David Oliker, a long-time health insurance executive who has led MVP Health Care Inc. for 30 years, is retiring from the company in early 2013.
In 2006, MVP Health Care, based in Schenectady, merged with Preferred Care, long the Rochester area’s second-largest health insurer after Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. MVP has more than 650,000 members in upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.
Oliker has been chief executive of MVP since the company’s founding in 1982.
The company provided no firm date for Oliker’s leaving, which he announced at an MVP board of directors’ meeting Monday night, other than to say it will occur early in 2013.
Denise Gonick, the company’s chief legal officer and an executive vice president, has been promoted to president of operations and chair of the transition, the company announced Wednesday.
The company will initiate an “extensive” search for a permanent successor, spokesman Sean Casey said.
“While it is time for me to shift my day-to-day focus, my passion for health care is still strong,” Oliker said. “I look forward to staying involved and contributing to the public debate.”
Oliker’s announcement triggered praise for his years of service.
“Without David Oliker, MVP wouldn’t be what it is today,” said Dr. Richard D’Ascoli, chair of the MVP board of directors. “His vision and leadership took this company from its inception to a leading, innovative health insurance organization.”
During Oliker’s tenure heading MVP, the company remained the second-largest health insurer in the Rochester region.
As with most health insurers, average MVP premiums have risen on a percentage basis by double digits for years. Requests by the company to raise some of its small-group, community-pooled premiums have been scaled back by the state during its annual reviews. The company has blamed rising health costs for the higher premiums.
Though the company lost more than 50,000 subscribers in 2011, the non-profit insurer reported a surplus of $32 million. Total revenue for the company last year and in 2010 was $2.9 billion. In 2010, MVP reported a surplus of $40 million.
As CEO, Oliker made slightly more than $1 million in 2011.
Oliker serves on the board of directors of the America’s Health Insurance Plans and is a former chairman of the New York State Health Plan Association.
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