Medicare Advantage
Wellcare Medicare Advantage in North Carolina for 2027: 7 Plans, County by County
RALEIGH, N.C. — For the 2027 plan year, Wellcare (which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services groups under Centene) will offer 7 Medicare Advantage plans across North Carolina, according to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files for CY2027. The lineup includes a mix of HMO-POS and PPO plans, plus Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.
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Key takeaways
- Wellcare has 7 Medicare Advantage plans listed statewide in North Carolina for 2027, including 3 D-SNPs, and all 7 include drug coverage.
- A plan listed statewide may not be sold in your county, since Medicare Advantage availability is set county by county.
- Two Wellcare plans from 2026 are not returning for 2027, and no plans are new for 2027; several D-SNPs were renamed under the "Carolina Complete" banner.
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any choice you make takes effect January 1, 2027.
This explainer is published by an independent Medicare education site. We are not the federal government, not affiliated with CMS, and not Wellcare or any other insurance carrier. Our aim is to help North Carolina readers understand what the 2027 CMS data says about Wellcare's statewide footprint — and how to check what is actually available where they live.
What Wellcare offers statewide for 2027
Across North Carolina, Wellcare's 2027 slate breaks down this way, per the CMS Landscape file:
- 7 Medicare Advantage plans total
- By plan type: 3 HMO-POS and 4 PPO
- Special Needs Plans: 3 D-SNPs (no C-SNPs or I-SNPs)
- All 7 plans include Part D prescription drug coverage
Wellcare is one of 16 carriers offering Medicare Advantage in North Carolina for 2027. Across every carrier combined, the state has 179 MA plans listed. The complete carrier-by-carrier and plan-by-plan tables appear elsewhere on this page.
Because Medicare Advantage is sold county by county, the statewide count is a ceiling, not a guarantee. Your ZIP code determines which of these plans you can actually enroll in.
Wellcare plans with the widest county reach
Ranked by the number of North Carolina counties where each plan is listed for 2027 (widest reach first):
1. Wellcare Carolina Complete Dual Liberty (HMO-POS D-SNP) — 71 counties 2. Wellcare Carolina Complete Dual Reserve (HMO-POS D-SNP) — 71 counties 3. Wellcare Simple (HMO-POS) — 71 counties 4. Wellcare Assist Open (PPO) — 70 counties 5. Wellcare Carolina Complete Dual Liberty Open (PPO D-SNP) — 70 counties 6. Wellcare Patriot Giveback Open (PPO) — 70 counties 7. Wellcare Simple Open (PPO) — 70 counties
North Carolina has 100 counties, so even the widest-reach plans do not cover the entire state. Readers should verify county availability before assuming a plan is sold where they live.
What is new or not returning
For the 2027 plan year, Wellcare has:
- 0 plans listed as new for 2027 in North Carolina
- 2 plans from 2026 that are not returning for 2027
Three D-SNPs were also renamed. Under CMS data, the plans formerly called Wellcare Dual Liberty (HMO-POS D-SNP), Wellcare Dual Liberty Open (PPO D-SNP), and Wellcare Dual Reserve (HMO-POS D-SNP) are now listed as Wellcare Carolina Complete Dual Liberty, Wellcare Carolina Complete Dual Liberty Open, and Wellcare Carolina Complete Dual Reserve, respectively.
If you are enrolled in a 2026 Wellcare plan that is not returning, you will receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) from the carrier describing what is happening to your plan and your options. Read that notice carefully when it arrives in the fall of 2026.
Checking whether a plan is offered in your county — and covers your doctors and prescriptions
The statewide list on this page tells you what Wellcare has filed with CMS for North Carolina. It does not tell you what is available in Mecklenburg, Buncombe, Pitt, or any other specific county. To confirm:
1. Go to the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov and enter your ZIP code. 2. Filter by carrier (Wellcare) to see only the plans available where you live. 3. For each plan you are considering, open its Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage. 4. Use the plan's provider directory to check whether your doctors, specialists, and preferred hospitals are in network. 5. Use the plan's formulary (drug list) to check whether your prescriptions are covered and at what tier. 6. If something is unclear, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Networks, formularies, and cost-sharing can change from one year to the next, even for a plan that keeps the same name — which is why checking the 2027 documents matters, even if you are already a Wellcare member.
What to do before December 7
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. During that window you can:
- Join a Medicare Advantage plan for 2027
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
- Move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
- Add, drop, or change a Part D prescription drug plan
Any election you make during AEP takes effect January 1, 2027. A reasonable sequence:
- Early-to-mid October 2026: Watch for your ANOC and Evidence of Coverage from your current plan.
- Mid-October through November 2026: List your doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions, then compare plans on medicare.gov.
- Before December 7, 2026: Finalize your decision and enroll. If you take no action and your current plan is renewing, you will generally stay in it for 2027.
If your Wellcare plan is one of the 2 not returning, you will need to choose a different plan to avoid a coverage gap, or you may default to Original Medicare depending on your situation.
Where to get free help
Two no-cost, unbiased resources are available to every North Carolinian with Medicare:
- Medicare.gov — the official federal site, with the Plan Finder tool, plan documents, and enrollment capability
- 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) — live help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Both can confirm what is offered in your county, help you compare plans side by side, and walk you through 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 North Carolina for 2027
CMS lists 7 Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans across North Carolina for 2027, alphabetically by carrier, widest county reach first. 15 other carriers also offer plans there.
| Plan | Type | Drug coverage | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centene (WellCare) 7 plans | |||
| Wellcare Carolina Complete Dual Liberty (HMO-POS D-SNP) | HMO-POS D-SNP | Yes | 71 |
| Wellcare Carolina Complete Dual Reserve (HMO-POS D-SNP) | HMO-POS D-SNP | Yes | 71 |
| Wellcare Simple (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | Yes | 71 |
| Wellcare Assist Open (PPO) | PPO | Yes | 70 |
| Wellcare Carolina Complete Dual Liberty Open (PPO D-SNP) | PPO D-SNP | Yes | 70 |
| Wellcare Patriot Giveback Open (PPO) | PPO | Yes | 70 |
| Wellcare Simple Open (PPO) | PPO | Yes | 70 |
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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina for 2027?
Does Wellcare offer plans in every North Carolina county?
Are any Wellcare plans new or going away 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.