Medicare Advantage
Wellcare's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in Long Beach: one dropped, one new, plan by plan
Long Beach, Calif. — Wellcare's Medicare Advantage lineup for Los Angeles County looks a little different for 2027. One plan is new, two are not coming back, and five plans remain on offer when the Annual Enrollment Period opens Oct. 15, 2026. If you have a Wellcare plan today, now is the time to open the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) that arrived in September and compare it with what the carrier will sell next year.
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Key takeaways
- Wellcare will offer 5 Medicare Advantage plans in Los Angeles County for 2027, all HMOs, all with drug coverage.
- Two Wellcare plans from 2026 are not returning for 2027, and one plan is new; the ANOC spells out any other changes.
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026; any change takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, and doing nothing means your current plan renews if it is offered.
- Wellcare is one of 20 carriers selling Medicare Advantage in the county for 2027; use medicare.gov to check networks and drug lists against your own doctors and prescriptions.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Los Angeles County (2026) | 121 | CMS |
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Los Angeles County (2027) | 124 | CMS |
| Plans not returning for 2027 / new for 2027 | 23 / 26 | CMS |
| Organizations offering Medicare Advantage in Los Angeles County (2026) | 21 | CMS |
| Share of eligible beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage, Los Angeles County | 57% | CMS |
| Residents age 65 and older, Los Angeles County | 1,487,700 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Part B standard monthly premium (2026) | $202.90 | Medicare.gov |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap (2026) | $2,100 | CMS |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap (2027) | $2,400 | CMS |
| Annual Enrollment Period (for 2027 coverage) | October 15 – December 7, 2026 | Medicare.gov |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period | January 1 – March 31 | Medicare.gov |
Area counts are for the county as a whole and are not a recommendation of any plan. Program figures are set nationally.
MyMedicarePlans.org is an independent consumer site, not affiliated with Wellcare or Medicare. This article walks through the Wellcare plans available in the county where Long Beach sits so you can check your doctors and prescriptions before the Dec. 7, 2026 deadline.
Which Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Long Beach for 2027?
Long Beach is in Los Angeles County, where Wellcare (CMS lists it under Centene) will offer 5 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. All five are HMOs, and all five include Part D drug coverage. Two of those plans are Special Needs Plans: one Dual-Eligible SNP (D-SNP) for people who have both Medicare and Medi-Cal, and one Chronic Condition SNP (C-SNP) for people with a qualifying condition.
In alphabetical order, Wellcare's 2027 plans in the county are: Wellcare Health Net Dual Align (HMO D-SNP), Wellcare Low Premium (HMO), Wellcare Simple (HMO), Wellcare Simple Focus (HMO), and Wellcare Specialty Simple (HMO C-SNP). The table below lists every plan.
What is new or not returning from Wellcare in Los Angeles County for 2027?
For 2027, Wellcare is adding 1 new plan in Los Angeles County — the Wellcare Health Net Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) — and 2 of its 2026 plans will not be offered again. No plans in this carrier's lineup were simply renamed.
If one of your current Wellcare plans is on the list of plans not returning, you will get a non-renewal letter from the carrier. You still have until Dec. 7, 2026 to pick another Medicare Advantage or stand-alone Part D plan for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2027. If a plan continues, the ANOC mailed in September describes what is changing — premium, copays, drug tiers, network — for the coming year.
What is a Special Needs Plan, and who qualifies?
A Special Needs Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage plan built for a specific group. Wellcare's 2027 county lineup includes two: a D-SNP for people enrolled in both Medicare and Medi-Cal, and a C-SNP for people with a qualifying chronic condition such as diabetes or chronic heart failure. The exact condition list and eligibility rules are set by the plan and reviewed by CMS.
If you think you qualify, you can enroll outside the regular Annual Enrollment Period using a Special Enrollment Period. Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE can confirm whether you are eligible.
How do I check a Wellcare plan against my doctors and prescriptions before Dec. 7?
The fastest way is the Plan Finder at medicare.gov. Enter your ZIP code, add your prescription drugs with doses, and add the pharmacies you use. The tool will show each plan's estimated yearly drug cost and whether your pharmacy is preferred, standard or out of network.
