100 Most Influential People in Healthcare - 2023

Kao, who founded the tech-enabled health insurance startup in 2013, has overseen its growth to offer 40 plans that serve 52 counties across six states. Alignment, a leader in the emerging trend of tailoring Medicare Advantage plans for specific populations, offers plans targeted to the Asian American and Hispanic communities. The company recently signed an agreement with Walgreens Boots Alliance to jointly market $0 premium co-branded MA plans in some counties in Arizona, California, Florida and Texas for 2024. Alignment also teamed with Instacart, the delivery service, to jointly market Medicare Advantage policies in 13 California and Nevada counties next year, targeting social factors such as food insecurity and lack of transportation. Kao previously served as president of CareMore Medical Enterprises until it was acquired by Wellpoint in 2011.