Company officials said Monday they are not pursuing a merger with rival Humana, causing Cigna's stock to rise in the markets.

The health insurer Cigna Group snatched away a lifeline from Humana on Monday morning, telling investors it has no intention of buying its flailing competitor.A potential tie-up between Humana and Cigna had been the great will they/won’t they story line in the healthcare sector over the past year.