Wellcare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield

Wellcare and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield are two very different health insurance companies. One serves a limited market with a small selection of plans. The other is among the largest insurance providers in the U.S. with a large footprint and diverse product lineup.

So how can you possibly make a comparison between Blue Cross Blue Shield (Anthem) vs. Wellcare?

Wellcare has over 5.3 million Medicare members in Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs).

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is part of the Anthem family of brands which operate under different names according to the state or region where the company does business.

For example, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona offers Medicare plans in the state of Arizona, but Anthem plans might be offered by Florida Blue in Florida or by other names depending on where you live. You may even see names like "Simply,” "Wellpoint" and other names associated with the Anthem brand.

Wellcare vs. Anthem BCBS: Types of Insurance Plans Offered

Wellcare offers Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans in some areas.

Like Wellcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) also sells Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans. However, Blue Cross Blue Shield also sells Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans in some states.

Areas Served

Wellcare sells Medicare Part D plans in all 50 states. The company sells Medicare Advantage plans in 32 states.

Anthem operates under different affiliate names throughout various states and regions of the country.

Provider Access

Doctor.com reports that nearly 15,451 doctors accept Wellcare insurance plans. This includes emergency room doctors, surgeons, family doctors, psychiatrists, OBGYNs and more. You should always ask your doctor or provider if they accept a Wellcare Medicare plan before you enroll in the plan.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is widely accepted, but you can use the Anthem BCBS provider lookup tool to find out if a doctor near you is part of a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan network.

Customer Experience

Visitors to the Wellcare website can easily locate a participating provider, and members can log into an online portal to manage even more with their benefits. The company also offers a few mobile apps for more direct health information access, although the customer ratings are low for both apps in the Apple app store and the Android app store.

Wellcare does not offer a live online chat option, but the company does offer customer support through phone and email.

Blue Cross Blue Shield members can search for participating providers on the company website, and plan members can also use an online member services portal for further access to benefits and claims information. Mobile apps are available for most BCBS affiliate companies and generally have above average ratings for both iOS and Android platforms.

If you want to contact Blue Cross Blue Shield, you can call the BCBS customer service phone number located in your plan information or on your Medicare Advantage plan card.

Wellcare Medicare vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield: The Verdict

Wellcare offers only offers plans in select areas of the country, many consumers may enjoy that more narrowly focused feel.

While Blue Cross Blue Shield has all the benefits of a big company, its size can also be a hinderance to consumers.

At the end of the day, the best insurance company is the best one for you.

Helpadvisor.com is owned and operated by Tranzact, the parent company of TZ Insurance Solutions LLC, which is the owner/operator of Medicareadvantage.com and other websites mentioned on HelpAdvisor and which has a financial relationship with some of the carriers listed on HelpAdvisor. This may influence which products we write about, but HelpAdvisor maintains editorial independence, and our opinions and evaluations are our own.