Humana stock popped on renewed talk that Aetna had made an offer, as reported this weekend by The Wall Street Journal. (Grant, 6/25)

Aetna Inc., the second-largest U.S. health insurer by market value, is closing in on an acquisition of Humana Inc. and could reach a deal as early as this weekend, several people with knowledge of the matter said. Discussions between the two companies have intensified during recent days, after it emerged over the weekend that rivals Anthem Inc. and Cigna Corp. had held merger talks of their own, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. (Hammond, Campbell and Tracer, 6/25)

A new round of consolidation in the health insurance industry appeared closer as companies seek to grow larger, driven in part by cost-cutting and opportunities that are part of the Affordable Care Act. In the latest jockeying, Humana, the smallest of the big five insurers, is pursuing a deal to sell itself and could reach an agreement by next week, according to a person briefed on the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Among those in the running to buy it are two bigger competitors, Aetna and Cigna. (de la Merced, 6/25)