Former Louisiana governor and staunch Medicaid expansion opponent Bobby Jindal is joining WellCare's board of directors, the company announced Monday.
It’s an interesting appointment given Jindal’s long history advocating against government-run health coverage. Medicaid plans make up the majority of WellCare’s business, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the company’s premium revenue.
The insurer just finalized a $2.5 billion acquisition of Meridian Health Plan earlier this month that would add 1.1 million new Medicaid members in Michigan and Illinois, along with 6,000 Affordable Care Act exchange members.
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According to WellCare's Chairman of the Board Chris Michalik, Jindal was selected for “his broad knowledge and expertise in Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and other government-sponsored programs.” Jindal was also appointed to the appointed to the board’s Audit, Finance and Regulatory Compliance Committee and the Information Technology Oversight Committee.
“WellCare has a long-standing mission to serve and helps millions of families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical needs live better, healthier lives,” Jindal said in a statement. “I look forward to joining WellCare's board of directors to advance its mission, while working with the company's dynamic leadership team and sharing my experience, insights and advice with this rapidly-growing company.”
Jindal, who served as Louisiana’s governor between 2008 and 2016, spent his two terms resisting Medicaid expansion during a time when states were taking advantage of federal funding through the ACA to expand their programs. While he advocated for “universal access,” he opposed government-run plans.
Current Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, issued an executive order on his second day in office to expand the program.
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In a 2013 column for The Times-Picayune Jindal argued states “should not move people from private insurance onto government-run programs.” In 2017, after he left office, he wrote in Politico that the ACA should be repealed “sooner rather than later,” lamenting that “millions of able-bodied Americans” are now dependent on government subsidies.
“Insurance companies increasingly resemble regulated utilities, offering only the veneer of private sector choice and competition, while federal bureaucrats dictate product design and pricing,” he wrote.
Jindal will receive company shares and annual base retainer of $90,000 as part of his appointment, plus an additional $28,000 for his committee appointments.