California Association of Health Plans

What California Association of Health Plans does

California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) is a Sacramento-based nonprofit statewide trade association founded in 1986 that represents 41 public and private health plans providing coverage to nearly 28 million Californians. The association functions as the unified voice for California health plans before the State Legislature, the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Covered California, and federal CMS, and provides regulatory representation, legislative advocacy, media support, and public-facing campaigns such as Your Plan Your Advocate, RunawayRx, and the Medi-Cal Managed Care Initiative.

CAHP's product and service portfolio is built around four membership tiers (Health Plan, Health Group, Associate, and Partner), each providing tiered benefits including committee participation, regulatory updates, directory listings, and event discounts. The association delivers industry intelligence through its daily Media Clips service, weekly CEO Update newsletter, Bill Tracker legislative tool, and Annual Membership Directory. Educational programming centers on a 1,000+ attendee Annual Conference (40th edition scheduled for October 19-21, 2026 at JW Marriott Desert Springs), a seminar series attracting 60-311 attendees per session, Political Action Committee events, and an annual Golf Tournament.

Revenue is generated from membership dues across the four tiers, Annual Conference and seminar registration fees (non-member Annual Conference registration is approximately $1,050 per attendee), and multi-tier event sponsorships (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze). The association employs 11-50 staff and is led by President & CEO Charles Bacchi, who has held leadership roles at CAHP for approximately 20 years. Recent activity in 2025-2026 includes expanded executive hiring, active lobbying on the MCO Tax restructuring (SB 125) and biosimilars legislation (SB 1094), and opposition to the Governor's 2026-27 State Budget commercial health coverage tax increase.

Name

California Association of Health Plans

Legal name

California Association of Health Plans

Website

https://calhealthplans.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

California Association of Health Plans is a Sacramento-based nonprofit statewide trade association founded in 1986 that advocates on behalf of 41 health plans providing coverage to nearly 28 million Californians before state and federal policymakers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health Policy, Planning & Governance (BPAIAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

On-Exchange Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) (HLAEABAA)

Keywords

• Health plan advocacy
• Trade association services
• Legislative representation
• Healthcare policy advocacy
• Regulatory affairs support

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

CAHP is a statewide trade association representing 41 public and private health care plans that collectively cover nearly 28 million Californians. Its core offering is membership-based advocacy, regulatory representation, and industry intelligence delivered through four membership tiers (Health Plan, Health Group, Associate, and Partner) and complemented by an Annual Conference, seminar series, daily/weekly publications, a legislative Bill Tracker, PAC events, and public advocacy campaigns.

