INSURANCE:
Miami company in the best of health

By Conrad Dahlson

Leon Medical Centers Health Plans is the third biggest HMO in Florida’s Miami-Dade County just one year after owner Benjamin Leon Jr. founded it as a Latino niche company. It was a good move, since the county that holds an extensive enclave known as “Little Havana” is somewhere around 60 percent Hispanic.
Now, although his health-insurance company already has 22,000 members, a Medicare contract and yearly revenues of $270 million, Leon has the next big step in mind.
According to South Florida CEO magazine, this son of a Cuban immigrant is ready to move beyond the confines of Miami-Dade as part of an expansionist plan to “take the business to the Anglos.” Which also means that his facilities will have to go bilingual.
Admittedly, he’ll be going up against giants like Humana Medical Plan, AvMed Health Plan, Health Options and more, a circumstance that seems to leave Leon, with his 40 years experience in the healthcare business, totally unfazed.