Anthem Inc. is pushing for a speedy decision on the government’sbid to block the health insurer’s planned $48 billion merger withrival Cigna Corp. The government doesn’t want that, and onWednesday its lawyers told a federal judge the case is too complexto rush a ruling.

Related: Big insurers likely to look to othermergers

Justice Department lawyers told U.S. District Judge John D.Bates in Washington that the antitrust case they filed last week isfar more complicated than a coal company lawsuit that Anthemattorneys cited on Monday as an example of what could be done.

Anthem’s attorneys asked the judge to consider scheduling atrial in only 88 days with a decision on the government’s bid foran injunction coming within 35 days of its conclusion.

Related: Aetna and Anthem respond to DOJsuit

“This case challenges the largest merger ever proposed in thehealth care industry,” requiring more pre-trial time than Anthem’ssuggested schedule would allow, the government said in court papersfiled Thursday. Citing the companies’ targeted April 30 deadline tocomplete the deal, the government’s attorneys said, “They are freeto extend it.”

The U.S. sued to stop the Anthem-Cigna combinationas well as Aetna Inc.’s $37 billion bid for Humana Inc., sayingthose deals would reduce the number of major American healthinsurance companies from five to three, resulting in increasedcosts and reduced competition.

Related: Cigna to expand into more ACAmarketplaces

Anthem, the only company which has filed an answer to thoseallegations, contends its merger would extend coverage to morepeople and boost consumer access to insurance exchanges createdunder the Affordable Care Act.

The cases are U.S. v. Anthem Inc., 16-cv-1493, and U.S. v. AetnaInc., 16-cv-1494, .S. District Court, District of Columbia(Washington).

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