Select Health, an Intermountain Health Co., Celebrates Four Decades of Building Healthier Lives

Select Health, an Intermountain Health company, recently celebrated 40 years of helping people live the healthiest lives possible. Earlier this year, the company underwent a complete rebranding, reflecting its dedication to this mission.

While the name and look have changed since its founding as IHC Health Plans in 1983, the mission and focus on improving access to healthcare has remained the same. Its early beginnings as the health insurance provider for Intermountain Health caregivers has blossomed into a multi-state company that has widened its offerings to employer-based plans, individual market plans, and Medicaid plans with Intermountain Health facilities and doctors in-network.

“I’m so proud of where we have come as a company and of all the amazing hard work I’ve seen only over the past few months,” said Select Health President & CEO Rob Hitchcock, who took the helm in November of 2022. “The dedication I see from each and every one of our employees is a testament to our culture and drive and it shows in the communities in which we serve as we continue to expand and thrive in the Mountain West.”

IHC Health Plans experienced steady growth in the 1980s and 1990s. By 2000, it held 20 percent of Utah’s commercial insurance business and 50 percent of its Medicaid business. In 2006, IHC Health Plans became Select Health. Today, Select Health boasts more than 1 million members across Utah, Idaho and Nevada, with members joining in Colorado this fall.

The sizeable growth over the past four decades drove the creation of three regions—Peaks, Canyons and Desert—with market presidents presiding over each. The organization employs more than 2,000 caregivers across these regions, encompassing roles in departments spanning member services, compliance, to wellness.

As Select Health continues to expand, it extends its role beyond just being a health plan; it’s a dedicated community partner. By consistently supporting community organizations that address critical well-being factors, in line with the company’s focus on social determinants of health—including issues such as food insecurity, housing instability and health care access.

In addition to its ongoing contributions, the organization also gives $5,000 to 10 local non-profits in both Utah and Idaho through the Select Health Awards program, helping these organizations improve and make a bigger impact. In celebration of the 40th anniversary and Select Health’s continued commitment to the community, the organization is hosting an employee food drive to support the local Utah Food Bank. The organization donated 480 pounds of food, which equates to 400 meals for Utah families.

“Their food drive comes at a crucial time when inventory is low following the summer months. Having the ongoing partnership of such dedicated organizations is the key to helping us continue to fight hunger statewide into the future,” said Ginette Bott, Utah Food Bank President, and CEO.

Throughout the years, Select Health has received recognition for its exceptional work, including being named “Best Companies to Work For” fourteen times since 2007 by Utah Business Magazine. It has also received accreditation for service and clinical quality from The National Committee for Quality Assurance, and Select Health Medicare holds a Five-Star Plan rating from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.