GEHA
| Company type | Private nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Health insurance |
| Predecessor | Railway Mail Hospital Association (1937) |
| Founded | 1937 in Kansas City, Missouri, United States |
| Headquarters | Kansas City , United States |
Area served | United States, globally (members) |
Key people | Arthur A. Nizza, DSW (President and CEO) |
| Products | Medical and dental insurance plans, including PPO and HDHP health plans; Connection Dental Federal FEDVIP dental plans |
| Website | www |
GEHA (Government Employees Health Association) is a private, nonprofit organization in the United States that delivers medical and dental insurance plans to federal workers, retirees, and their dependents via the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program and the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). With a membership exceeding 2 million globally, GEHA provides traditional fee-for-service health plans, including a preferred provider organization (PPO) and a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) designed for compatibility with health savings accounts (HSAs). Its dental coverage features two plan options under the Connection Dental Federal FEDVIP program.
Selected by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in 2006 to supply supplemental benefits through FEDVIP, GEHA manages two subsidiaries: GEHA Solutions and Surety Life. Founded in 1997 originally as PPO USA, GEHA Solutions offers products beyond federal markets such as Connection Dental Network, Connection Vision powered by EyeMed, and Connection Hearing by HearPO. The 2012 acquisition of Surety Life broadened GEHA’s portfolio to better serve both current and prospective clients.
History
Established in 1937 in Kansas City, Missouri, as the Railway Mail Hospital Association, GEHA initially aimed to support U.S. Railway Mail Service clerks with healthcare costs. Approximately twenty years later, it expanded its services to cover federal employees and retirees from all government branches. The organization was renamed Government Employees Hospital Association in 1964 before adopting its present name in 2007.
GEHA was one of the pioneering insurers authorized to provide coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act of 1959. The FEHBP coordinates with numerous health plans to cater to over 8 million federal enrollees and their families, including retirees.
Company name progression
The entity has experienced six name changes since its inception in 1937, reflecting its shifting mission:
- 1937: Railway Mail Hospital Association
- 1950: Postal Transport Hospital Association
- 1958: Federal Postal Hospital Association
- 1964: Federal Employees Hospital Association
- 1965: Government Employees Hospital Association
- 2007: Government Employees Health Association
Key individuals
The leadership timeline at GEHA includes:
- Walter C. Tuchfarber (1938–1948)
- Charles L. Massie (1948–1975)
- Raymond E. Rowland (1975–1988)
- James R. Cantrell (1988–1992)
- Richard G. Miles (1993–2015)
- Julie Browne (2015–2018)
- Darren Taylor (2018–2021)
- Arthur A. Nizza, DSW (2021–present)
Sponsorships
In March 2021, GEHA acquired the naming rights for the Kansas City Chiefs’ stadium, which was subsequently renamed GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, significantly boosting brand exposure through this prominent NFL affiliation.