Sarah Iselin

Sarah Iselin is president and chief executive officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, one of the largest independent Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in the country with more than $9 billion in revenue, nearly 3 million members, and more than 20,000 employer customers. Blue Cross’ mission is to show up for everyone like they’re the only one. The company guides members to the exceptional healthcare they deserve, affordably, equitably, and seamlessly, and is consistently rated among the nation’s best health plans for member service.

Sarah brings nearly 30 years of experience in health care strategy, policy, operations, finance, and philanthropy to Blue Cross and leads the company’s work to create a health care system that is more empathetic, equitable, accessible, and affordable for all. 

Sarah has a long and successful history with both the company and its foundation, where she played a key role in the development of the “Roadmap to Coverage.” That multi-year initiative contributed to the passage of Massachusetts’ landmark 2006 health reform law, which resulted in the lowest uninsured rate in the country and later became the model for the Affordable Care Act. Sarah served as the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation’s president from 2010 to 2012 and later served as the company’s chief strategy officer and senior vice president of strategy, policy, and community partnerships. 

In 2014, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick tapped Sarah to lead the turnaround of the state’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act and its health insurance exchange website. 

Before returning to Blue Cross, Sarah served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Blue Shield of California, where she was accountable for the day-to-day operations, growth, and financial performance of all business segments of the non-profit health plan that serves nearly 5 million members and generates $23 billion in annual revenue. Before that, she served in a variety of executive leadership roles at GuideWell/Florida Blue and Optum. From 2007 to 2009, she served as commissioner of the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy in the Patrick Administration.

Sarah sits on the boards of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Boston Green Ribbon Commission, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and Blue Health Intelligence. Sarah received her Master of Science degree in health policy and management from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. 

Sarah is the proud mother of three young adults who live in various parts of North America.