ALIGNMENT HEALTH PLAN
By Phil Calhoun in conversation with David Milligan
Experience the Full Interview — Click Below to Listen or Watch!
David Milligan is senior vice president of sales for Alignment Health Plan, a California-based Medicare Advantage carrier focused exclusively on seniors. With more than two decades in the Medicare space, he leads a broker sales team stretching from San Diego to Sacramento and has spent his entire career helping agents navigate the Annual Election Period. This article is adapted from a recorded conversation between David Milligan and Phil Calhoun, CEO of California Broker Magazine. The discussion centers on Alignment Health Plan’s product innovation, its 2027 California expansion, and practical strategies brokers can apply heading into the Annual Election Period.
A Career Built on the Broker Channel
Milligan grew up in Bellflower and earned a business degree from California State University, Long Beach. He was working at Toyota Motor Sales in Torrance when a friend pointed him toward Pacific Care’s Secure Horizons division. “I didn’t know what a Medicare HMO was,” he recalls, but the rapid growth and the chance to work with seniors drew him in. He spent about 12 years at Pacific Care, moved through smaller organizations, and eventually reconnected with Dawn Maroney, president of Alignment Health and CEO of Alignment Health Plan, to join Alignment just over three years ago. “The first thing that drew me to Alignment was jealousy,” he says, referring to the carrier’s product innovation.
Why Alignment Resonates with Brokers
Alignment is a California-based, senior-focused Medicare Advantage carrier that does not sell med supps or standalone Part D plans. Milligan points to the concierge card, a pre-paid debit card, and Alignment’s proprietary AVA Medicare Advantage platform as core differentiators. The company has grown about 30% year over year, and “brokers are the biggest channel for Alignment in terms of our growth,” he says. His own broker manager team has roughly doubled in three years and now spans San Diego to Sacramento.
The product mix includes chronic special needs plans, standard HMO products, Part B rebate plans, and plans for veterans. Alignment also holds a PQA award for outstanding formulary, which Milligan notes is rare. It is “one of the few plans in the country that gets this,” he says, and the company has earned it several years in a row. Members also gain access to Care Anywhere, a program that meets seniors in their home or remotely, a caregiver reimbursement benefit, transportation on select plans, and 24/7 concierge service that Milligan says Alignment was first to offer.
Technology That Drives Better Care
The AVA platform sits at the center of Alignment’s clinical approach. It pulls data on every member’s healthcare interactions, updates every 15 minutes, and scores members to flag who needs additional clinical attention.
“Service first. If you’re servicing that client and doing the right thing for that client, the sale will come.”
“The sole purpose is to deliver medical care and know which members need some additional clinical care,” Milligan explains. When clinicians noticed a member repeatedly landing in the emergency room because he was taking medication without food, the team built a meal benefit around the gap. “We are expanding and we expect the broader market will move in the opposite direction,” he says. Nearly one in four Alignment employees is a clinician.
The 2027 California Outlook
For 2027, Alignment is expanding into Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties, completing coverage across the Central Valley from Bakersfield to Sacramento alongside its Bay Area and Southern California footprint. “We are expanding into Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties,” Milligan confirms. He expects the broader market to move in the opposite direction. “I think the big carriers are going to be pulling back on service areas and product design benefits,” he says, citing less robust federal funding. Plans like Alignment, he believes, will be winners because of marketplace stability.
Star ratings reinforce the story. In the Medicare Plan Finder, Milligan notes, Alignment products tend to rank near the top, which helps brokers in sales conversations. Broad product, benefit, and expansion communication begins on or after Oct 1, keeping publication timing aligned with AEP timing.
The Broker Playbook for AEP
Certification is the first step. Milligan recommends completing AHIP, then the Alignment carrier certification, which runs about 30 minutes plus a CMS required test. “Get it done well before the start of AEP,” he advises, though brokers can still certify with Alignment in October or even November.
His core message to agents is simple. “Service first. If you’re servicing that client and doing the right thing for that client, the sale will come.” That service may even mean advising a senior to stay on a current employer plan. Referrals, he says, follow trust.
The first 90 days after enrollment are critical for retention. “Check in with your clients,” Milligan urges. Confirm they have their ID card before the first of the month, verify prescriptions are being filled, ask whether they have seen their primary care doctor, and make sure they tap into benefits like the meal program, caregiver reimbursement, and transportation.
If a member must change doctors to join Alignment, Milligan suggests brokers help schedule that first primary care appointment and lean on Alignment’s 24/7 concierge line. He also encourages brokers, especially newer ones, to find mentors and peer groups. “If you’ve got a small group of other brokers that you’re meeting or start one yourself,” everyone learns from shared marketplace experience. Industry events, including CAHIP chapter meetings and the Southern California Senior Summit, are where brokers stay current on an industry that is always changing.
Engaging with David Milligan and Alignment Health Care
Brokers can connect with Milligan and the Alignment broker manager team through the Alignment broker portal, where agents complete certification, upload credentials, and access sales materials. Alignment’s broker managers cover California from San Diego to Sacramento and support agents with education, enrollment, and client service. To begin, complete AHIP and the roughly 30-minute Alignment certification, then reach out through the broker portal or connect at industry events such as the CAHIP Senior Summit. Alignment’s 24/7 concierge service and member service teams are also available to support enrolled members.
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David Milligan
Senior Vice President of Sales Alignment Health Plan David brings 25 years’ experience to the Medicare Advantage industry with a career spanning member retention, sales compliance, marketing and most notably sales leadership. Throughout his career, he has driven significant growth at leading organizations such as PacifiCare/Secure Horizons, Bravo Health and SCAN Health Plan. Currently, David serves as the Senior Vice President of Sales for California at Alignment Health Plan where he continues to lead with a results-driven approach and a commitment to innovation in healthcare. He holds both Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Business.