Biography of Karen Ignagni

AHIP was formed in late 2003 as a result of a merger between the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP) and Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA).  Ms. Ignagni led AAHP and, since joining the organization in 1993, she has won many accolades for her leadership.  

Washingtonian Magazine named her one of the Top Three "Top Guns" of all trade association heads.  George Magazine placed her 21st on a list of the 50 Most Powerful People in Politics. 

"In a city teaming with health care lobbyists, Ms. Ignagni is widely considered one of the most effective.  She blends a detailed knowledge of health policy with an intuitive feel for politics," wrote the New York Times in 1999.  Fortune described the political program Ms. Ignagni spearheaded at AAHP as "worthy of a presidential election bid." 

In 2004, the Hill Newspaper listed Ms. Ignagni among Washington's most effective lobbyists.  Last year, Modern Healthcare named her the seventh most powerful person in all of health care. Ms. Ignagni regularly testifies before Congress on key federal legislation. 

In recent years, she has appeared before Senate and House committees on matters ranging from health plans' role in homeland security to Medicare reform to patient protection issues.   Ms. Ignagni has authored more than 90 articles on a wide range of health care policy issues, including pieces published in The New York Times, USA Today, New York Daily News, The Washington Times, Institutional Investor, New England Journal of Medicine, Health Affairs, Modern Healthcare and Physician's Weekly. 

A recognized industry spokesperson, Ms. Ignagni appeared on the national network newscasts on ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX.  Ms. Ignagni has also shared her insights on leading cable shows such as CNN's Inside Politics, MSNBC's Hardball, C-SPAN's Washington Journal, and CNBC's Power Lunch and Capital Report.  

Prior to joining AAHP in 1993, Ms. Ignagni directed the AFL-CIO's Department of Employee Benefits.  In the 1980s, she was a Professional Staff Member on the U.S. Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, preceded by work at the Committee for National Health Insurance and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Ms. Ignagni has authored more than 90 articles on a wide range of health care policy issues, including pieces published in The New York Times, USA Today, New York Daily News, The Washington Times, Institutional Investor, New England Journal of Medicine, Health Affairs, Modern Healthcare and Physician's Weekly.