The TakeCare history dates back to 1973 as Family Health Plan traveled to the shores of Guam from the United States at the request of the island's Catholic Diocese and government. Its establishment on Guam, the largest of the Mariana Islands, marked the introduction of the region's first group practice, pre-payment, and medical program as a staff-model health maintenance organization or HMO.
14 years later, Family Health Plan rebranded to FHP, and the Guam region was renamed the Asia Pacific region to reflect the health-plan expansion into the island of Saipan and the Northern Marianas.
The expansion saw the opening of the FHP Health Center on Saipan in 1988 to deliver medical services to about 2,000 members. The Center continued to grow steadily, incorporating dental services in 1989.
In 1991, FHP Asia Pacific inaugurated another medical center on Guam, named the FHP Dededo Medical Center. The Center responded to the medical and dental needs of northern members. With this inclusion in the FHP system, the FHP fiscal year ended with an unprecedented total enrollment number of 23,004 members.
More expansion projects followed in 1994, each designed to improve member services and convenience. A $2.5 million renovation plan found the redesign of the FHP Annex to incorporate more space for medical and dental services. The FHP administrative offices were also centralized for member convenience. That same year, FHP contracts with the Philippines and the Honolulu Medical Group in Hawaii for self-referral, off-island, and primary care services for its members got underway.
With the community's needs in mind, FHP continued to develop its products and services with the FHP Health Center in Saipan, adding optometry services and a full-service optical shop in 1995. Coinciding with this, a supplemental health services division of FHP Asia Pacific, Tropicare, was launched to provide health education, home health care, durable medical equipment (DME) and respiratory care services to both FHP members and non-members.
The growth of the FHP network across the region was reflected in the introduction of the health plan, Choice Plus™, in 1996. Marking the separation of FHP's "plan" and "delivery" operations, Choice Plus™ provided access to an expanded network of healthcare providers on Guam and off-island. Its counterpart for delivery operations was initially HML and subsequently renamed to the FHP Guam Medical Group and the FHP Saipan Medical Group.
That year, the FHP Asia Pacific region gained a record 2,500 medical members, pushing total medical membership numbers past the 40,000-member mark. Adding to their portfolio, the FHP Guam Medical Group signed a contract with major Japanese insurance companies to provide urgent care services for Guam tourists from Japan.
Further, PacifiCare Health Systems announced a definite Agreement and Plan of Reorganization with Fountain Valley-based FHP International, a managed health-care services company with more than 1.9 million members in 15 states and U.S. Territory of Guam.
One year later, PacifiCare Health Systems completed its $2.2 billion acquisition of FHP International Corporation. The combined company made PacifiCare Health Systems the nation's fifth largest HMO company.
Following its acquisition, FHP Asia Pacific was officially renamed to PacifiCare Asia Pacific in 1998. Working with local companies to maintain good relations, PacifiCare then developed a new broker network including IIU, Perez Brothers and Calvo's. The company also invested in new technology including an HMO software conversion system and a new telephone system including voicemail, ACD and UCD feature to improve customer service and increase efficiency throughout the organization.
PacifiCare reached an all-time record-breaking 52,000 members in 2000 and proceeded to add Melekau Insurance Agency and Guam National Insurance to its list of brokers. A year later, PacifiCare Health Insurance Company of Micronesia (PHICM), PacifiCare Asia Pacific, was formed to locally incorporate on Guam. PacifiCare Asia Pacific Insurance Brokers Inc. was then created to sell insurance products operating under PHICM. This was a big step that moved PacifiCare out of an HMO status into an insurance company. That same year, PHICM received a qualifying certificate from the Guam Economic Development Authority.
Additional expansion occurred for the company, including a joint venture with local doctors to form the Guam Surgi-Center; expansion of its warehouse facilities; an update to its medical records department with a state-of-the-art record filing system, and expansion of its Home Health services to accept other insurance carriers and Medicare.
Always at the forefront of the community's medical needs, the PacifiCare Vision Center opened in 2002. With successful management of resources to enhance growth and profitability over the years, PacifiCare celebrated its 30th anniversary of serving the communities of Guam and Saipan in 2003. The company then relocated its member services and administrative offices to the Baltej Pavilion in Tamuning, Guam to better serve the membership.
In 2005, Joseph Husslein, president of PacifiCare Asia Pacific, Don Fetherman, executive vice president, Alicia Iseke, senior vice president and Gus Sablan, senior vice president bought out PacifiCare Health Systems to become TakeCare Insurance Company. Complementing this company was its full-service FHP Medical Clinics on Guam and Saipan.
As a significant portrayal of good labor and management relations, the TakeCare Managing Partners' investment and dedication to the company were instrumental in saving 300 jobs that would have been lost when PacifiCare Asia Pacific withdrew from the Guam market.
TakeCare establishes the Medical Referral Offices ("MRO") and administrative offices of TakeCare Asia Philippines, Inc. ("TCAP") in 2006 to aid and support to TakeCare members seeking medical services in the Philippines, and customer support through its 24/7 call center operations.
