Is Wellcare The Same As Medicare

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We and the licensed agents that may call you are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program. Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information contained on this website. This is not a complete listing of plans available in your service area. For a complete listing please contact 1-800-MEDICARE , 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov.

What Do Wellcare Medicare Part D Plans Cover

All Medicare Part D plans are regulated by CMS and must cover a wide range of prescription drugs that people with Medicare take. Each plan has its own formulary and separates drugs into tiers that correspond to costs. Lower tiers include generic, lower-cost medications, and higher tiers include higher-cost, brand name, or specialty drugs.

As with most Medicare Part D plans, Wellcares plans include a coverage gap that begins when you and your plan have spent a certain amount on prescription drugs and ends when youve spent $7,050 and enter the catastrophic coverage period. You then will pay a small coinsurance percentage or copay amount for drugs you need until the end of the year.

When you are in the coverage gap, you will pay up to 25% of drug costs.

Your share of costs for each prescription drug may change depending on which pharmacy you choose, the tier of the drug, and when you enter each coverage phase. You must meet your annual deductible before your plan pays. Wellcares Part D plans include:

• Discounts for preferred retail pharmacies and three-month prescriptions.
• Options for one-month and three-month mail-order prescriptions
• Allowance for those who get Extra Help to use any pharmacy
• Senior Savings Program for select insulins to keep your costs below $35/month

Wellcare Part D Prescription Drug Plans

WellCare operates under several regional brand names, such as Easy Choice in California and TexanPlus in Texas. If you look up WellCare Part D plans in your area, you may find yourself redirected to one of these brands websites.

Plan options in each area vary widely, but in the plans we sampled, copayments for drugs in Tiers 1 and 2 are consistently just a few dollars for a 30-day supply. To get the $0 copayment, youll need to fill them through CVS or CaremarkWellCares preferred pharmacies.

The WellCare Medicare Part D plan that works best for you may be determined by which medications you take.

Check your medications against WellCares drug formulary to find out which tiers they fall into.

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Whats The Bottom Line

WellCares plans can be inexpensive, but it appears to be a case of getting what you pay for. There are no red flags here, but ratings are mediocre and unimpressive. It would likely be beneficial to shop around for an insurance provider with a plan that fits your budget and provides a higher level of service, with additional benefits that provide you with a better health care experience at a price you can afford. There are companies that offer both a great reputation and also a good value for the dollar.

You may wind up choosing an affordable WellCare Medicare plan, but make sure its the best choice first. Compare Medicare quotes right now with our free tool below.

Centene To Consolidate Its Medicare Advantage Plan Branding Under Wellcare

Centene is consolidating all of its Medicare Advantage brands under the Wellcare name, the government insurance giant announced Thursday.

Centene closed its acquisition of Wellcare Health Plans in January 2020, which led to a slew of disparate MA brands across 33 states, the company said. The $17 billion deal created one of country’s largest sponsors of government insurance.

Brand names that will be consolidated under Wellcare include Allwell, Health Net, Fidelis Care, Trillium Advantage, ‘Ohana Health Plan and TexanPlus, Centene said.

“As our Medicare footprint continues to grow, our focus was to create one brand to better align with our strategy and goals, help us deliver on our mission, and, most importantly, better serve our 1.1 million Medicare Advantage members across the country,” said Rich Fisher, senior vice president and CEO of Medicare for Centene, in a statement.

RELATED: How the WellCare acquisition is driving Centene’s approach to Medicare Advantage

In addition to consolidating brands under one name, Wellcare’s branding is getting a refresh, according to the announcement.

The new circular, teal logo aims to feel more modern and consumer-centric, Wellcare said. The company said it also plans to take on a more straightforward tone and voice to ease the member experience.

Open enrollment for Medicare begins Oct. 15.

Read more on

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Unitedhealthcare Medicare Part D Plans

UnitedHealthcare offers Medicare Part D plans through its partnership with AARP. Plans are available nationwide and include three options in most areas:

• MedicareRx Walgreens
• MedicareRx Preferred
• MedicareRx Saver Plus

The Medicare Rx Preferred Medicare drug plan has a $0 deductible, while the MedicareRx Saver Plus plan has a $445 deductible in 2021. The MedicareRx Walgreens plan has a $0 deductible for Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs and a $445 deductible for tiers 3, 4 and 5.

In a sampling of price quotes from Phoenix, AZ, monthly premiums ranged from $31.10 to $90.20. As noted above, the monthly premiums for UHC Medicare Part D plans that are available where you live may be higher or lower than these examples.

What Is Wellcare Health Plan

Based in Tampa, Florida, Well Care Health Plans Inc. was established in 1985 with the aim of providing Medicaid managed care and Medicare to all people. It is a holding company for several subsidiaries including Harmony, Wellcare Health Plan, HealthEase, and Staywell. It has over 3.9 million members countrywide, over 9,100 partners, and 6,000 associates. The company also has many regional offices in Miami, Manhattan, Florida, Baton Rouge, Connecticut, New York, Chicago, Illinois, Texas, Houston, Georgia, Louisiana, and Marietta.

