New York

WELLCARE Health Plans Inc and Centene Corp have made competing offers for the Medicare Advantage insurance plans that Aetna Inc is looking to shed as its seeks clearance for its acquisition of Humana Inc, people familiar with the matter said.

The potential divestiture is a central pillar of Aetna's efforts to win over regulators for its US$34 billion Humana deal. The health insurer met US Department of Justice officials on Friday in a bid to address their antitrust concerns.