Wellcare expands Medicare Advantage reach for 2026 with new integrated dual-eligible plans

Wellcare, the Medicare brand of Centene Corporation, will expand its Medicare Advantage (MA) and Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) offerings for 2026. The company announced that its MA plans will be available to more than 51 million beneficiaries in 32 states, while its PDP products will continue to be offered to over 8 million members across all 50 states.

The 2026 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7, 2025. Those who enroll by the deadline will have coverage beginning January 1, 2026.

Michael Carson, Wellcare Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are deeply committed to offering a diverse range of plans that support our members' health and wellbeing. We're especially excited about the continued growth and integration of our dual-eligible plans, in collaboration with our federal and state partners, which help us better serve individuals who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Supporting the health of our aging population isn't just a priority – it's a responsibility. These offerings reflect our dedication to delivering quality care, improving health outcomes and creating a seamless experience for some of the most vulnerable populations in our communities."

For 2026, Wellcare is transitioning its Medicare-Medicaid Plans (MMPs) demonstrations to integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) in five states. This move is part of the phase-out of the Medicare-Medicaid Financial Alignment Initiative (FAI), which is ending MMPs nationwide. Wellcare currently offers MMPs in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas. Members in these states will be transitioned to integrated D-SNPs that combine both Medicare and Medicaid benefits. The company also provides integrated D-SNP products in California, Florida, Hawaii and New Jersey and intends to expand this model further based on state-specific regulations.

The new model aims to improve care coordination for people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid by streamlining services. Existing Centene members affected by this change will be automatically enrolled in the new plans and are advised to review their Annual Notice of Change for updates on their coverage.

Wellcare continues its focus on member experience with enhancements such as digital onboarding tools available in eight languages and increased use of data analytics to tailor services. Frequent surveys are conducted to gather feedback from members about what matters most to them.

In 2026, Wellcare's MA plan footprint grows by 51 counties across eight states: California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, Texas and North Carolina. The company's Spendables card will continue offering preloaded funds usable at over 66,000 retailers nationwide for eligible medical expenses including over-the-counter items and out-of-pocket costs for dental, vision or hearing services.

Members can earn rewards for certain health actions like preventive visits or screenings. Following the end of the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) program, extra benefits such as assistance with groceries or utilities will only be available under specific conditions but eligibility checks have been simplified.

Other highlights include $0 or low copays for primary care visits on all plans; access to digital mental health resources through Dario; insulin costs capped at $35 or 25% of negotiated price; no cost-sharing for recommended adult vaccinations; an out-of-pocket maximum of $2,100 per year under Part D; preferred pharmacy networks including Walgreens and CVS; mail order prescription delivery via Express Scripts Pharmacy; and $0 copays on various preventive services.

Wellcare’s PDP offerings remain unchanged nationwide with two main products—Classic and Value Script—available across all regions. Both plans offer competitive formularies with $0 copays on Tier 1 prescriptions at preferred pharmacies. The Classic plan remains below CMS benchmarks in every region making it suitable for those receiving Low-Income Subsidy support while Value Script maintains one of the lowest premiums nationally.

Wellcare is part of Centene Corporation’s broader strategy following its rebranding efforts begun in January 2022 which unified Allwell, Health Net, Fidelis Care, Trillium Advantage, 'Ohana Health Plan and TexanPlus under the Wellcare name.

Plan benefits vary depending on location and eligibility requirements apply.