WellCare Health Plan is just one of the many different insurances Medico MD accepts. Please continue reading to see how WellCare could benefit you!

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Medicare Plans Offered By Wellcare

Medicare Advantage plans are provided by a variety of private insurance companies, one of which is WellCare. Well discuss the plans and benefits they offer, including other information, in the following article.

• Finding the Best WellCare Medicare Plan for You

There are two ways to get Medicare when you turn 65, though you may also qualify for coverage if youre under the age of 65 and have a specific medical condition, such as end-stage renal disease.

The first is referred to as Original Medicare, which is obtained through the federal government. This form of Medicare consists of Part A, which is Hospital Insurance, and Part B, also known as Medical Insurance.

The second way to get Medicare is through a private insurance company. This option is typically called Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part C, and its sometimes preferred for two primary reasons. In addition to providing all of the same coverages as Original Medicare parts A and B, many of these plans also provide coverage related to dental, vision, hearing, and prescription drugswhereas Original Medicare does not.

Wellcare And Aetna Enrollment Process

WellCare

You can get several free health insurance quotes with SmartFinancial. For Wellcare enrollment forms visit here.

Aetna

Aetna is available through participating employers. You can also buy an individual or family plan directly from Aetna, the health insurance marketplace or you can get several free quotes with SmartFinancial.

At this time, Aetna offers Medicare, Medicaid, student health insurance and international insurance. For individual and family plans, they offer plans through eHealth, which compares rates from several companies for Affordable Care Act plans, short-term plans and medical indemnity plans.

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How We Reviewed Medicare Providers

Even Medicare health plans with a national presence can vary locally in their cost, quality, and customer satisfaction. To evaluate Medicare plans, we looked at health insurance industry ratings from the primary accrediting agency for health plans, NCQA, and the Medicare Star Ratings from CMS, the regulatory agency that oversees Medicare. We included the National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index, and AM Bests financial stability ratings. We also considered information from the companies on their programs and strategies.

Wellcare And Oscar Mobile Apps Options

The MyWellCare app allows you to keep track of your benefits, look for providers, and use it as a digital ID Card.

The Oscar app allows you to access your health information anytime you need it. It allows you to search for doctors & drugs and even have virtual visits with a doctor.

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How To File A Claim With Cigna And Wellcare Insurance

Cigna

To file a claim with Cigna Health Insurance, use this form. Follow instructions on page 2 of the form. Mail your completed claim form with original itemized bills, to the Cigna HealthCare Claims Office, which is printed on your Cigna HealthCare ID card. For questions, you may call 1 997-1654.

WellCare

Your doctor or care provider should submit a claim to the insurer. You should be covered except for copay. Your insurer will send you an explanation of benefits. If you owe anything, your doctor will send you a bill. If you visit an out-of-network provider, you will not be covered unless it was an emergency. Call 855-672-2755 with any additional questions.

Which Wellcare Medicare Plan With Prescription Drug Coverage Is Right For Me

This is a personal decision and may come down to your specific preferences. Some people who travel frequently may like the flexibility of Original Medicare, which in most cases lets you see any provider in the country that accepts Medicare in this case, you might prefer to enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan for your Part D coverage.

If youre interested in getting coverage beyond your Part A and Part B coverage , you might be interested in a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan, which may include prescription drug benefits, along with additional benefits that Original Medicare doesnt cover. Since benefits may vary by plan, always check with the specific Medicare Advantage plan if theres a specific benefit youre interested in.

Whichever plan type you choose, its important to get Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage as soon as you are eligible, or you may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty with your monthly premium for as long as you have coverage. You may owe a late-enrollment penalty any time that you go without Part D coverage after youre first eligible and dont have other creditable prescription drug coverage for 63 days in a row or more.

New To Medicare?

Becoming eligible for Medicare can be daunting. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you understand Medicare in 15 minutes or less.

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What Is Wellcare Medicare Part D

There are a number of WellCare Medicare Rx Part D prescription drug coverage plans available from WellCare in our sample area.

One example, Classic, has a drug plan with a $405 deductible that applies to all tiers of coverage. After that, Tier 1 has a $0 copay Tier 2, $1 and Tier 3, $32. Tier 4 has a coinsurance amount of 44%, and Tier 5 a coinsurance of 25%.

Extra has no copay or deductible for Tiers 1 and 2. Tier 3 has a copay of $36 and Tiers 4 and 5 have coinsurance amounts of 40% and 33%, respectively.

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Finding The Best Wellcare Medicare Plan For You

To find the WellCare Medicare options available to you, simply visit WellCares website and select state reside in. Next, pick the type of plan you want and enter your zip code.

