Harvard Pilgrim and Tufts Health to Merge

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, with NH headquarters in Manchester, and Tufts Health Plan, with NH headquarters in Concord, are merging their nonprofit organizations, pending local and federal regulatory approval. The new organization, yet to be named, will become one of the region’s largest nonprofit health services organizations, rivaling in size Anthem Blue Cross.

The new organization will serve close to 2.4 million members in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, NH and Rhode Island, offering employer-sponsored plans; Medicare and Medicaid plans; Qualified Health Plans; and plans for those who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. 

Tom Croswell, president and CEO of Tufts Health Plan, will serve as CEO of the new organization. Michael Carson, who serves as president and CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, will serve as president and oversee the organization’s diverse business lines and subsidiaries.

The board of directors will comprise equal representation from both organizations and will be chaired by Joyce Murphy, who currently serves as chair of the board for Harvard Pilgrim.  

“Through the combination of two strong organizations with a commitment to non-profit health care in New England, we will be able to provide even greater value to consumers, as well as improve access to care throughout the region,” says Murphy.

“Building upon our collective synergies and strengths – which includes being among the top-rated health plans in the country for quality – will unlock value that can be immediately reinvested in our members and the communities we have the privilege of serving,” said Greg Tranter, board chair of Tufts Health Plan. “I am excited about the future.”

“Our communities and consumers today face four major hurdles in health care: affordability, access, quality of health and a fragmented health care experience across various stakeholders and health systems. Through our shared vision, we believe we can tackle these issues and bring more value to the communities we serve,” said Croswell.

According to the statement, the new organization will harness the combined strengths of the respective organizations by:

• Improving affordability
• Increasing access through geographic reach and product diversity
• Improving quality of health through enhanced capabilities for population health and clinical engagement
• Streamlining their customers' experience through investment in innovative tools and capabilities

Philanthropy, community engagement and corporate citizenship will remain a priority for the new organization - both Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care have supported the communities they serve. In 2018 alone, combined giving for the two organizations’ was more than $9 million.

The agreement, which was unanimously approved by both boards, is subject to multiple local and federal regulatory approvals during which time the organizations remain independent companies.