Product overview

The California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) is a statewide trade association representing public and private health care plans, not a product company in the traditional sense. CAHP's membership-based services include advocacy representation before California state policymakers, legislative tracking via the Bill Tracker tool, industry publications (CAHP Media Clips daily news service and CAHP CEO Update weekly newsletter), and the Annual Membership Directory. CAHP organizes professional development events including the Annual Conference (over 1,000 attendees in 2026), CAHP Seminar Series (one-day technical seminars with 60-311 attendees), and Political Action Committee events for networking and advocacy support. The association also runs public advocacy campaigns including Your Plan Your Advocate (health care affordability advocacy), RunawayRx (prescription drug pricing awareness), and Medi-Cal Managed Care education. CAHP offers four membership categories: Health Plan Members (full-service licensed plans), Health Group Members (non full-service licensed plans), Associate Members (health care industry product/service providers), and Partner Members (healthcare law firms).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Health Plan Membership Annual membership for full-service Knox-Keen licensed California health care service plans. Provides legislative advocacy representation before the California State Legislature and DMHC/DHCS, participation in weekly lobbyist meetings and quarterly committee meetings, CAHP Media Clips daily news service, weekly CAHP CEO Update, listing on the CAHP website and Membership Directory, and media support.
• Health Group Membership Annual membership for non full-service licensed health plans (e.g., dental, vision, specialty networks) with pending full license. Provides OPA workgroup updates, industry message points, quick response alerts, member rates for Seminars and Annual Conference, and listing on CAHP website and Membership Directory.
• Associate Membership Annual membership for companies providing products or services to the healthcare industry. Includes one complimentary Annual Conference registration ($1,050 value), member rates for all employees at Annual Conference ($200 value per attendee), member-only discounts on sponsorship and advertising, Associate Member Spotlight recognition, CAHP website listing, and member rates for seminars ($200 value per seminar per employee).
• Partner Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• CAHP sponsored SB 1094 (biosimilars bill) passed California Senate 36-0, estimated to reduce prescription drug costs by $88 million annually
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Your Plan Your Advocate CampaigncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic-facing advocacy campaign (yourplanyouradvocate.com) that highlights how health plans are working to provide Californians with affordable access to quality healthcare. Acts as the consumer/public-facing counterpart to CAHP's internal policy advocacy.
• RunawayRx ProjectcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic education initiative (runawayrx.org) focused on raising awareness about rising prescription drug pricing and its impact on healthcare affordability for Californians. Part of CAHP's broader policy advocacy and public education mission.
• Medi-Cal Managed Care InitiativecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational initiative (medi-calmanagedcare.org) informing about how California's Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans serve as a lifeline for millions of Californians and the urgent need to protect vital services. Supports CAHP member health plans that participate in Medi-Cal.
• California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAHP actively participates in California's Data Exchange Framework (DxF), a statewide data sharing agreement facilitated by CalHHS to connect and expand secure exchange of health and social services information. Health plans are required signatories to the DxF Data Sharing Agreement.
• KinetikminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare transportation company co-hosting webinar 'State of NEMT 2026: The Future of Healthcare Transportation' on July 8, 2026, featured on CAHP's Industry Events page.
• CureIS HealthcareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare technology company co-hosting webinar 'The Reconciliation Trap: Why Healthcare Finance Teams Can't Trust Their Numbers in 2026' on July 9, 2026, featured on CAHP's Industry Events page.
• Charta HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare consulting firm co-hosting webinar 'Building a high-performing RADV program' on July 23, 2026, featured on CAHP's Industry Events page.
• CAQH (Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare)minorOthersCAHP links to CAQH as a resource. CAQH is a national professional society dedicated to the concept and practice of healthcare administrative efficiency.
• America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)minorOthersCAHP links to AHIP as a resource association. AHIP is the nation's principal association of health plans, representing more than 1,000 plans that provide care for more than 140 million Americans nationwide.
• California Hospital AssociationmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAHP links to California Hospital Association which represents nearly 500 hospital and health system members. CAHP and CHA have shared interests in healthcare policy and have co-authored fact sheets on hospital cost growth (e.g., University of Chicago study on California hospital costs).
• Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies (ACLHIC)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAHP co-published fact sheets with ACLHIC, including one highlighting a University of Chicago study finding that California hospital cost growth may jeopardize state affordability efforts.
• California Health Care FoundationminorOthersCAHP links to California Health Care Foundation as a research resource. CHCF works to expand access to affordable, quality healthcare for underserved communities in California.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Association: National association coordinating 34 BCBS plans, several of which (e.g., Blue Shield of California, Anthem Blue Cross) are CAHP members. Operates at broader national scale with overlapping health plan advocacy and brand stewardship functions.

Direct peers

• California Hospital Association (CHA): Sister California state trade association representing ~500 hospitals/health systems. Co-advocates with CAHP on California healthcare cost policy and shares the same Sacramento-based advocacy model.
• America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP): The national trade association for health insurers, representing 1,000+ plans covering 140M+ Americans. Closely parallels CAHP's mission at the federal level, making it the most direct functional peer.
• Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies (ACLHIC): California-based trade association for life and health insurance companies that co-publishes fact sheets with CAHP on hospital cost growth. Closely overlapping membership and policy remit within the same state.

Emerging players

• California Medical Association (CMA): Statewide professional association representing California physicians. Engages CAHP's member plans on the same Sacramento policy fights (rate regulation, scope of practice), making it a counterpart advocacy organization rather than a direct competitor.
• America's Physician Groups (APG): National trade association for physician groups practicing capitated, coordinated care. Works with many of the same health plan partners CAHP represents and operates a similar advocacy/event-based member services model.

Others

• California Chamber of Commerce: Broad California business advocacy organization that, while not health-plan-specific, competes for the same Sacramento advocacy mindshare and offers overlapping services on healthcare policy and employer health benefits.
• Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH): National nonprofit alliance focused on healthcare administrative efficiency, linked from CAHP's resource pages. Operates adjacent to CAHP's mission by addressing administrative simplification that benefits CAHP's plan members.
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC): Regulatory body of U.S. state insurance regulators including California. Not a peer association, but a key counterpart institution whose DMHC interface drives much of CAHP's regulatory advocacy workload.
• Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA): National trade association for pharmaceutical manufacturers, whose members (e.g., Genentech, Bayer — also CAHP associate members) sit on the other side of prescription drug pricing fights that CAHP's RunawayRx campaign engages.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/calhealthplans
• Facebookfacebook.com/California-Association-of-Health-Plans-361556543904993
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ca-association-of-health-plans
• Instagraminstagram.com/calhealthplans

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Association of Health Plans