Covered California Names New CEO – HealthLeaders Media

Jessica Altman’s tenure will begin in early March after the planned departure of Peter V. Lee, Covered California’s founding executive director.

Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman has been named CEO of Covered California, the board of directors at the state’s health insurance marketplace has announced.

A former Obama administration official who helped launch the marketplaces created under the Affordable Care Act, Altman’s tenure will begin in early March after the planned departure of Peter V. Lee, Covered California’s founding executive director, who has led the organization since its inception more than a decade ago.

“I could not be more honored to accept the position as Covered California’s next CEO,” Altman said in a media release.

“Under Peter’s leadership, Covered California became a national model for the Affordable Care Act always putting consumers first and maximizing the role of the marketplace to transform healthcare.”

Covered California boasts a record-high 1.8 million enrollees, thanks in part to the implementation of the American Rescue Plan, and record-low rate changes averaging just over 1% over the past three years. 

Mark Ghaly, MD, Covered California’s board chair and California Health and Human Services secretary, lauded Lee’s “vision, passion and leadership” during his tenure.

“That work has improved the lives of millions of Californians and meant that Covered California has served as a national proving ground,” Ghaly said, addint that Altman is “an impressive leader with significant experience with the Affordable Care Act, marketplaces and fighting for consumers.”

As Pennsylvania’s insurance commissioner, Altman led the transition to “Pennie,” the nation’s fifth-largest state marketplace, which began offering coverage in 2021. Before Pennie, the state offered coverage through the federal marketplace.

John Commins is a content specialist and online news editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.