Wellcare vs. Humana

In this article...
  • Wellcare and Humana both offer Medicare health plans called Medicare Advantage plans. In this review, we compare Wellcare vs. Humana coverage based on plan availability, Medicare quality ratings and more.

No two health insurance companies are created equally, and that’s why comparing carriers is such an important part of the experience when you shop for a Medicare plan.

In this review, we explore Wellcare vs. Humana. Both insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans in various parts of the country. We try to identify some of the key differences between these companies such as plan availability, benefits and costs.

Humana is one of the most popular insurance companies in the country. Nearly one out of every five Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plan beneficiaries (18%) were enrolled in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan in 2024.

Wellcare supplies more than five million Medicare beneficiaries with health insurance. Wellcare parent company Centene is ranked 22 on the Fortune 500 list.

Wellcare vs. Humana: Types of Insurance Plans Offered

Wellcare offers Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans in certain parts of the country.

Humana, on the other hand, sells Part D plans, Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans. The company is also one of the nation's largest providers of group insurance plans, standalone dental insurance plans, vision plans and more.

Areas Served with Wellcare and Humana

Wellcare Medicare Part D plans are offered in parts of all 50 states, while Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans are sold in 37 states.

Humana Medicare plans are available in parts of all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and Humana Medicare Advantage plans were sold in 89% of U.S. counties in 2023.2

Wellcare vs. Humana Provider Access

As one of the nation’s largest health insurance carriers, you’ll typically have little trouble finding a health care provider who accepts Humana. Doctor.com reports more than 543,000 providers accept Humana insurance.

Doctor.com reports that more than 15,000 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.

Financial Ratings

Humana maintains steady financial ratings from the leading credit agencies including:

  • Standard & Poor’s (BBB)
  • Moody’s (Baa2)
  • Fitch Ratings (BBB)
  • A.M. Best (BBB)

The company also holds an “A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Centene (the parent company of Wellcare) also boasts strong financial ratings, including a “BBB” from Fitch Ratings and a “BB” from Standard and Poor’s.

Medicare Star Ratings

Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. Stars are used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to indicate various measures of plan quality, with five stars being the highest score.

94% of Humana Medicare Advantage members were enrolled in a plan rated four stars or higher in 2024.

Customer Experience

Wellcare allows plan members to locate doctors and other providers online and can log into an online account to perform additional tasks related to their benefits. Phone and email support is available (but not live chat) and two mobile apps are available.

Humana also provides accessibility to provider lookups and other benefit management online and through a member portal along with the company’s MyHumana mobile app. Customer support includes dedicated phone lines for each type of plan and live help on Twitter. 

Humana vs. Wellcare: Which is Better?

Wellcare and Humana both have a lot to offer; they just do it in different ways. Whether you prefer a large corporation with more options or that small company feel with a more targeted audience, you may be able to find what you need with either one of these options.

Compare these brands against other carriers like United Healthcare vs Humana and Aetna vs Wellcare

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.

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