Medicare Advantage

Wellcare's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in Reno: one renamed, one new

RENO, Nev. — Fall 2026. If you have a Wellcare Medicare Advantage plan in the Reno area — or you are weighing one for next year — here is the local picture for 2027. Wellcare is offering two Medicare Advantage plans in Washoe County, the county Reno sits in, for the plan year that starts January 1, 2027. One plan carries a new name, one plan is new to the market, and one plan from this year is not returning. Everything you decide between now and December 7, 2026 takes effect on New Year's Day.

MyMedicarePlans.org is an independent consumer site. We are not Wellcare, and we are not Medicare. We are explaining what the public CMS plan files show for your county so you can check it against your own doctors and prescriptions before the deadline.

Which Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Reno for 2027?

In Washoe County, Wellcare is offering two Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Both are HMO-POS plans, and both include Part D drug coverage. Both are also Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), which are designed for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid.

The two plans, listed exactly as CMS lists them, are:

• Wellcare SilverSummit Healthplan Dual Access (HMO-POS D-SNP)
• Wellcare SilverSummit Healthplan Dual Liberty (HMO-POS D-SNP)

The table below lists every plan with the plan type and drug-coverage detail. For costs, provider networks, drug formularies and star ratings, use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE — those details change each plan year and are only reliable from the official source.

What is new, renamed or not returning from Wellcare in Washoe County for 2027?

Three things are moving in Wellcare's Washoe County lineup for 2027: one plan is new, one plan has been renamed, and one 2026 plan is not returning.

The new plan for next year is Wellcare SilverSummit Healthplan Dual Liberty (HMO-POS D-SNP). The renamed plan is Wellcare SilverSummit Healthplan Dual Access (HMO-POS D-SNP), which was listed in 2026 as Wellcare Dual Access (HMO-POS D-SNP). And one Wellcare plan offered in the county in 2026 is not on the 2027 list.

If you are currently in a Wellcare plan, your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) — the packet that arrives in September — spells out exactly what is happening to your plan, including a rename, a benefit change, or a non-renewal.

What does a D-SNP mean, and who can join one?

A Dual Special Needs Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage plan built for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Both of Wellcare's 2027 plans in Washoe County are D-SNPs.

To join a D-SNP, you need to be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B and also meet your state's Medicaid eligibility rules. In Nevada, Medicaid eligibility is handled by the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services. If you are not sure whether you qualify, Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE can walk you through it. A D-SNP is not a fit for everyone — if you are not dually eligible, these two Wellcare plans would not be the right match, and you would want to look at the broader county lineup.

How many other Medicare Advantage carriers sell plans in Washoe County for 2027?

Eight other carriers also offer Medicare Advantage plans in Washoe County for 2027. Across all carriers, there are 42 Medicare Advantage plans available in the county next year.

In other words, Wellcare's two plans are part of a much bigger local market. If a Wellcare plan is not the right fit — or if you are not dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid — you have other options to compare. The Medicare Plan Finder lets you filter plans by your ZIP code so you only see what is actually offered where you live.

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

The most reliable way is the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. You enter your ZIP code and your prescriptions, and it will show you which plans in Washoe County cover your drugs and give you an estimated yearly cost. For doctors and hospitals, call the plan directly or check its online provider directory — networks can change year to year, so a provider who was in-network in 2026 may not be in 2027.

A short checklist for the weeks between now and December 7, 2026:

• Read your ANOC, which lists every 2027 change to your current plan.
• Make a list of your prescriptions, including dose and frequency.
• Make a list of the doctors, specialists and hospitals you want to keep.
• Check each plan you are considering against both lists on medicare.gov.
• Confirm the plan's 2027 service area includes your ZIP code.

If you do nothing and your current plan is being offered again in 2027, it renews automatically with the changes in the ANOC. Nothing is cut off on December 7 for people who are staying put — the deadline matters if you want to switch, join or drop a plan for January 1, 2027.

What 2027 Medicare figures are already confirmed?

CMS has confirmed a few program-level numbers for 2027 that apply no matter which plan you pick:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027 (it is $2,100 in 2026).
• The Part D maximum deductible rises to $700 in 2027 (it is $615 in 2026).
• The Part D national base beneficiary premium for 2027 is $41.33 — this is a formula input CMS uses, not what any specific plan charges.

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not been announced yet. CMS typically publishes them later in the fall, usually in November. We will update our coverage when they do.