Our History

[ 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000's ]

1940's

• HIP is founded as a group practice, pre-paid health plan providing low cost medical care to middle class workers through various medical centers with a limited product offering.

1950's

• HIP is one of the largest comprehensive health care companies on the east coast, with half a million members throughout the greater New York area.
• The New York Times hails HIP as a "model for the country."

1960's

• HIP sponsors groundbreaking medical research in heart disease and breast cancer
• HIP introduces cost-effective mental health services, health screening, wellness programs and health education.

1970's

• HIP creates standards for appointment availability and medical procedures, and introduces one of the first comprehensive physician peer review programs in the United States.
• HIP receives certification as a health maintenance organization under New York State law.

1980's

• HIP opens multi-specialty ambulatory care medical centers operated by its affiliated medical groups.
• HIP implements a Medicare+Choice HMO product.
• HIP begins to provide point of service products.

1990's

• HIP makes significant investments to build and modernize medical centers.
• HIP begins to supplement its provider network to include physicians in private practice in addition to the traditional medical groups.

2000's

2000

• HIP enters into global capitation arrangements with several large hospitals to provide medical services for these members.
• Crain's ranks HIP as the largest HMO in New York City based on membership.
• HIP earns a Commendable Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
• HIP Chairman and CEO Anthony Watson is named Chairman of the American Association of Health Plans.

2001

• HIP invests $61 million in information technology from 1998 to 2001. The investment enables HIP to complete a successful offsite recovery of the data center after the September 11th disaster.
• InformationWeek names HIP among nation's top 500 innovative users of technology.
• HIP acquires Vytra and its subsidiaries, based in Melville, New York, with a member base located principally in Long Island.

2002

• HIP Health Plan of New York's Web site is awarded the TRUSTe seal.
• The NCQA formally notifies HIP that its Commendable Accreditation has been retained.
• HIP Health Plans of New York is ranked No. 1 in InformationWeek's annual ranking of the top 500 United States companies in the use of innovative technology.

2003

• HIP renders its Web site in Korean, becoming the first health care company in the nation to render its Web site not only in English and Spanish, but also in Chinese and Korean.
• HIP launches HIPaccess I and HIPaccess II, non-referral HMO and POS products.
• HIP launched its first PPO/EPO products, HIP Prime PPO and HIP Prime EPO.
• As part of the Medicare Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, HIP implements a Medicare-approved prescription drug discount program exclusively for HIP Medicare members.
• HIP launched HIP Select PPO, HIP Select EPO and HIP Classic, the most affordable HMO in the New York Metropolitan area.

2004

• HIP celebrates the opening of its new corporate headquarters at 55 Waters Street in Lower Manhattan.

2005

• HIP acquires ConnectiCare and its subsidiaries, based in Farmington, Connecticut, with a member base located principally in Connecticut, but also in Massachusetts and New York.
• HIP earns IPRO's 2005 annual award for outstanding service to the health care community.
• HIP & GHI agree to affiliate to create the largest health insurer in New York State.

2006

• HIP acquires the PerfectHealth Insurance Company, a leader in providing high deductible health insurance policies in the New York market.
• HIP receives the American Business Awards' annual Stevie® award in the category of Best Support Team in the nation.
• The NCQA bestows a rating of Excellent upon HIP's Commercial HMO/POS products.
• HIP introduces the VIP Care Improvement plan, becoming the first to offer a specific health plan to address the growing epidemic of diabetes in the New York City area.
• HIP and GHI affiliate under the common control of EmblemHealth, Inc.

2007

• The NCQA awards a Quality Plus Distinction to HIP's Commercial HMO/POS Combined products in the category of Member Connections.