WellCare AEP 2027: Strategy at a Glance

WellCare, the Medicare brand of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), enters AEP 2027 with a focused growth strategy centered on Dual Eligible beneficiaries, plan quality improvement, and broker investment. After navigating a challenging environment that included MA plan exits in several markets and industry-wide benefit reductions, WellCare is communicating a clear message to brokers: the company is leaning into its strongest markets and investing in the distribution relationships that drive enrollment.

According to a strategy presentation shared at a broker conference in September 2026, WellCare’s AEP 2027 approach is built around six pillars:

This strategy is notable context given the broader Medicare Advantage market environment. As detailed in our analysis of MA carrier exits heading into 2027, WellCare did exit plans in some markets. The AEP 2027 strategy represents where WellCare is choosing to focus and grow — not a wholesale expansion of its entire footprint.

13 New Plans Launching for 2027: Southeast Is the Strongest Growth Region

WellCare is launching 13 new Medicare Advantage plans for contract year 2027. The Southeast is identified as the company’s strongest growth region, with Florida, Louisiana, and Georgia named as priority markets.

This is strategically meaningful for brokers operating in these states. WellCare has historically built strong market presence in Medicaid and Dual Eligible populations across the Southeast, and the 2027 expansion appears designed to extend that footprint into the Medicare Advantage market more aggressively.

Why the Southeast?

The Southeast represents a significant Medicare Advantage opportunity for several interconnected reasons:

• Florida: The largest Medicare market in the country, with over 4.8 million Medicare Advantage enrollees as of 2026. Florida also has a high concentration of Dual Eligible beneficiaries who qualify for D-SNP plans — WellCare’s stated lead strategy.
• Louisiana: A high-Medicaid, high-duals state where WellCare already has significant Medicaid managed care presence through Centene. D-SNP integration creates a natural extension for existing Medicaid members aging into Medicare.
• Georgia: A growing Medicare market with expanding Dual Eligible population, where several MA carriers have been reducing their presence — creating openings for carriers committed to the market.

D-SNP Duals Growth: WellCare’s Lead Strategy for AEP 2027

WellCare’s primary growth driver for AEP 2027 is Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans — D-SNPs. These plans serve individuals who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, a population that is typically lower-income, higher-need, and underserved by standard MA plans that aren’t designed around their specific coordination needs.

What is a D-SNP and who qualifies?

A Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage plan specifically designed for individuals who are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid — commonly called “dual eligibles.” These individuals receive benefits coordination across both programs, often including:

• $0 or very low premiums (Medicaid typically pays the Part B premium)
• $0 cost-sharing on many services
• Enhanced supplemental benefits that address social needs
• Integrated care coordination between Medicare and Medicaid benefits
• Targeted chronic condition management for complex health needs

$0 Part D Copays on D-SNP Plans

WellCare’s AEP 2027 strategy includes offering $0 Part D copays on its D-SNP plans. This is a significant value proposition for dual eligible beneficiaries who are often on multiple medications and face cost barriers to adherence. For brokers, a $0 Part D copay structure is a clear, easy-to-communicate benefit that resonates immediately with this population.

WellCare’s integrated D-SNP model

WellCare is continuing to build out its integrated D-SNP model, which coordinates both Medicare and Medicaid benefits under a single plan. For 2026, WellCare launched this model in eight new states as part of the broader transition from Medicare-Medicaid Plans (MMPs) to integrated D-SNPs. The 2027 D-SNP expansion builds on this foundation, leveraging Centene’s existing Medicaid managed care infrastructure to identify and enroll dual eligible beneficiaries who are not yet in an optimized plan.

For brokers, this means WellCare brings a built-in pipeline advantage in markets where Centene manages Medicaid: members who are aging into Medicare or who have recently qualified for Medicaid can be identified and outreached for D-SNP enrollment.

Spendables Card: 400+ New Merchants Including Walmart.com This Q4

The WellCare Spendables® card is one of the most recognizable supplemental benefit tools in the company’s product portfolio. It provides eligible members with a preloaded benefit card usable at a wide network of retailers for approved health-related purchases. For AEP 2027, WellCare is significantly expanding the card’s merchant network by adding 400+ new merchants — with Walmart.com slated to join the network in Q4 of this year.

What can the Spendables card be used for?

