INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. And BLOOMFIELD, Conn.—While the full impact of Anthem, Inc.’s (NYSE: ANTM) planned acquisition of Cigna Corp. (NYSE: CI) (reported Friday, July 24, 2015) won’t be clear until after its closing, which is expected during the second half of 2016, it will surely have a major impact on managed vision care. With Cigna providing vision coverage to millions of its members along with Anthem’s 5.2 million vision members, the combined mega-company will have a strong influence on both companies’ millions of vision members and eyecare and eyewear providers.

Currently, Anthem has partnerships with a number of different managed vision care companies in the Medicare, Medicaid and Commercial business space, as well as in the different states in which the company operates. “VSP is the third-party administrator for the Cigna Vision Plan,” according to a VSP spokesperson, “and Cigna has reinforced with us that their commitment to strategic partners remains unchanged.” With the companies reporting in their external communications regarding the merger that “our commitment to our strategic partners remains unchanged,” these relationships are not expected to immediately change as a result of the acquisition.

Overall, the deal, valued at an estimated $54.2 billion, would create a partnership between the $731.4 billion health and medical insurance industry’s second and fifth largest companies. Anthem is one of the largest managed care companies in the U.S., serving 37.5 million members through its affiliated health plans. Cigna, the smallest of the big five health care insurance companies, has 14.5 million global medical customers.

On a combined basis, both companies added 2.2 million members in 2014 and another 1.2 million through the first quarter of 2015. The combined company will serve nearly 53 million members across the commercial and government segments, which represents roughly 17 percent of the U.S. population, and it will generate over $115 billion in annual revenues.

The acquisition will give Anthem access to Cigna’s Medicare and Medicaid business, which generated $5.7 billion and $515.0 million, respectively, in 2014.

Industry observers predict that the deal will likely trigger further consolidation throughout the industry. While competition levels vary by state, a single insurer already accounts for at least half of the market in 26 states for the small group market and in 30 states for the individual market.