Boosting its Medicare ‘Niche,’ Molina Will Pick Up Bright’s MA Leftovers for $600M

After two months of shopping around its Medicare Advantage business, Bright Health Group, Inc. on June 30 unveiled plans to sell its remaining insurance assets to Molina Healthcare, Inc. in a deal worth approximately $600 million. The transaction will allow the “insurtech” to focus on its consumer care delivery business, which serves fee-for-service Medicare, Medicaid and Affordable Care Act marketplace customers, while enabling Molina to continue its strategic growth in the niche low-income MA space.

Bright in late April disclosed plans to divest its California MA business, Brand New Day and Central Health Plan, to qualify for an extension of an amended agreement with its creditors. (Bright previously exited the ACA exchange business in all 15 states where it operated.) Upon completion of the sale, which is subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions, the proceeds will provide a significant boost to Bright’s capital position. The company explained in a June 30 press release that it “intends to use the proceeds to satisfy its obligations to its bank lenders with the remaining proceeds used towards liabilities in its discontinued ACA insurance business.” Additionally, it has extended a waiver and amendment to its credit facility.