Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Inc. (Meridian), a leading provider of government-sponsored managed care services and commercial healthcare plans in Illinois, announced Cristal Gary has been appointed as Plan President and Chief Executive Officer.
Ms. Gary brings more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience to Meridian. Most recently, she served as the Chief Advocacy Officer for Ascension Illinois. Additionally, she brings experience from Leavitt Partners, University of Chicago Medicine, and state government roles in both Illinois and Ohio.
“We are delighted to bring Cristal’s depth of experience in public and private healthcare space along with her strong ties to the local community,” said Bill Jones, Senior Vice President of Markets for Meridian’s parent company, Centene. “Cristal’s leadership will be instrumental as we continue to deliver on our mission to help transform the health of our members and local communities.”
“I am excited to join Meridian and work with colleagues who share a steadfast commitment to ensuring that members across the state have access to high-quality, comprehensive healthcare,” said Ms. Gary. “I look forward to working in close collaboration with local providers and community partners to improve the health of our members.”
Meridian serves more than 1 million members across Illinois in its Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace products. For more information about Meridian, visit ILmeridian.com.
