Medicare Advantage
Wellcare's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in Santa Ana: one renamed, one gone
Fall 2026 — If you have a Wellcare Medicare Advantage plan in Santa Ana, or you're weighing one for next year, the carrier's 2027 lineup in Orange County is now set. Wellcare will offer five Medicare Advantage plans in the county for 2027, down from six this year. One plan is not returning, no plans are brand new, and one plan has a new name. The window to make a change for 2027 coverage runs October 15 through December 7, 2026.
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Key takeaways
- Wellcare offers 5 Medicare Advantage plans in Orange County (where Santa Ana sits) for 2027, all HMOs and all with drug coverage.
- 1 Wellcare plan is not returning for 2027, 0 are new, and 1 is renamed — your Annual Notice of Change has the specifics.
- Any change you make between October 15 and December 7, 2026 takes effect January 1, 2027; if you do nothing, your current plan renews if it is offered next year.
- Wellcare is one of 16 carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans in Orange County for 2027, out of 111 plans in total.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Orange County (2026) | 104 | CMS |
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Orange County (2027) | 111 | CMS |
| Plans not returning for 2027 / new for 2027 | 21 / 28 | CMS |
| Organizations offering Medicare Advantage in Orange County (2026) | 17 | CMS |
| Share of eligible beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage, Orange County | 56% | CMS |
| Residents age 65 and older, Orange County | 514,824 | 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 and is not Wellcare, Centene or Medicare. We publish availability counts from CMS so Santa Ana readers can see what is on the shelf before Annual Enrollment closes.
What Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Santa Ana for 2027?
For 2027, Wellcare offers 5 Medicare Advantage plans in Orange County, which is the county Santa Ana is in. All five are HMOs, and all five include Part D drug coverage. Two are Special Needs Plans: one D-SNP (for people with both Medicare and Medi-Cal) and one C-SNP (for people with certain chronic conditions).
The table below lists every Wellcare plan available in the county for 2027. In alphabetical order, they are Wellcare Health Net Dual Liberty (HMO D-SNP), Wellcare Low Premium (HMO), Wellcare Simple (HMO), Wellcare Simple Focus (HMO), and Wellcare Specialty Simple (HMO C-SNP).
Plan availability is set at the county level by CMS, so these are the same five plans a Wellcare shopper would see anywhere else in Orange County, not just in Santa Ana.
What is new, renamed or not returning from Wellcare in Orange County for 2027?
Compared with 2026, Wellcare has 0 new plans in Orange County for 2027 and 1 plan that is not returning. One plan has been renamed: Wellcare Dual Liberty (HMO D-SNP) is now Wellcare Health Net Dual Liberty (HMO D-SNP). CMS treats a rename as the same plan continuing — your membership moves with it — but the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) your plan mailed in late September is where the specific changes to costs, benefits, drug list and network live.
If your current Wellcare plan is the one that is not returning for 2027, you will get a non-renewal notice from the plan. That notice also opens a Special Enrollment Period so you have extra time to pick a new plan.
How does Wellcare's lineup fit into the rest of Orange County's 2027 options?
Wellcare is one of 16 carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans in Orange County for 2027. Across all carriers, there are 111 Medicare Advantage plans in the county next year. That means Wellcare's 5 plans are one slice of a much larger shelf — useful context if a Wellcare plan does not fit your doctors or prescriptions, because there are many other plans to compare in the same ZIP codes.
We do not rank carriers or plans, and we do not single any out as "best." The right plan depends on your doctors, your medications, your pharmacy and your budget — details only you (or Medicare's tools) can match up.
How do I check a Wellcare plan against my doctors and prescriptions before December 7?
The most reliable way is the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. Enter your ZIP code (Santa Ana ZIPs are in Orange County), add your prescriptions and your preferred pharmacy, and the tool will show each plan's estimated yearly drug costs, the plan's formulary tier for each drug, and whether your pharmacy is in network. For doctors and hospitals, use the plan's own provider directory on Wellcare's website or call the number on the plan's materials to confirm a specific provider is in network for the 2027 plan year — networks can change on January 1.
A short checklist before December 7, 2026:
- Read the Annual Notice of Change your current plan sent you.
- Make a list of every prescription, dose and pharmacy.
- Make a list of the doctors and hospitals you want to keep.
- Run those lists through the Plan Finder at medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- If a plan looks like a fit, confirm your providers directly with the plan for 2027.
What is changing in Medicare itself for 2027?
A few program-level numbers are already confirmed by CMS for 2027. The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026). The Part D maximum deductible a plan can charge is $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026). The Part D national base beneficiary premium for 2027 is $41.33 — that is a formula input CMS uses, not the premium any specific plan charges.
CMS has not yet announced the 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible or the 2027 IRMAA income brackets; those usually come out in November. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread drug costs over the calendar year in level monthly payments, continues in 2027 and is optional.
If you do nothing during Annual Enrollment, your current plan simply renews for 2027 if it is being offered — with whatever changes the ANOC describes.
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 Orange County
(MA penetration in Orange 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 Orange County for 2027
CMS lists 5 Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans in Orange County for 2027, alphabetically by carrier. 15 other carriers also offer plans there.
| Plan | Type | Drug coverage | For 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centene (WellCare) 5 plans | |||
| Wellcare Health Net Dual Liberty (HMO D-SNP) | HMO D-SNP | Yes | Renamed |
| 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 Orange 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.
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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
When do changes I make during Annual Enrollment take effect?
What happens if I do nothing by December 7?
What is the difference between a D-SNP and a C-SNP?
Where can I get unbiased help comparing plans?
Watch
The Medicare Advantage changes for 2027 in California, in 30 seconds
- 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 Santa Ana
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 (CY2026 and CY2027): Wellcare's plan counts and plan names for Orange County, and the county-wide carrier and plan totals.
- CMS — 2027 Part D parameters: the $2,400 out-of-pocket cap, $700 maximum deductible and $41.33 national base beneficiary premium.
- Medicare.gov: the Annual Enrollment Period dates, the Plan Finder tool, and 1-800-MEDICARE contact information.
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.
Content Integrity Standards
- No invented figures. Program-level numbers come from CMS / Medicare.gov; we never use placeholder data.
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This page was last updated: October 2026.