(DETROIT, Mich. — May 4, 2026) Nick Gates, president of Priority Health, a nationally recognized nonprofit health plan serving more than 1.4 million members, has been selected as one of Crain’s Detroit Business 2026 Notable Leaders in Health Care.
This distinguished honor celebrates leadership, innovation and the meaningful impact made across the area’s health care landscape.
Gates is recognized for his leadership of valuation and due diligence for major acquisitions — including Total Health Care, Physicians Health Plan of Northern Indiana, and Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire — which expanded Priority Health into a multi‑state plan serving Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. These strategic transactions unlocked new geographies, while increasing access to care, driving innovation and cost efficiencies, strengthening long-term sustainability and positioning Priority Health for sustainable growth and delivering high‑quality, affordable care across the Midwest.
Gates is a transformative health care leader with more than 20 years of industry experience; he was named president in November 2025. Since joining Priority Health in 2004, he has advanced a companywide digital transformation to simplify and improve experiences for health plan members and providers. And his robust financial background has long supported company operational success as he played a pivotal role in guiding the organization through significant industry shifts such as the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring adaptability and sustainable growth.
Under his leadership, Priority Health has received several national recognitions. Priority Health was recognized in 2025 as a top performer by the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its Medicare, Medicaid and commercial health plans. Priority Health’s Medicare HMO/POS was one of the highest-rated health plans in the nation, and Priority Health was the top-rated Medicaid health plan in the Lower Peninsula.
In addition, Priority Health was named a 2026 Best Health Plan for Medicare Advantage in Michigan by U.S. News & World Report; named among America’s Best Employers for 2025 by Forbes; and was included in Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Customer Service in 2025.
Notable Leaders in Health Care are published online and in the print version of Crain’s Detroit Business.