CalOptima opened its doors in 1995 with a vision of providing Medi-Cal beneficiaries with increased access to health care services and to protect the Orange County safety net of providers. The largest of five County Organized Health System (COHS) plans in the United States, CalOptima is governed by a Board of Directors made up of member advocates, provider representatives, and representatives from the local government and business communities.

Based in Orange, California, CalOptima is the third largest Medi-Cal managed care plan in California (based on revenue). According to the state Legislative Analyst's Office, COHS plans have proven to be cost-effective and have saved the California General Fund $150 million a year.

CalOptima is proud to be a model public health plan, created by its community, governed by its community, and accountable to its community. To ensure its programs and services meet the needs of members, CalOptima continually seeks input from member advocates, provider representatives, and the community it serves.

As CalOptima continues into its second decade of caring for its members and the community, it renews its commitment to the needs of the vulnerable, elderly, frail, and disabled people it was created to serve through its Medi-Cal, CalOptima Kids, and OneCare programs. CalOptima will continue to research and develop new programs that will enhance its ability to serve its members, meet the health care needs of the Orange County community, advance its mission, and inform Medicaid program change across California and the United States.