Depending on the specific plan, the Spendables® card may cover:

Why Walmart.com matters for WellCare members

Adding Walmart.com to the Spendables card network is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement for WellCare’s membership base — which skews toward lower-income and dual eligible beneficiaries for whom Walmart is already a primary retailer. Online ordering through Walmart.com also expands access for members with transportation limitations or mobility restrictions, removing a key friction point in benefit utilization.

SSBCI: WellCare Says It’s Faster and Clearer for 2027

WellCare’s AEP 2027 presentation described their SSBCI process as “faster and clearer” — a direct response to the operational challenges plans have faced as CMS tightened SSBCI eligibility requirements. Given that the 2027 Final Rule eliminated self-attestation and requires plans to verify all three “chronically ill” criteria through objective clinical evidence before administering benefits, the ability to run this process efficiently is a genuine operational differentiator.

For brokers, a faster and clearer SSBCI process means:

• Clients who qualify for SSBCI benefits can expect faster confirmation and benefit access after enrollment
• Less administrative friction in helping clients understand their eligibility status
• Clearer eligibility criteria make it easier to explain to clients before they enroll which benefits they are likely to receive
• Reduced risk of client frustration if benefit timelines and eligibility processes are well-communicated upfront

Star Ratings: All Southeast Focus Markets Improving for 2027

WellCare states that all plans in its Southeast focus markets — Florida, Louisiana, and Georgia — are improving Star Ratings for 2027. This is significant because CMS Star Ratings directly affect plan bonuses, benefit budgets, and the overall sustainability of plan offerings in a given market.

Why Star Ratings matter to brokers

Medicare Advantage plans that earn 4 or more Stars (out of 5) qualify for bonus payments from CMS, which translate into richer benefit packages, lower premiums, and enhanced rebate dollars that fund supplemental benefits. Plans with strong Star Ratings typically offer:

• More competitive supplemental benefits (dental, vision, hearing, OTC)
• Lower or $0 premiums, strengthening the plan’s value story
• Better member satisfaction scores, which typically improve retention
• CMS quality recognition that can be referenced in broker conversations

Note: Centene/WellCare’s Star Ratings have faced scrutiny in prior years, with overall ratings declining for some contracts in the national average environment. The stated improvement across Southeast markets for 2027 represents the carrier’s quality investment in these priority regions. Always verify current Star Ratings for specific plans through the official CMS Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov once 2027 plan data is published.

440+ New Team Members and Full-Year Commission Stability

440+ new local team members added

WellCare has added more than 440 new local team members, including an expanded community relations team that hosted over 30,000 events last year. This is a direct investment in field presence and community engagement — the kind of grassroots outreach that drives D-SNP and dual eligible enrollment among populations who are often reached through community organizations, clinics, and local events rather than mass media.

For brokers, more local WellCare team members means more field support, more co-marketing opportunities, and more plan representatives available for community events, provider office visits, and broker-assisted enrollment sessions.

Full-year commission stability on focus plans

WellCare leadership has committed to full-year commission stability on focus plans for AEP 2027. This is a specific and important commitment given the commission instability that has characterized parts of the Medicare Advantage market heading into this AEP — including some carriers eliminating commissions on certain plans mid-year or in specific markets.

It is worth understanding what “focus plans” means in this context. WellCare — like most large MA carriers — designates certain plans as priority products for the AEP season. Commission stability on focus plans means the rates established in your broker contract will remain consistent throughout the full contract year for those designated products. Always confirm which specific plans carry this commitment in your market, as “focus plans” designations vary by geography.

WellCare AEP 2027 Broker Checklist

Before October 15, every broker planning to sell WellCare Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 should complete the following steps:

How Affordable Care Agents Helps You Maximize AEP 2027 With WellCare and Beyond

AEP 2027 is a complex season. Carrier exits in some markets, expansions in others, D-SNP growth, SSBCI rule changes, commission adjustments, and a record-high number of Medicare members considering switching. Navigating all of this requires the right FMO partner — one who keeps you contracted, certified, informed, and supported.

Affordable Care Agents is a national FMO/IMO that helps licensed Medicare brokers:

• Get contracted with WellCare, and 20+ other Medicare Advantage carriers in your markets
• Access AHIP certification through the exclusive OIM discount
• Stay current on carrier-specific AEP updates, SSBCI rules, and CMS compliance requirements
• Receive back-office support for enrollment, retention, and client communications
• Access lead programs, marketing resources, and agency growth support
• Build or expand a downline agency with recruiting and contracting support

Frequently Asked Questions: WellCare AEP 2027