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California regulators have begun public hearings out of concern that planned health insurance mergers will lead to three health insurers controlling nearly half of the U.S. commercial insurance market, resulting in narrowing provider networks, fewer choices and increased costs for consumers and employers. Consumer advocates fear that the mergers between Aetna Inc. and Humana, Anthem Inc. and Cigna Corp, and Centene and Health Net Inc. will worsen access to affordable care and increase unjustified premium hikes. While analysts expect that the mergers will ultimately take place, health insurance executives, in the hopes of passing regulatory approval, are defending the mergers, arguing that it will eliminate inefficiency and unnecessary costs, while passing on savings to consumers in the form of more affordable benefits. Antitrust officials at the U.S. Justice Department are also reviewing the planned mergers.