search


AMERIGROUP History At-A-Glance

In 1994, AMERIGROUP was founded to respond to the growing need for private-sector partners in states managing healthcare programs for lower-income families and people with disabilities. Since its inception, AMERIGROUP has been a proven leader in meeting the states’ objectives of providing accountability and improving access to healthcare while still controlling care costs. Today, AMERIGROUP is the largest publicly-traded company focused exclusively on meeting the needs of those enrolled in publicly-funded healthcare programs such as Medicaid and Medicare.

1994

  • Company founded under the name AMERICAID Community Care.

1995

  • Develops health-care systems.
  • Begins applications process.

1996

  • Launches Fort Worth, Texas Health Plan.
  • Launches Chicago, Illinois Health Plan.
  • Launches New Jersey Health Plan.

1997

  • Company name changes to AMERIGROUP Corporation.
  • Launches Houston, Texas Health Plan.

1998

  • Membership breaks 100,000.
  • Acquires Oxford Health Plan's NJ Medicaid business.

1999

  • Membership breaks 250,000.
  • New Service Center opens in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
  • Wins National Health Information Award of Merit for audio Health Tips on Hold and Member Newsletter.
  • Acquires Prudential HealthCare's DC Medicaid business.
  • Dallas Health Plan opens.
  • Acquires Prudential HealthCare's MD Medicaid business.
  • Founder Jeffrey L. McWaters awarded Virginia Entrepreneur of the Year.

2000

  • Membership exceeds 330,000.
  • Opens new Technology Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
  • National Associates exceed 1,000.
  • Receives the National Health Information Award of Merit for children's educational activity sheets.
  • Launches AMERIKIDS healthcare product in Dallas and Houston.
  • Launches SSI healthcare product in New Jersey.

2001

  • Completes initial public offering and is listed on the NASDAQ Exchange under the symbol AMGP.
  • Receives the Silver National Health Information Award for Women's Healthy Connections 2000+.
  • Acquires Humana Health Plan of Texas' Houston Medicaid business.
  • Prime Health Corporation's MD Medicaid business is transferred.
  • Receives the Urban League of Hampton Roads, Virginia, Whitney M. Young Corporate Diversity Award.

2002

  • Acquires MethodistCare's Houston, TX Medicaid business.
  • Acquires Capital Community Health Plan's Medicaid line of business in D.C.

2003

  • Acquires Physicians Healthcare Plans, Inc., adding 190,000 members.
  • Listed on the New York Stock Exchange trading under the symbol AGP.
  • Completes acquisition of the Medicaid line of business in Florida known as St. Augustine Medicaid, a Division of AvMed, Inc., adding 28,000 members.
  • Completes additional public offering of common stock.
  • Achieves three-year accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Care for AMERIGROUP Florida.

2004

  • Achieves overall rate increases on a company-wide weighted average of five percent.
  • Celebrates its first decade and opens new 106,000-square-foot National Support Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
  • Announces its first stock split, a two-for-one distribution, effective early in 2005.
  • Announces acquisition of CarePlus Health Plan in New York City, boosting membership to over a million, effective January 1, 2005.

2005

  • Membership exceeds 1 million.
  • Completes acquisition of New York's CarePlus Health Plan, January 1, 2005, adding approximately 115,000 members.
  • Named one of "America's Best Managed Companies" by Forbes Magazine in its annual survey of the country's most successful businesses.
  • Submits Medicare Special Needs Plan application to serve Houston dual eligibles beginning in 2006.
  • Opens two new offices - Boca Raton and Miami Lakes.
  • Expands services in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin and adds new service areas in Corpus Christi and El Paso.
  • Wins bids in four of six Georgia regions.
  • Begins operations in Northern Virginia.
  • Expands services in the Cincinnati area.

2006

  • Begins operations in Georgia.
  • Selected to provide healthcare coverage to low-income and medically vulnerable Ohio residents who are aged, blind and disabled in the state’s southwest region.
  • Chosen to offer healthcare coverage to low-income Ohio residents in Cincinnati, Dayton and 16 surrounding counties.
  • Wins federal approval to manage health care for members in Houston, Texas, who are enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare.

2007

  • Passes the 1.5-million mark in members.
  • Begins operations in Tennessee, where its subsidiary enrolls 170,000 members.
  • Accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and awarded Commendable status, certifying that its District of Columbia health plan offers high-quality services to its 40,000 members.
  • Formation of AMERIGROUP's National Advisory Board for consultation and collaboration in serving seniors and people with disabilities.
  • Expands its SSI healthcare product to San Antonio and Austin, Texas, and Cincinnati, Ohio.
  • Wins federal approval to manage healthcare for members in the Baltimore, Maryland area who are enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare.
  • James G. Carlson becomes the second Chief Executive Officer in AMERIGROUP's 13-year history.
  • Acquires TLC Family Care Health Plan in Memphis, Tennessee.

2008

  • Awarded New Health Plan Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for the Georgia health plan.
  • Awarded New Health Plan Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for AMERIGROUP's Virginia health plan.
  • James G. Carlson is elected Chairman of the Board of Directors for AMERIGROUP.
  • Successfully completes competitive bidding process to expand coverage in the Florida Healthy Kids Program through the company's Florida subsidiary.
  • Begins operations in New Mexico, serving members in New Mexico's Coordination of Long Term Services (CoLTS) program for Medicaid, as well as offering a Medicare Advantage plan for those eligible for Medicare only and a Medicare Advantage plan for those eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.