California HHS Secretary Kim Johnson Named Covered California Board Chair

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Covered California welcomed Sec. Kim Johnson as its new board chair on Thursday.

Secretary Johnson was appointed to lead the California Health and Human Services Agency by Gov. Newsom in September. In her previous post, she served as director of the California Department of Social Services.

"We are thrilled to have Secretary Johnson's leadership and vision guiding Covered California through the next era of the Affordable Care Act," Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman said. "She is someone who understands California's values and the importance of providing affordable health care to all Californians."

Replacing Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary Johnson brings over 25 years of experience working in both community-based organizations and government focused on advancing the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities most in need of resources.

"Covered California's mission of providing health care access to Californians aligns with my purpose," Secretary Johnson said. "We will continue to maximize the Affordable Care Act in California and keep striving to provide high-quality and equitable health care to Californians."

Secretary Johnson graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a bachelor's degree in Social Welfare.

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She began her public service career in Solano County, and she also administered a statewide mentoring program at City College of San Francisco and served as policy director at the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network. Sec. Johnson started with the California Department of Social Services in 2015 and had previously been appointed by former Gov. Jerry Brown to serve as deputy director of the agency's Family Engagement and Empowerment Division, the branch chief of CalWORKs and Child Care, and the Child Care and Refugee Programs branch chief. As the director of the California Department of Social Services, Secretary Johnson led a team of over 5,500 employees and served over 7 million Californians.

There is no compensation for the board chair position, but Secretary Johnson may receive a per diem and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses.

About Covered California

Covered California is the state's health insurance marketplace, where Californians can find affordable, high-quality insurance from top insurance companies. Covered California is the only place where individuals who qualify can get financial assistance on a sliding scale to reduce premium costs. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Depending on their income, some consumers may qualify for the low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal program.

Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the health insurance marketplace work for California's consumers. It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the governor and the Legislature. For more information about Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.