Women to Watch: Karen Ignagni

Karen Ignagni

President and CEO

America's Health Insurance Plans

Washington

Age: 52

Karen Ignagni began her career in health care issues in the 1970s as a research analyst at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and then the assistant director for a group lobbying for national health insurance. She also was a staff member on the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee. Prior to joining America's Health Insurance Plans--then known as the American Assn. of Health Plans--in 1993, Ms. Ignagni served as director of the employee benefits department of the AFL-CIO.

What would you change: "This is a vibrant and innovative industry with a fantastic story to tell. Our leaders in this industry have been so focused on performing for employers and consumers they haven't spent as much time on communicating what they are doing. They are changing the delivery system. It is important for our members to stand up straight and talk about that."