Title: Karen Hanlon
Earlier title: Chief working officer, Highmark Well being
New title: President and chief working officer, Highmark Well being
Karen Hanlon, president and COO of Highmark Well being
Courtesy of Highmark Well being
Hanlon will take the place of president efficient instantly, the Pittsburgh-based firm stated Wednesday. As president, Hanlon will report back to CEO of Highmark Well being and board chairman of Highmark Inc., David Holmberg, in response to the corporate’s information launch.
Hanlon will proceed to function Highmark Well being’s COO, a task she has held since 2018. She can be chargeable for overseeing operations throughout the insurance coverage arm, Highmark Inc., Highmark Well being’s well being expertise division, enGen, and Highmark Well being’s well being system, Allegheny Well being Community.
These operations embody an insurance coverage enterprise that gives protection for 7.1 million members in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware and New York, in addition to dental insurance coverage, and a well being community that spans 14 hospitals and extra care websites.
Hanlon has intensive expertise with Highmark’s mannequin. She joined the corporate in 1997 and has held a number of management roles, together with serving as chief monetary officer.
Hanlon’s expertise overseeing Highmark’s Dwelling Well being technique is especially salient as the corporate seems to be to the longer term, in response to Wednesday’s information launch. This system is meant to determine merchandise, options and providers that may enhance members’ well being and cut back total prices.
Like many insurers, Highmark Well being has been grappling with larger than anticipated utilization this yr. Whereas Highmark Well being nonetheless improved its working efficiency within the first half of 2025 relative to the yr prior, the corporate stated the unanticipated surge in utilization suppressed its working earnings.
Holmberg stated on LinkedIn final month that he expects challenges associated to excessive utilization to proceed — including urgency to price containment initiatives, together with Dwelling Well being.
