UnitedHealth Group named a new lead to its $200 billion insurer, UnitedHealthcare, on Wednesday.
The Minnetonka, Minn.-based health giant announced that Brian Thompson will lead the nation's largest insurer, which covers 48.4 million members. Thompson has been with the company since 2004 and most recently served as UnitedHealthcare's lead for government programs including Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and ACA business.
Thompson replaces Dirk McMahon in the post, who will continue to serve as chief operating officer of UnitedHealth Group. McMahon had been working in both roles since February when former UnitedHealth Group CEO David Wichmann abruptly announced he was retiring. Andrew Witty took the helm of UnitedHealth Group.
"Brian's experience, relationships and values make him especially well-suited to help UnitedHealthcare improve how healthcare works for consumers, physicians, employers, governments and our other partners, leading to continued and sustained long-term growth," Witty said in a statement.
UnitedHealth Group declined to comment on Thompson's compensation for the new role.
In March, Thompson told Modern Healthcare that growing the insurer's Medicare Advantage business would be a focus for the company this year, continuing its expansion from 2020. Last year, UnitedHealthcare added 826,000 new Advantage enrollees, the most out of any insurer nationwide, according to a report from The Chartis Group. Twenty-seven percent of all Advantage beneficiaries are now enrolled in a United plan, the report said.
During UnitedHealthcare's most recent fourth-quarter earnings call, the company said it had 5.7 million Advantage members, and planned to add 900,000 in 2021.
