Joe Pagano

Joe Pagano is President and Chief Operating Officer of Homestead Smart Health Plans. In this role, he leads the company’s overall operations and performance, overseeing strategy execution, operational excellence, and go-to-market performance to deliver measurable value for clients and drive profitable growth.

Joe joined Homestead in 2021, serving as Chief Operating Officer for 5 years before assuming the role of President in December 2025. He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across operations, product, and growth-focused roles in the health insurance and property and casualty industries.

Prior to Homestead, Joe held several senior leadership positions at Optum, including Senior Vice President of Operations and General Manager of Ancillary Services. His earlier experience also includes leadership roles at Travelers, Sedgwick CMS, and The Hartford.

Joe holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Colby College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut.