PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. was a provider of

health insurance Health insurance or medical insurance (also known as medical aid in South Africa) is a type of insurance that covers the whole or a part of the risk of a person incurring medical expenses. As with other types of insurance, risk is shared among ma ...

based in

Cypress, California Cypress is a city in northwestern Orange County, California. Its population was 50,151 as of the 2020 census. History Cypress originally was nicknamed "Waterville" due to the preponderance of artesian wells in the area, but was incorporated ...

. It was acquired by

UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is an American Multinational corporation, multinational for-profit company specializing in health insurance and health care services based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Selling insurance products under UnitedHealth ...

in 2005.

History

The predecessor of the company was founded in 1978 by Samuel J. Tibbitts as a subsidiary of the Lutheran Hospital Society of Southern California. PacifiCare was incorporated in 1983. In 1985, PacifiCare of Oregon was created. In 1993, Alan Hoops replaced Terry Hartshorn as president and CEO. The company also acquired Freedom Plan, California Dental Health Plan, and Advantage Health Plans. In 1996, it acquired FHP. In December 2005, the company was acquired by

. At that time, the company had 705,000 Medicare enrollees. The company continued to market health plans under the PacifiCare and SecureHorizons names until 2011, when it changed to the UnitedHealthcare name.

Sponsorship and philanthropy

The company sponsored Newman/Haas Racing for the 2003 CART season, the 2004 Champ Car season, and the 2005 Champ Car season and donated to support The Painted Turtle. It was replaced as a sponsor in 2006.

References

{{Reflist, 1 American companies disestablished in 2005 2005 mergers and acquisitions Defunct health care companies of the United States UnitedHealth Group