Medicare Advantage
Wellcare Medicare Advantage in California for 2027: 14 Plans, County by County
SACRAMENTO — For the 2027 plan year, Wellcare — which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services groups under Centene (WellCare) — is offering 14 Medicare Advantage plans in California, according to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files. Every one of those plans includes prescription drug coverage, and the lineup mixes general HMO plans with Special Needs Plans built for specific groups of enrollees. This article, published by an independent Medicare education site that is not affiliated with the government or with any insurance carrier, walks through what the CMS files show for California and how a reader can check what is actually available in their own county.
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Key takeaways
- Wellcare has 14 Medicare Advantage plans listed statewide in California for 2027, and all 14 include drug coverage.
- The 14 plans include 4 Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) and 2 Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs); there are no Institutional SNPs.
- Three Wellcare plans are new for 2027 and five plans from 2026 are not returning, so a plan a reader had this year may look different or be gone next year.
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any choice made during it takes effect January 1, 2027.
What Wellcare offers in California for 2027
Statewide, Wellcare is fielding 14 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, all of them HMOs. Within that count, 4 are Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans for people who have both Medicare and Medi-Cal, and 2 are Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans designed around specific qualifying conditions. There are no Institutional SNPs in Wellcare's California lineup for 2027. All 14 plans include Part D prescription drug coverage, which means a separate standalone drug plan is not needed to go with them.
For context, the CMS Landscape file shows 35 other carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans in California for 2027, and 394 Medicare Advantage plans statewide across all carriers combined. Wellcare is one option within a crowded field, and every plan on this page is offered county by county — a plan listed statewide may not be available where a given reader lives.
Wellcare's plans with the widest county reach
The full plan-by-plan breakdown is in the table on this page, but a few plans show up in more California counties than the others. Wellcare Health Net Dual Align (HMO D-SNP), new for 2027, is listed in 9 counties under its widest-reaching version. Wellcare Health Net Dual Liberty (HMO D-SNP) — which the CMS file flags as a renamed version of the former Wellcare Dual Liberty (HMO D-SNP) — is listed in 8 counties. Wellcare Specialty Simple (HMO C-SNP) is listed in 6 counties, and Wellcare Low Premium (HMO) reaches 4 counties under its widest-listed version. Other plans, including Wellcare CalViva Health Dual Align (HMO D-SNP), the various Wellcare Simple (HMO) and Wellcare Simple Focus (HMO) listings, and Wellcare Specialty Simple Focus (HMO C-SNP), appear in smaller numbers of counties.
A wider county reach does not mean a plan is better or worse than a narrower one — it only tells a reader how many places in California the plan is listed in the CMS file. The table on this page shows each plan's county count.
What is new, what is renamed, and what is not returning
Comparing the 2026 and 2027 CMS Landscape files, Wellcare has 3 plans new for 2027 in California and 5 plans from 2026 that are not returning. Both listings of Wellcare Health Net Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) are marked as new for next year, as is one of the Wellcare Simple (HMO) listings.
Several plans have been renamed. Wellcare Dual Liberty (HMO D-SNP) is now Wellcare Health Net Dual Liberty (HMO D-SNP). Two Wellcare Low Premium (HMO) listings are now Wellcare Low Premium Focus (HMO). A rename changes how the plan appears in Medicare's materials and may change the contract ID a reader uses to look it up, so it is worth checking even if the plan feels familiar.
If a reader was enrolled in one of the five plans that are not returning for 2027, they should expect a non-renewal notice from the plan explaining their options.
Checking whether a plan is offered in your county, your doctors, and your prescriptions
Because Medicare Advantage is sold by county, the single most important check is whether a plan is actually offered in the county where the reader lives. The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov accepts a ZIP code and shows the plans available at that address. From there, three things are worth confirming on each plan a reader is considering:
1. The plan is offered in the reader's county. 2. The doctors, hospitals and clinics the reader uses are in the plan's provider directory. 3. The reader's prescriptions appear on the plan's drug list (formulary) at a cost the reader can live with.
Provider directories and formularies live on the plan's own website and in its Evidence of Coverage document. The Plan Finder links to both. A call to 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, can also confirm what is offered at a specific address.
What to do before December 7
The Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. A choice made during that window takes effect January 1, 2027. A short checklist:
- Read the Annual Notice of Change the current plan mails in the fall; it spells out what is changing for 2027.
- If a current plan is on the not-returning list, review the notice from the plan about options.
- Make a short list of must-keep doctors and current prescriptions before comparing.
- Use medicare.gov's Plan Finder to see every plan available in the reader's county, not just Wellcare's.
- Save confirmation numbers for any enrollment made online or by phone.
There is no advantage to rushing. The December 7 date is firm, but any day inside the window counts the same.
Where to get free help
Two no-cost, non-sales resources cover almost every question:
- Medicare.gov — the official site, with the Plan Finder, plan documents and enrollment tools.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) — staffed around the clock to answer questions and help with enrollment.
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.
2027 plan lineup
Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans in California for 2027
CMS lists 14 Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans across California for 2027, alphabetically by carrier, widest county reach first. 35 other carriers also offer plans there.
| Plan | Type | Drug coverage | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centene (WellCare) 14 plans | |||
| Wellcare Health Net Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) | HMO D-SNP | Yes | 9 |
| Wellcare Health Net Dual Liberty (HMO D-SNP) | HMO D-SNP | Yes | 8 |
| Wellcare Specialty Simple (HMO C-SNP) | HMO C-SNP | Yes | 6 |
| Wellcare Low Premium (HMO) | HMO | Yes | 4 |
| Wellcare CalViva Health Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) | HMO D-SNP | Yes | 3 |
| Wellcare Low Premium (HMO) | HMO | Yes | 2 |
| Wellcare Low Premium Focus (HMO) | HMO | Yes | 2 |
| Wellcare Simple (HMO) | HMO | Yes | 2 |
| Wellcare Simple Focus (HMO) | HMO | Yes | 2 |
| Wellcare Simple Focus (HMO) | HMO | Yes | 2 |
| Wellcare Health Net Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) | HMO D-SNP | Yes | 1 |
| Wellcare Low Premium Focus (HMO) | HMO | Yes | 1 |
| Wellcare Simple (HMO) | HMO | Yes | 1 |
| Wellcare Specialty Simple Focus (HMO C-SNP) | HMO C-SNP | Yes | 1 |
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files, plan years 2026 and 2027. Plans are offered county by county; a plan listed for the state may not be offered in your county. 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 across California 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. Plans are offered county by county; a plan listed for the state may not be offered in your county. 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.
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Frequently asked questions
How many Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans are available in California for 2027?
Does Wellcare offer Special Needs Plans in California for 2027?
What happens if my current Wellcare plan is not returning for 2027?
When do I need to make a decision for 2027 coverage?
- 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.
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This page was last updated: October 2026.