WellPoint to Buy Chicago Health Benefits Company

WellPoint Health Networks in Thousand Oaks has agreed to buy Rush Prudential Health Plans for about $200 million.

Rush Prudential, owned by Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center and Prudential Insurance Co. of America, is one of Chicago’s biggest health-benefits companies.

WellPoint, which already has more than 283,000 medical customers in Illinois, said the state represents a growth market for the company. Rush Prudential employs 805 people and had 302,775 medical plan members as of Sept. 30, the company said. The purchase also will allow WellPoint to offer more benefits to clients in the state. The transaction needs regulatory approval and is expected to close in the first quarter.