MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Madison-based WPS Health Insurance reports it is going to eliminate about 600 jobs.

The company says employees will start getting notices this month.

An estimated 250 of the jobs will be lost at the WPS office in Wausau, a city where three other major businesses closed recently, putting about 1,000 people out of work.

An e-mail was recently sent to WPS workers. The company’s CEO says WPS lost a contract with TriWest Healthcare Alliance of Phoenix which would have had it providing services to people receiving Medicare in 21 states.