Molina Healthcare, Inc.
Company History
Molina Healthcare History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1980 in Long Beach, California, United States
When was Molina Healthcare founded?
Molina Healthcare was founded in 1980 in Long Beach, California, United States by C. David Molina, making it 46 years old.
- Founded
- 1980
- Founding place
- Long Beach, California, United States
- Founders
- C. David Molina
- Headquarters today
- Long Beach, California, United States
- Milestones documented
- 10 (1980–2026)
- Current CEO
- Joseph Zubretsky
- Acquisitions
- 4
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1980 | First clinic opens |
| 1996 | J. Mario Molina Becomes CEO |
| 2003 | NYSE IPO |
| 2017 | Leadership change |
| 2018 | Pathways and Medicaid Solutions Sold |
| 2020 | Magellan Complete Care acquired |
| 2021 | Affinity Health Plan acquired |
| 2024 | Acquired Bright Health California Medicare business |
| 2025 | ConnectiCare acquired |
| 2026 | Medicare Advantage exit announced |
- Where was Molina Healthcare founded?
- Molina Healthcare was founded in Long Beach, California, United States in 1980. en.wikipedia.org
- Who founded Molina Healthcare?
- Molina Healthcare was founded by C. David Molina.
- When did Molina Healthcare start?
- Molina Healthcare was founded in 1980.
- How old is Molina Healthcare?
- Molina Healthcare is 46 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Dr. C. David Molina, an emergency physician in Long Beach, opened a clinic in 1980 for low-income patients who had trouble finding doctors willing to accept Medi-Cal. The clinic network later became the base for a health plan that managed government-funded coverage. After his death in 1996, his son Dr. J. Mario Molina led the company, which went public on the NYSE in 2003.
Founders
C. David Molina
Dr. C. David Molina founded Molina Healthcare in 1980 by opening a clinic in Long Beach for patients covered by Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program. The clinics became the foundation for a health plan that managed government-funded care. He died in 1996, and his son Dr. J. Mario Molina succeeded him as CEO. C. David Molina was born in 1926.
Key Milestones
First clinic opens
Dr. C. David Molina opens a Long Beach clinic for low-income patients.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgJ. Mario Molina Becomes CEO
J. Mario Molina succeeded his father, founder C. David Molina, as chief executive in 1996.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgNYSE IPO
Molina Healthcare lists on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker MOH.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLeadership change
After a $512M net loss, the board replaces J. Mario and John Molina; Joseph Zubretsky becomes CEO in November.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgPathways and Medicaid Solutions Sold
Molina sold its Pathways behavioural-health unit and its Molina Medicaid Solutions business in 2018.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMagellan Complete Care acquired
Molina closes the roughly $820M (net of tax benefits) purchase of Magellan Complete Care on December 31, 2020, adding about 200,000 members.
Source: businesswire.comAffinity Health Plan acquired
Molina buys New York Medicaid plan Affinity Health Plan for about $380M.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquired Bright Health California Medicare business
Molina Healthcare acquired Bright Health California Medicare business.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgConnectiCare acquired
Molina closes its $350M acquisition of ConnectiCare on February 1, 2025, adding about 140,000 members.
Source: businesswire.comMedicare Advantage exit announced
Molina says it will exit traditional MAPD plans for 2027 to focus on dual-eligible members.
Source: fiercehealthcare.comMajor Acquisitions
Magellan Complete Care
2020Add Medicaid and specialty plans for complex and behavioral health populations.
Affinity Health Plan
2021Enter the New York Medicaid market.
Bright Health California Medicare business
2024Expand Medicare Advantage in California.
ConnectiCare
2025Add a Connecticut health plan across Marketplace, Medicare and commercial products.
Keep researching Molina Healthcare
Molina Healthcare Company History FAQ
What are Molina Healthcare's key historical milestones?
First clinic in 1980, NYSE IPO in 2003, leadership change in 2017, Magellan Complete Care acquisition in 2020, Affinity in 2021, ConnectiCare in 2025, and the 2026 decision to exit traditional MAPD plans for 2027.
Why did Molina change leadership in 2017?
After losses tied to Marketplace growth and high costs, the board removed J. Mario Molina and John Molina in May 2017 and named Joseph Zubretsky CEO that November. Molina lost $512M in 2017 and returned to profit in 2018.
How fast has Molina grown?
Revenue rose from $17.8B in 2016 to $45.4B in 2025, helped by acquisitions and new state Medicaid contracts.
How was Molina Healthcare founded in Long Beach in 1980?
Molina Healthcare was founded in 1980 in Long Beach, California, by Dr. C. David Molina, an emergency department physician. Dr. Molina noticed that low-income Medicaid (Medi-Cal) patients were flooding hospital emergency rooms for simple ailments because private practices refused to treat them due to low reimbursement rates and burdensome paperwork. Dr. Molina opened his own clinic on Pine Avenue, offering culturally competent, bilingual primary care and on-site prescriptions.
Why did the board fire the founding Molina family in May 2017?
In May 2017, Molina's board of directors abruptly fired CEO Dr. J. Mario Molina and his brother, CFO John Molina—the sons of the founder. Following the rollout of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the company expanded aggressively into individual health insurance exchanges, suffering massive underwriting losses, ballooning corporate overhead, and plunging profits. The board replaced family leadership to restore financial and operational discipline.
How did Joseph Zubretsky engineer the Molina turnaround?
Appointed CEO in late 2017, healthcare executive Joseph Zubretsky launched a comprehensive restructuring program. He slashed $300+ million in bloated corporate overhead, exited unprofitable ACA regional exchanges, renegotiated provider hospital contracts, modernized claims technology, and lowered the medical loss ratio (MLR), transforming Molina into one of the most profitable managed care companies in America.
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