Medicare Advantage
Wellcare's 2027 Medicare Advantage lineup in New Orleans: two new D-SNPs, one renamed, two gone
NEW ORLEANS — October 2026. Wellcare's Medicare Advantage lineup for New Orleans is shifting for the 2027 plan year. The carrier will offer seven Medicare Advantage plans in Orleans Parish next year, the same total it offers for 2026, but the mix has changed: two plans are new, two are not returning, and one has been renamed. If you already have a Wellcare plan, your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) spells out exactly what is different for your plan in 2027.
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Key takeaways
- Wellcare will offer 7 Medicare Advantage plans in Orleans Parish for 2027, all HMO-POS, with 3 Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) and 6 that include drug coverage.
- Two Wellcare plans are new for 2027, two are not returning, and one has been renamed; current members should read their Annual Notice of Change for the specifics.
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027.
- Check each plan against your own doctors and prescriptions on medicare.gov's Plan Finder before you decide — the table below lists every Wellcare plan available in the county.
| Fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Orleans Parish (2026) | 65 | CMS |
| Medicare Advantage plans offered in Orleans Parish (2027) | 67 | CMS |
| Plans not returning for 2027 / new for 2027 | 10 / 12 | CMS |
| Organizations offering Medicare Advantage in Orleans Parish (2026) | 8 | CMS |
| Share of eligible beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage, Orleans Parish | 69% | CMS |
| 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 news and education site. We are not Wellcare, and we are not Medicare. Eight other carriers also sell Medicare Advantage plans in Orleans Parish for 2027, for 67 plans in all from every carrier combined.
What Medicare Advantage plans does Wellcare offer in New Orleans for 2027?
Wellcare offers 7 Medicare Advantage plans in Orleans Parish — the county New Orleans sits in — for the 2027 plan year. All 7 are HMO-POS plans. Three of them are Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), designed for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. There are no Chronic Condition SNPs (C-SNPs) or Institutional SNPs (I-SNPs) in Wellcare's 2027 Orleans Parish lineup. Six of the seven include Part D prescription drug coverage; one does not.
The full roster, in alphabetical order, is:
- Wellcare Assist (HMO-POS) — with drug coverage
- Wellcare Giveback (HMO-POS) — with drug coverage
- Wellcare Louisiana Connections Dual Access (HMO-POS D-SNP) — with drug coverage; new for 2027
- Wellcare Louisiana Connections Dual Liberty (HMO-POS D-SNP) — with drug coverage; new for 2027
- Wellcare Louisiana Connections Dual Reserve (HMO-POS D-SNP) — with drug coverage; renamed (was Wellcare Dual Reserve)
- Wellcare Patriot Giveback (HMO-POS) — without drug coverage
- Wellcare Simple (HMO-POS) — with drug coverage
The table below lists every plan with its type and whether it includes drug coverage. We are not permitted to publish premiums, copays, networks, drug lists or star ratings here; those details live on medicare.gov and in each plan's Evidence of Coverage.
What is new or not returning from Wellcare in Orleans Parish for 2027?
Two Wellcare plans are new in Orleans Parish for 2027: Wellcare Louisiana Connections Dual Access (HMO-POS D-SNP) and Wellcare Louisiana Connections Dual Liberty (HMO-POS D-SNP). Both are D-SNPs for people with Medicare and Medicaid.
Two Wellcare plans offered in 2026 are not being offered again in Orleans Parish in 2027. If you are enrolled in a Wellcare plan that is leaving the county, Wellcare must send you a non-renewal notice; it explains your options and the deadlines for choosing something else. You also get a Special Enrollment Period if your plan is discontinued.
One plan has been renamed: what was called Wellcare Dual Reserve (HMO-POS D-SNP) in 2026 appears for 2027 as Wellcare Louisiana Connections Dual Reserve (HMO-POS D-SNP). A rename is just a label change on the surface, but your ANOC will show whether benefits or costs changed too.
What should I do if my Wellcare plan is changing?
Read the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) your plan mailed in September. It is the plain-language document that lists every change for 2027 — premiums, copays, the drug formulary, the provider network, extra benefits, and whether the plan still exists. If something in it matters to you, you have the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7, 2026 to switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, change to Original Medicare, or add a stand-alone Part D plan.
Doing nothing is a choice too. If your current Wellcare plan is being offered again in 2027, it renews automatically on January 1, 2027 with the changes in the ANOC. If it is one of the two Wellcare plans not returning, you need to pick something else or you will be returned to Original Medicare without drug coverage.
How do I check a plan against my doctors and prescriptions before December 7?
Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. Enter your ZIP code, then add your prescription drugs and your preferred pharmacy. The tool shows the plans available to you in Orleans Parish, your estimated yearly drug cost under each, and the plan's star rating. You can also create a secure account to save your drug list.
To check doctors and hospitals, call the plan directly or search the plan's online provider directory. Networks can change during the year, so it is worth asking your doctor's office whether they will accept the specific plan — by name — in 2027. If you prefer to talk to someone, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What 2027 Medicare figures are already set?
Two Part D numbers for 2027 are confirmed by CMS. The Part D out-of-pocket cap will rise to $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100 in 2026. The Part D maximum deductible a plan can charge will be $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 Medicare uses, not a price any particular plan charges.
The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not been announced yet. CMS usually publishes them in the fall, typically in November. We will not estimate them.
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 Orleans Parish
(MA penetration in Orleans Parish)
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 Orleans Parish for 2027
CMS lists 7 Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans in Orleans Parish for 2027, alphabetically by carrier. 8 other carriers also offer plans there.
| Plan | Type | Drug coverage | For 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centene (WellCare) 7 plans | |||
| Wellcare Assist (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | Returning |
| Wellcare Giveback (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | Returning |
| Wellcare Louisiana Connections Dual Access (HMO-POS D-SNP) | HMO-POS D-SNP | Yes | New |
| Wellcare Louisiana Connections Dual Liberty (HMO-POS D-SNP) | HMO-POS D-SNP | Yes | New |
| Wellcare Louisiana Connections Dual Reserve (HMO-POS D-SNP) | HMO-POS D-SNP | Yes | Renamed |
| Wellcare Patriot Giveback (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | No | Returning |
| Wellcare Simple (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | 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 Orleans Parish 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
Does Wellcare offer any PPO plans in New Orleans for 2027?
I have both Medicare and Medicaid. Which Wellcare plans in New Orleans are built for me?
What happens if I do nothing before December 7, 2026?
Where can I compare Wellcare's plans against other carriers in New Orleans?
- 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 New Orleans
Sources and methodology
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape Source Files
- CMS, Medicare Advantage state/county penetration and enrollment files
- 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 counts, plan names, plan types, SNP counts, drug-coverage counts, and the new/not-returning/renamed changes in Orleans Parish, plus the total number of carriers and plans in the county.
- Medicare.gov: the October 15 – December 7 Annual Enrollment Period dates, the Plan Finder tool for comparing plans against your own doctors and drugs, and the 1-800-MEDICARE helpline.
- CMS announcements for the 2027 plan year: the Part D out-of-pocket cap ($2,400), Part D maximum deductible ($700), and Part D national base beneficiary premium ($41.33).
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.