Youll then see a list of the options available to you. You can click on each one to be taken to a page where you can download the documents related to that specific plan. For instance, if you download its Summary of Benefits, you are provided more information about the plans premium, deductible, copays, and your maximum out-of-pocket responsibility.

The Summary of Benefits also shares what is covered under that plan in relation to preventive care, emergency care, diagnostic services, mental health, physical therapy, and more. If the plan offers coverage for dental, vision, and/or hearing, that information is provided here as well.

WellCares website also lets you compare the WellCare Medicare plans available in your area. Its all presented in an easy-to-read chart that helps you understand how the plans are similar to and different from one another.

Plus, each WellCare plan is shown with a Medicare star rating, which is based on 53 criteria Medicare uses to evaluate all individual plans on a yearly basis. This rating is also based on both quality of the plan and its performance, which gives you an idea of how it compares to all other Medicare plans on the market.

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Wellcare Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans

Special Needs Plans are Medicare Advantage plans geared toward those who have a particular medical condition or financial need.

Here are the different types of SNPS available for those who meet the criteria:

• Chronic Condition Special Needs plans : for people with chronic health conditions
• Institutional Special Needs plans : for people who live in nursing homes or long-term care facilities
• Dual Eligible SNPs : for patients who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid coverage

These plans each offer comprehensive hospitalization, medical service, and prescription coverage but have been separated based on the patients they serve.

What Is Wellcare Medicare Advantage

Our sample California ZIP code returned four Medicare Advantage plans. All of the healthcare plans include hearing, vision, and dental.

There are three health plans that have no additional monthly premium beyond the Original Medicare premium. These are Dividend, Best, and Freedom. All of these are HMO plans with no deductible and $0 copays across the board for office visits and specialists. Freedom is an HMO-SNP plan. The Dividend plan is the only one of the three that has an inpatient hospital copay of $125 a day for the first five days.

Each plan also includes some form of prescription drug coverage. There is no prescription deductible and drugs start at $0 for Tier 1 generic drugs, except for the Freedom plan which has a $445 deductible, leaving you responsible for your prescription drug costs until that deductible is met, excluding Tier 1.

The Plus plan is also an HMO, and again has no deductible and no copays for office visits, although there is an $800 a day copay for the first three days of an inpatient hospital stay. There is a prescription deductible of $445 excluding the covered drugs in Tier 1 and prescription coverage copays after that start at $0.

It can be assumed that these different drugs plans require you to use network pharmacies otherwise you could be subject to an additional cost.

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What Is Wellcare Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage

The United States Congress authorized the Medicare Part D prescription drug program in 2003 and the Medicare Part D benefit went into effect for the first time in 2006.

Under the program, any Medicare plan with prescription drug coverage must provide benefits for a broad range of generic and brand-name medications used to treat many different types of illnesses, diseases, and conditions, including medications in certain protected drug classes. Each Medicare plan that includes prescription drug coverage outlines its benefits in its formulary, which is a list of covered medications and the plan costs for each prescription drug. Plans may change their formularies from time to time, but they must notify you in writing before they do.

Competition: Wellcare Vs Unitedhealthcare

WellCare was not directly ranked, but its partner company was. Centene ranked last overall in a study by J.D. Power with a score of 769 out of 1,000. UnitedHealthcare ranks seventh with a score of 795. WellCare is now part of Centene which extends its geographical reach UnitedHealthcare has a broader footprint. UnitedHealthcare offers Medicare Supplement Insurance plans, which WellCare does not. UnitedHealthcare also benefits from its exclusive affiliation with AARP.

UnitedHealthcare has higher average Star Ratings from CMS than WellCare and more plans that rate highly. UnitedHealthcare has four 5.0-Star plans and seven 4.5-Star plans WellCare has one 4.5-Star plan. Those higher-quality UnitedHealthcare plans may cost more WellCare has more $0-premium plans and lower average costs in many areas.

Depending on your priorities, the choice may be clear: UnitedHealthcare wins on quality, WellCare wins on price. But always check the specifics of the plans available in your area. Cost and quality can vary locally.

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What Else Do I Need To Know About This Type Of Plan

• The plan decides how much you pay for services. The plan will tell you about your cost sharing in the Annual Notice of Change and Evidenceof Coverage documents that it sends each year.
• Some PFFS Plans contract with a network of providers who agree to always treat you even if youve never seen them before.
• Out-of-network doctors, hospitals, and other providers may decide not to treat you even if youve seen them before.
• For each service you get, make sure your doctors, hospitals, and other providers agree to treat you under the plan, and accept the plans payment terms.
• In an emergency, doctors, hospitals, and other providers must treat you.
• Show your plan membership ID card each time you visit a health care provider. Your provider can choose at every visit whether to accept your plans terms and conditions of payment. You cant use your red, white, and blue Medicare card to get heath care because Original Medicare wont pay for your health care while youre in the Medicare PFFS Plan. Keep your Medicare card in a safe place in case you return to Original Medicare in the future.
• Check with the plan for more information.