The primary role of the MRO staff is to coordinate appointments and referrals to various specialty, diagnostic and surgical services including hospitalization and medication at contracted facilities including Cebu Doctor's University Hospital, St. Luke's Medical Center (Quezon City and Global City), Makati Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, The Medical City, HealthWay Medical, Mercury Drug and MedExpress Pharmacies, Affinity Dental network. In addition, the MRO staff assists TakeCare's medical management, customer service call center, and claims teams based in Guam.
TakeCare became the first accredited Three-year health plan accreditation by Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care ("AAAHC")health insurance carrier in the region, achieving that milestone in June 2016. Over the past several years, TakeCare has successfully completed the National Committee for Quality Assurance ("NCQA")-Certified Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set ("HEDIS®") Compliance Audit™. NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations.
It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's HEDIS® is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. HEDIS® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). NCQA HEDIS® Compliance Audit™ is a trademark of the NCQA.
In 2018, TakeCare celebrated its 45th anniversary. Over the last 45 years, TakeCare has fulfilled this mission through its medical and dental insurance products now covering approximately 29,000 lives in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), American Samoa, and the Republic of Palau. TakeCare benefit plans provide members with access to the largest health network in Micronesia with over 120 medical providers, 40 dental providers, and 20 pharmacies in the region. TakeCare was voted Pacific Daily News ("PDN") Pika's Best Insurance Company in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Awards, Recognition and Membership
- 2018 Guam Community College Allied Nursing Program - $100,000
- 2018 University of Guam Nursing Program Donor - $100,000
- 2018 Make-A-Wish Donor $12,500
- 2018 American Red Cross - $6,000
- 2018 United Airlines Guam Marathon-Sliver Sponsor - $10,000
- 2018 GovGuam Mag Pro Awards $5,000
- 2017 Guam Community College Allied Nursing Program - $100,000
- 2017 University of Guam Nursing Program Donor - $100,000
- 2017 Guam Diabetes Association-Gold Sponsor $1,500
- 2017 Make-A-Wish Donor $22,000
- 2017 United Airlines Guam Marathon-Sliver Sponsor - $10,000
- 2017 American Red Cross - $10,000
- 2016 AAAHC Accreditation1 – First accredited health insurance carrier on Guam
- 2016 Guam Community College Allied Nursing Program - $100,000
- 2016 University of Guam Nursing Program Donor - $100,000
- 2016 Guam Memorial Hospital Volunteers Association - $10,000
- 2016 Guam International Marathon-Sliver Sponsor - $10,000
- 2016 American Red Cross - $10,000
- 2016 Guam Cancer Care Donor - $20,000
- 2016 Make-A-Wish Donor $22,000
- 2016 American Cancer Society Relay for Life Sapphire Sponsor - $22,000
- 2016 Best Insurance Company on Guam by Pika's Best of Guam
- 2015 American Red Cross - $10,000
- 2015 Guam International Marathon-Sliver Sponsor - $10,000
- 2015 Guam Cancer Care Donor - $15,000
- 2015 Guam Memorial Hospital Volunteers Association - $10,000
- 2015 Guam Community College Allied Nursing Program - $100,000
- 2015 University of Guam Nursing Program Donor - $100,000
- 2015 Best Medical Clinic on Guam by Pika's Best of Guam
- 2015 Best Insurance Company on Guam by Pika's Best of Guam
- 2015 American Cancer Society Relay for Life Emerald Sponsor - $20,000
- 2014 American Red Cross - $10,000
- 2014 Guam International Marathon-Sliver Sponsor - $10,000
- 2014 Guam Cancer Care Donor - $10,000
- 2014 Guam Community College Allied Nursing Program - $100,000
- 2014 University of Guam Nursing Program Donor - $100,000
- 2014 Best Insurance Company on Guam by Pika's Best of Guam
- 2013 American Red Cross - $10,000
- 2013 Guam Community College Allied Nursing Program - $100,000
- 2013 University of Guam Nursing Program Donor - $100,000
- 2013 Guam International Marathon-Sliver Sponsor - $10,000
- 2012 American Red Cross - $10,000
- 2012 Recognition for Outstanding Support of Higher Education by the Guam Legislature 180-31 (COR)
- 2012 Guam Community College Allied Nursing Program - $100,000
- 2012 University of Guam Nursing Program Donor - $100,000
- Guam Hotel & Restaurant Association Allied Member
- Guam Chamber of Commerce Member
- UOG Endowment Foundation Top 10 Donor
- Salvation Army Donor
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Donor
- Sanctuary Inc. Donor
- Catholic Social Services Donor
- Make-A-Wish Foundation Donor—Presenter of Kites For Wishes
- American Cancer Society Donor—Presenter of Relay For Life
- Guam Humanities Council Donor
- GU Magazine’s Best Clinic 2007-FHP
- GU Magazine’s Best Vision Center 2008-FHP Vision Center
- Guam Business Magazine’s Top Companies on Guam-1994-1997, 1999-2008
- Guam Business Magazine’s Best Companies to Work For-2004, 2007-2008
