WellCare vs. UnitedHealthcare

In this article...
  • WellCare and UnitedHealthcare are both popular insurance companies that sell private Medicare insurance plans in many areas of the U.S. In this review, we compare WellCare vs. UnitedHealthcare Medicare plans.

WellCare vs. UnitedHealthcare: One of the largest and most widely recognized health insurance companies in the U.S. against a much smaller carrier. 

In this review, we'll compare Medicare plans from WellCare vs. UnitedHealthcare (UHC) to see how these insurance companies stack up.

UnitedHealthcare offers a range of coverage options such as individual and family plans, dental, vision and more.

Both WellCare and UnitedHealthcare offer Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. UnitedHealthcare also provides Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans, though WellCare doesn't.

Wellcare logo


WellCare several types of Medicare Advantage plans, including Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans and Special Needs Plans (SNPs) for people with chronic health conditions or those who are dual-eligible beneficiaries (which means they're eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid). Not all plan types are available in all locations, however.

WellCare offers Medicare Advantage plans in 32 states.

Does Wellcare Offer Medicare Part D?

Yes, WellCare sells Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in all 50 states, and you may have a choice of up to three different plans in your area, depending on where you live.

WellCare offered three national Part D plans in 2024:

  • WellCare Classic
  • WellCare Medicare Rx Value Plus
  • WellCare Value Script
UHC logo


UnitedHealthcare is a much bigger insurance company than WellCare, and they sell Medicare Advantage plans in every state except Alaska. Like WellCare, UHC several different types of Medicare Advantage plans like HMO, PPO and Special Needs Plans.

UnitedHealthcare also sells Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans. These plans offer more flexible provider network rules than some other types of plans and may be used at any health care provider who agrees to the payment terms of the plan. 

 

Does UnitedHealthcare Offer Medicare Part D?

Yes, UnitedHealthcare offers Medicare Part D plans through its partnership with AARP. In 2024, UnitedHeathcare offered two national Part D plans

  • MedicareRx Walgreens
  • MedicareRx Preferred

UnitedHealthcare vs. WellCare: Medicare Supplement Plans

WellCare does not sell Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans, which are plans that can pay for many of your out-of-pocket Medicare costs such as deductibles, coinsurance and copays.

UnitedHealthcare, on the other hand, sells eight of the 10 standardized Medigap plans that are available in most states, including the popular Medicare Supplement Plan C, Medicare Plan F and Medicare Plan G plans. Plan availability will vary by location.

Summary: WellCare vs. UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is a large insurance company selling Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D and Medigap plans all over the U.S. 

WellCare is a much smaller company with more limited options. While this carrier sells Medicare Part D nationwide, its Medicare Advantage plans reach only 32 states and there are no Medigap plans from which to choose.

Compare these brands against other carriers like United Healthcare vs BCBS and Humana vs Aetna Medicare Advantage

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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