Los Angeles — L.A. Care Health Plan today announced that this month marks its 20th anniversary. Adding to the celebration, the anniversary coincides with another milestone: L.A. Care has reached its two millionth Medi-Cal member. Founded in 1997 as part of California’s two-plan model of Medi-Cal managed care, L.A. Care has been dedicated to improving the lives of individuals, families and communities in Los Angeles County by providing access to affordable, quality health care coverage.

“Achieving this milestone is nothing short of remarkable. Serving the county’s most vulnerable populations for the last 20 years would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of our board and employees. It has been an incredible journey of growth,” said L.A. Care CEO John Baackes. “While the organization has grown significantly, our commitment to our mission and values has remained the same. We are proud to celebrate this occasion with our members, health care providers and community partners.”

Over the past 20 years, L.A. Care has grown from a 100-person organization serving more than 200,000 Medi-Cal recipients to becoming the nation’s largest publicly-operated health plan serving more than two million members and employing nearly 2,000 full-time employees. 

Fast Facts

• L.A. Care insures 1 of every 5 residents in Los Angeles County
• L.A. Care is the largest health insurer in Los Angeles County based on enrollment
• L.A. Care is the largest health plan of its kind in the nation
• L.A. Care is the only public plan available in the Covered California exchange
• L.A. Care has awarded more than $160 million in grants to strengthen community health 

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, L.A. Care will host a series of community events at its Family Resource Centers – including the newest center that is slated to open in the Antelope Valley this summer. 

About L.A. Care Health Plan

L.A. Care Health Plan is a public entity and community-accountable health plan serving residents of Los Angeles County through a variety of health coverage programs including L.A. Care Covered™,  Medi-Cal, L.A. Care Cal MediConnect Plan and PASC-SEIU Homecare Workers Health Care Plan. L.A. Care is a leader in developing new programs through innovative partnerships designed to provide health coverage to vulnerable populations and to support the safety net. With more than 2 million members, L.A. Care is the nation’s largest publicly operated health plan.

Media Contact:
Hector Andrade 
213.694.1250 x 5950
213.703.5743 | Mobile
handrade@lacare.org