From “Hey, Macarena” to Adele: WHA’s First 20 Years

1996: Bill Clinton was president; "Macarena" by Los Del Rio topped the charts; the first flip phone (the Motorola StarTAC) went on sale; and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at over 6,000 for the first time.

1996 was also the year Western Health Advantage got started. Fast forward 20 years and WHA marked our 20th anniversary. Among the 250 or so employees at WHA are a half dozen who have been with WHA since the beginning – and I’m one of them!

This past December we thanked the employees, brokers and clients who helped us reach this milestone. Old photos were passed around – we were younger, and most of us were thinner and had more hair back then (sigh) – as we shared a few laughs and reminisced.

WHA was founded in 1996 by top Sacramento doctors and health care providers affiliated with UC Davis Health, Mercy Healthcare Sacramento, and NorthBay Healthcare System. In the beginning, our non-profit offered employer group coverage only. Today, we have coverage options for both businesses and individuals and their families.

WHA’s footprint has expanded since 1996 too. From origins in the Sacramento/Solano region to an expanded Northern California coverage area, WHA coverage areas now include the NorthBay area counties of Napa, Sonoma and Marin. During our first 20 years we navigated many changes in how health coverage is provided in our state, including most recently adapting to the Affordable Care Act and Covered California.

WHA’s steady growth over the past two decades has allowed WHA to give back by funding organizations that enrich our community, such as WEAVE, the Crocker Art Museum, the B Street Theatre, and a variety of cultural and community events as well as health and human services organizations.

Today WHA remains committed to supporting the community organizations that make this region such a great place in which to live with our neighbors and friends. I’m proud that WHA has become a trusted voice in our region.

WHA has been in the business of reform for the past 20 years with a model that emphasizes value, quality, service and expanding access to care. We’ll look to our roots – why we were founded, and why we’ve been successful – as we navigate upcoming changes in our health care system.

WHA will continue to provide good health coverage for local businesses and individuals in our community. WHA brings an advantage to our community that will continue to grow.

Garry Maisel is President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Health Advantage. Follow Garry on LinkedIn, and follow the Western Health Advantage page to stay up to date on health care changes.