For doctors and hospitals, use the plan's own online provider directory or call Wellcare's member services number listed on the plan page. A provider can be in network for one plan and out for another from the same carrier, so check the specific plan name, not just "Wellcare." If you want to talk it through with a person, 1-800-MEDICARE is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
What else should Long Beach shoppers keep in mind for 2027?
Wellcare is one carrier among many. For 2027, 20 carriers together offer 124 Medicare Advantage plans in Los Angeles County, so it is worth comparing across insurers if your current plan is changing in ways that do not fit your budget or your care.
A few program-level numbers for 2027 that CMS has confirmed:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026).
- The Part D maximum deductible is $700 (up from $615 in 2026).
- The Part D national base beneficiary premium is $41.33 — a formula input, not what any specific plan charges.
The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, had not been published as of September 2026; CMS usually releases them in November. The coverage gap (donut hole) was eliminated in 2025, so Part D now has three phases, and the optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in level monthly amounts.
What happens if I do nothing by Dec. 7, 2026?
Nothing changes on its own. If your current plan is offered again in 2027, you stay in it with the updates in your ANOC. If your plan is not returning, you have time to pick a new one during Annual Enrollment, and if you miss that window, Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs Jan. 1 – March 31, 2027 for Advantage members who want to switch once.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Los Angeles County
(MA penetration in Los Angeles County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
2027 plan lineup
Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans in Los Angeles County for 2027
CMS lists 5 Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans in Los Angeles County for 2027, alphabetically by carrier. 19 other carriers also offer plans there.
| Plan | Type | Drug coverage | For 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centene (WellCare) 5 plans | |||
| Wellcare Health Net Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) | HMO D-SNP | Yes | New |
| Wellcare Low Premium (HMO) | HMO | Yes | Returning |
| Wellcare Simple (HMO) | HMO | Yes | Returning |
| Wellcare Simple Focus (HMO) | HMO | Yes | Returning |
| Wellcare Specialty Simple (HMO C-SNP) | HMO C-SNP | Yes | Returning |
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files, plan years 2026 and 2027. Plan availability is set at the county level. No plan is ranked or recommended; premiums, benefits, networks and star ratings are not shown. Plan details come from the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or the plan itself.
The 2027 choices, by type
How Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans in Los Angeles County break down for 2027
HMO plans use a network and usually a primary-care doctor and referrals; HMO-POS plans add some out-of-network coverage; PPO plans also cover out-of-network care, at a higher share; PFFS plans pay any provider that accepts the plan’s terms. Special Needs Plans serve people with Medicare and Medicaid (D-SNP), certain chronic conditions (C-SNP) or living in an institution (I-SNP).
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files, plan years 2026 and 2027. Plan availability is set at the county level. No plan is ranked or recommended; premiums, benefits, networks and star ratings are not shown. Plan details come from the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or the plan itself.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Long Beach for 2027?
What should I do if my Wellcare plan is not returning in 2027?
Are Wellcare's plans the only Medicare Advantage choices in Long Beach?
Where can I confirm whether my doctor and drugs are covered?
- CMS — MA Landscape Source File (plan-level availability by county)
- CMS — MA Landscape Source Files, current and coming plan year (year-over-year comparison)
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Also for Long Beach
Sources and methodology
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape Source Files
- CMS, Medicare Advantage state/county penetration and enrollment files
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (table B01001, age 65 and older)
- Medicare.gov, Medicare costs (Part B premium)
- CMS, Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) program rules
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D plan-year announcements
- Medicare.gov, enrollment periods and plan rules
Figures cited in this article
- CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files (plan years 2026 and 2027): Wellcare's plan names, plan types, SNP designations, drug-coverage indicator, year-over-year changes, and total plan and carrier counts for Los Angeles County.
- Medicare.gov: Annual Enrollment Period dates, Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment dates, and the Plan Finder tool for checking providers and prescriptions.
- CMS Part D program parameters for 2026 and 2027: out-of-pocket cap, maximum deductible, and national base beneficiary premium.
How we put this together: area counts come from the CMS files listed above for the county that contains this city, program figures come from CMS, Medicare.gov and the Social Security Administration, and no plan is ranked or recommended.
By The Medicare Desk · Published . For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
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This page was last updated: October 2026.