Karen Ignagni

Karen Ignagni serves as Chief Executive Officer of the EmblemHealth family of companies.

EmblemHealth has protected access to quality care for essential workers, small and large businesses, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries through its health plans, EmblemHealth and ConnectiCare for over 80 years. It has built a network of over 40 primary and specialty physician practices through AdvantageCare Physicians. EmblemHealth has also launched WellSpark, a national wellness company focused on bridging the gap between physical and mental wellness.

During her tenure as CEO and President, Ms. Ignagni has led an unprecedented modernization effort with a relentless focus on the customer experience. EmblemHealth’s growth and expansion of services has led to many accolades for her leadership in the health care industry, earning recognition by leading publications including The New York Times, City & State, Modern Healthcare, Crain’s, National Journal, Time magazine, and Fortune magazine.

In 2021, Ms. Ignagni was once again named one of City & State New York’s Labor Power 100 and City & State New York’s Health Power 100. In 2020, Ms. Ignagni was recognized for her work by several publications, including Crain’s New York Business’ Notable in Health Care leaders, City & State New York’s Health Power 100, Labor Power 100, and Women’s Power 100, and was named one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2020 Women to Watch in Health IT. In 2019, Ms. Ignagni was named one of Crain’s New York Business’ 50 Most Powerful Women in New York and was on the list of City & State New York’s Labor Power 100, The Responsible 100, and Women’s Power 100. She serves on the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls, the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) State Insurance Advisory Board, the DFS State Insurance Women's Leadership Committee, and the New York State Department of Health’s Marketplace Advisory Committee. In 2018, she was named one of Crain’s New York Business’ Notable Women in Health Care, named one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s Female Health IT Leaders to Know, and was on the list of City & State New York’s Women’s Power 100. From 2017 – 2019, Ms. Ignagni served as Chair of Columbia University’s National Board of Advisors for Health Policy and Management at the Mailman School of Public Health. From 2016 – November 2019, she served on the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs Special Medical Advisory Committee.

Prior to joining EmblemHealth in 2015, Ms. Ignagni was President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the insurance industry association that represents providers of health and supplemental benefits to more than 200 million Americans. Under her leadership, AHIP became the leading voice for the health plan community.

Ms. Ignagni also directed the AFL-CIO’s Department of Employee Benefits. She was a Professional Staff Member on the U.S. Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee and worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Ms. Ignagni resides in New York City with her husband.