Fidelis Care
Fidelis Care is a New York-based health insurance company providing government-sponsored and marketplace health plans.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Fidelis Care is a New York health insurance organization established in 1993 to expand access to coverage for poor and medically underserved residents. It was initially formed as the NYC Catholic Health Plan Inc. by the Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens, Inc. and the Diocese of Brooklyn. The organization’s original mission combined managed-care administration with a community-oriented focus on people who faced limited access to medical services. The company expanded beyond its initial New York City base in 1997, when it acquired Better Health Plan, a Buffalo-based health maintenance organization. That transaction gave Fidelis Care a presence in Western New York and supported its development into a statewide health-plan operator. In the same year, Fidelis Care introduced coverage associated with Child Health Plus, a New York program designed to provide health insurance for children who do not qualify for Medicaid but whose families may not be able to afford private coverage. Fidelis Care’s portfolio has centered on publicly sponsored and regulated health coverage rather than conventional commercial insurance. Its offerings have included Medicaid managed care, Medicare-related coverage, Child Health Plus, managed long-term care plans, and Qualified Health Plans available through the NY State of Health marketplace. Through these lines, the organization serves different populations, including low-income families, children, older adults, people with disabilities, and individuals requiring continuing or long-term services. The organization also grew through the addition of CenterCare, a New York City Medicaid managed-care plan that became a Fidelis Care subsidiary in 2005. This strengthened the company’s position in the New York City Medicaid market and broadened its administrative and provider relationships. In September 2017, Centene Corporation announced an agreement to acquire Fidelis Care for $3.75 billion. The transaction was completed on July 2, 2018, making Fidelis Care a Centene subsidiary. Fidelis Care continued to operate under its established name and remained focused on New York residents. According to the available reference material, the organization served more than 1.7 million New York residents in 2018 and maintained offices throughout the state. As a brand, Fidelis Care is positioned around access, affordability, and administration of public and publicly supported health coverage. Its identity is closely tied to New York’s healthcare system and to government-sponsored insurance programs. Its current scale and structure reflect both its original nonprofit-oriented community mission and its later integration into Centene, a national managed-care company.
History
Fidelis Care was created in 1993 as the NYC Catholic Health Plan Inc. by the Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens, Inc. and the Diocese of Brooklyn. Its initial purpose was to provide health coverage and managed-care services to poor and medically underserved people in New York City. The organization emerged from a community and Catholic healthcare context, with a mission oriented toward populations that could have difficulty obtaining or maintaining private health insurance. A major early expansion occurred in 1997, when Fidelis acquired Better Health Plan, a health maintenance organization based in Buffalo. The acquisition extended the organization’s reach into Western New York and helped establish a broader statewide footprint. Fidelis Care also became associated with Child Health Plus in 1997. The program served children whose families did not meet Medicaid eligibility requirements but still needed an affordable source of health coverage. Over time, Fidelis Care developed a portfolio concentrated in government-sponsored and regulated health insurance. Its programs included Medicaid managed care, Medicare coverage, Child Health Plus, managed long-term care, and Qualified Health Plans sold through the NY State of Health marketplace. This portfolio allowed the organization to serve multiple segments of the New York population, including children, low-income households, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and people requiring long-term support. In 2005, CenterCare, a New York City Medicaid managed-care plan, became a subsidiary of Fidelis Care. The addition strengthened Fidelis Care’s position in the city’s Medicaid market and added to its network and plan-administration capabilities. Fidelis Care’s ownership changed substantially in the late 2010s. On September 12, 2017, Centene Corporation announced an agreement to purchase the organization for $3.75 billion. Centene completed the acquisition on July 2, 2018. Following the transaction, Fidelis Care became part of Centene while retaining its operating identity and New York-centered market role. By 2018, Fidelis Care served more than 1.7 million New York residents and maintained offices throughout New York State. Its later history is therefore defined by the combination of a longstanding local mission, statewide public-program operations, and ownership by a national managed-care company. The available reference material does not provide sufficient detail about subsequent leadership changes, financial performance, product-specific enrollment, or later strategic initiatives.
- 2018
Acquisition completed
[1]Centene completed the purchase of Fidelis Care on July 2, 2018.
- 2017
Centene announces acquisition
[1]Centene Corporation announced an agreement to acquire Fidelis Care for $3.75 billion.
- 2005
CenterCare becomes a Fidelis subsidiary
[1]CenterCare, a New York City Medicaid managed-care plan, became a subsidiary of Fidelis Care.
- 1997
Expansion into Western New York
[1]Fidelis expanded into Western New York through the acquisition of Better Health Plan, a Buffalo-based health maintenance organization.
- 1997
Child Health Plus coverage introduced
[1]Fidelis Care began offering coverage associated with New York’s Child Health Plus program.
- 1993
Organization founded as NYC Catholic Health Plan Inc.
[1]The Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens, Inc. and the Diocese of Brooklyn formed the organization to serve poor and medically underserved residents.
Products and positioning
A New York-focused health insurer emphasizing access to government-sponsored, publicly supported, and marketplace-based coverage for families, children, older adults, people with disabilities, and medically underserved communities.
Public health insurance
Medicaid Managed Care
Fidelis Care administers Medicaid managed-care coverage for eligible New York residents. The offering is designed to coordinate covered medical services through a managed provider network and serves populations who qualify for the state and federally supported Medicaid program.
Senior and disability health insurance
Medicare
Fidelis Care offers Medicare-related health coverage for eligible older adults and certain people with disabilities. The Medicare portfolio forms part of the company’s broader role as a managed-care organization serving publicly sponsored health-plan populations in New York.
Children’s health insurance · 1997
Child Health Plus
Child Health Plus coverage supports children in New York whose families may not qualify for Medicaid but need an affordable alternative to unsubsidized private insurance. Fidelis Care introduced this program offering in 1997.
Long-term care insurance
Managed Long-Term Care
Fidelis Care offers managed long-term care plans intended for members who need ongoing support and coordinated services. These plans extend the organization’s coverage beyond acute medical care into longer-term health and support needs.
Marketplace health insurance
Qualified Health Plans
Fidelis Care offers Qualified Health Plans through the NY State of Health marketplace. These plans provide an individual and family coverage option within New York’s regulated health-insurance exchange.
Brand decisions
2017
Agreement to sell Fidelis Care to CenteneM&ABackground
Fidelis Care had developed a substantial New York managed-care presence across Medicaid, Medicare, children’s coverage, long-term care, and marketplace plans. Centene sought to expand its managed-care platform through the transaction.
Action taken
Centene announced an agreement on September 12, 2017, to acquire Fidelis Care for $3.75 billion.
Aftermath
The acquisition was completed on July 2, 2018. Fidelis Care became a Centene subsidiary and continued operating under its established brand in New York.
Announced acquisition value. US$3.75 billion transaction value (Announced September 12, 2017; completed July 2, 2018)
Recent events
Centene appoints David Thomas and names Fidelis Care interim CEO[3]
Reported:
Centene announced that David P. Thomas would become Executive Vice President of Markets effective October 13, 2019, succeeding retiring Christopher D. Bowers. Centene also appointed Thomas Halloran interim CEO of Fidelis Care, effective October 13, while it searches for a permanent CEO.
Sources3 sources
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