TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Wellcare, a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, announced today its largest Medicare Advantage expansion to date. Wellcare will now offer its wide range of Medicare Advantage plans in 1,575 counties across 36 states during the 2022 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), beginning Oct. 15.
"At Wellcare, we are committed to expanding choice and access to high-quality, affordable Medicare plans," said Rich Fisher, SVP and CEO of Medicare for Centene, Wellcare's parent company. "As we continue to expand our Medicare footprint, we are pleased to continue offering a wide range of Medicare Advantage plans that include benefits with every beneficiary in mind."
Reaching More Communities
Today, Wellcare serves more than 1.1 million Medicare Advantage members across 33 states. Beginning in 2022, Wellcare will offer plans in 327 new counties and three new states (Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Oklahoma), representing a 26% increase and bringing its total number of Medicare Advantage states to 36. Overall, Wellcare's expanded footprint will reach 48 million Medicare-eligible adults across the country.
Highlights of Wellcare's 2022 Benefit Offerings
In 2022, Wellcare will continue to offer a range of Medicare products, including Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP), which offer affordable coverage beyond Original Medicare.
For 2022, Wellcare has lowered many of its Medicare Advantage prescription copays by $5 to $10 dollars when members use preferred pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens, and other major grocery store chains.†Additionally, Wellcare has expanded many of its innovative benefit offerings such as its Flex Card, which can be used for out-of-pocket costs for dental, vision, and hearing. Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI) will now include options like a food benefit, a utility benefit, and a care concierge benefit for a number of personal services.
And for those looking for standalone prescription drug coverage, Wellcare's PDPs are available across all 50 U.S. states. Wellcare will offer three types of standalone plans, all of which include $0 Tier 1 medicines and access to a preferred pharmacy network, including retailers such as Walgreens, CVS, and major grocery store chains.†
Wellcare's Brand Realignment & Brand Ambassador Joe Montana
In September, Wellcare announceda refreshed corporate Medicare Advantage brand to better align with the company's mission and strategy to build stronger brand awareness and engage directly with its members. Centene's Medicare brands, including Allwell, Health Net, Fidelis Care, Trillium Advantage, 'Ohana Health Plan, and TexanPlus will become one unified Medicare brand under the Wellcare name.
Wellcare also announcedHall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana will serve as the company's brand ambassador.iMontana will collaborate with Wellcare on TV commercials, digital ads, social media, and other communications to help seniors understand their Medicare options.
"We are pleased to share our new refreshed Wellcare brand, which is part of our larger corporate strategy to transform and modernize how we engage with our Medicare members about their health," saidSuzy DePrizio, Centene's SVP and Chief Marketing Officer. "We're also proud to have legendary quarterback Joe Montana join our team as we partner with him to help seniors and their families better understand their Medicare benefits."
To learn more about Medicare options with Wellcare, visit www.wellcarenow.com.
About Wellcare
For more than 20 years, Wellcare has offered a range of Medicare products, including Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP), which offer affordable coverage beyond Original Medicare. Today, the company offers benefits with every Medicare beneficiary in mind, such as dental, hearing and vision services; Flex Cards to assist with co-pays; transportation services; telehealth visits; wellness and fitness programs; in-home support services; and special supplemental benefits for the chronically ill. Wellcare is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading multi-national healthcare enterprise committed to transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, Centene's Medicare brands, including Allwell, Health Net, Fidelis Care, Trillium Advantage, 'Ohana Health Plan, and TexanPlus will transition to the Wellcare brand. For more information about Wellcare, visit www.wellcare.comand follow them on Facebook.
About Centene Corporation
Centene Corporation, a Fortune 25 company, is a leading multi-national healthcare enterprise that is committed to helping people live healthier lives. The Company takes a local approach – with local brands and local teams – to provide fully integrated, high-quality, and cost-effective services to government-sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Centene offers affordable and high-quality products to nearly 1 in 15 individuals across the nation, including Medicaid and Medicare members (including Medicare Prescription Drug Plans) as well as individuals and families served by the Health Insurance Marketplace, the TRICARE program, and individuals in correctional facilities. The Company also serves several international markets, and contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide a variety of specialty services focused on treating the whole person. Centene focuses on long-term growth and the development of its people, systems and capabilities so that it can better serve its members, providers, local communities, and government partners.
Centene uses its investor relations website to publish important information about the Company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Centene is routinely posted and is accessible on Centene's investor relations website, https://investors.centene.com/.
