Medicare Advantage

Wellcare's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in Stockton, mapped plan by plan

STOCKTON, Calif. — October 2026. Wellcare's Medicare Advantage lineup in San Joaquin County looks different for 2027 than it did this year, and Stockton residents comparing plans during the Annual Enrollment Period will want to see what the carrier is actually offering before the December 7 deadline. According to CMS Landscape data, Wellcare will offer two Medicare Advantage plans in the county next year — both HMOs, both with drug coverage, and both listed as new for 2027.

MyMedicarePlans.org is an independent consumer news site. We are not Wellcare, and we do not sell plans. This article walks through what the public CMS files show about Wellcare's 2027 Stockton-area lineup, so you can take that information into Medicare's own Plan Finder and check it against your doctors and prescriptions.

What Medicare Advantage plans is Wellcare offering in Stockton for 2027?

Wellcare is offering 2 Medicare Advantage plans in San Joaquin County — the county Stockton is in — for the 2027 plan year. Both are HMO plans, both include Part D prescription drug coverage, and one is a Special Needs Plan.

CMS groups Wellcare under the parent company Centene (WellCare). The two plans, in alphabetical order, are:

• Wellcare Health Net Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) — HMO D-SNP; with drug coverage
• Wellcare Simple (HMO) — HMO; with drug coverage

The table below lists every plan in the carrier's 2027 Stockton-area lineup. We can tell you what type each plan is and whether it includes drug coverage, but under CMS communications rules we cannot publish premiums, copays, deductibles, networks, drug lists or star ratings here — those belong on Medicare's Plan Finder and in each plan's own Evidence of Coverage.

What is new or not returning in Wellcare's 2027 Stockton lineup?

Both Wellcare plans on offer in San Joaquin County for 2027 are listed as new for next year, and both of Wellcare's 2026 plans in the county are not returning. There are no renames in this carrier's lineup.

If you are currently enrolled in a Wellcare plan here, that matters: your plan should send you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) in September explaining what is happening to your coverage. If a plan is being discontinued, members generally get a Special Enrollment Period to pick a new plan. If you do nothing and your current plan is not offered in 2027, you could end up back in Original Medicare without drug coverage — so this is a season to read your mail.

What is a D-SNP, and who qualifies in San Joaquin County?

A Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) is a type of Medicare Advantage plan built for people who have both Medicare and full Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program). Wellcare Health Net Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) is the D-SNP in this carrier's 2027 Stockton lineup.

You can only enroll in a D-SNP if you qualify for both programs. If you are not sure whether you qualify for Medi-Cal, the county's Human Services Agency can tell you. Wellcare's other 2027 plan here, Wellcare Simple (HMO), is a standard Medicare Advantage HMO with drug coverage and is not limited to dual-eligible members.

Who else offers Medicare Advantage in San Joaquin County for 2027?

Wellcare is one of 11 carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans in San Joaquin County for 2027. In total, 39 Medicare Advantage plans are available in the county next year across all carriers.

In other words, if a Wellcare plan does not fit your doctors or your prescriptions, there are many other options to consider. Medicare's Plan Finder lets you see every plan available at your ZIP code, side by side.

How do I check a Wellcare plan against my doctors and prescriptions before December 7?

Go to medicare.gov/plan-compare, enter your Stockton ZIP code, and add the names of your doctors and the prescriptions you take (with dosages). Plan Finder will show which plans cover your drugs, what tier each drug is on, and whether a given plan lists your providers as in-network.

A few steps that save headaches later:

• Call your doctor's office and ask which 2027 Medicare Advantage plans they will be contracted with — networks can change year to year.
• Ask your pharmacy whether it is a preferred pharmacy for the plan you are considering.
• Read the plan's Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage on the carrier's website for the specifics on cost sharing, prior authorization and referrals.
• If you prefer to talk to a person, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What Medicare dates and 2027 figures should Stockton residents know?

The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 – December 7, 2026. Any change you make in that window takes effect January 1, 2027. If you do nothing, your current plan renews for 2027 if it is still offered — with whatever changes are described in your ANOC.

A few program-level figures to keep in mind:

• In 2026, the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 and the maximum Part D deductible is $615.
• In 2027, the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 and the maximum Part D deductible rises to $700.
• The Part D coverage gap ("donut hole") has been eliminated since 2025; Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly amounts, at no extra charge.
• The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not yet been announced; CMS typically publishes them later in the fall.

If you miss the December 7 deadline and stay in a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31, 2027) gives you one more chance to switch Medicare Advantage plans or return to Original Medicare.