Karen Johnson

Karen Johnson is the Chief Deputy Executive Director of Operations at Covered California, the state's health insurance marketplace. She was appointed to this position in December 2016.1 In her role, Johnson manages the Administrative Services, Financial Management and Information Technology divisions, ensuring Covered California's effectiveness through policy development and implementation for operational tasks.1

Prior to joining Covered California, Johnson served as the chief deputy director of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), where she managed day-to-day operations and assisted in policy formulation.1 Her appointment was seen as a significant addition to Covered California's leadership team, given her 20-year career with the state of California and experience implementing complex programs.1

More recently, Johnson has been involved in Covered California's efforts to leverage artificial intelligence to improve operations. In April 2024, she discussed a new partnership between Covered California and Google to use AI for document processing, which aims to streamline the health insurance enrollment process.2

Johnson is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed by the State of California Board of Accountancy.3 She has also volunteered with St. Francis Catholic High School in Sacramento.3

In her professional capacity, Johnson has highlighted Covered California's commitment to operational excellence, as evidenced by accolades received at the California State Summit.4 Her leadership continues to play a crucial role in Covered California's mission to provide affordable, high-quality health insurance to Californians.