WellCare Gives More Than $110,000 to the American Diabetes Association in Honor of American Diabetes Month

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- WellCare Health Plans, Inc. WCG announced today that the company's employees and the WellCare Community Foundation together gave more than $110,000 to support the 2016 American Diabetes Association's (Association) Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes campaign in honor of American Diabetes Month this November.

The WellCare Community Foundation donated $35,000 as the presenting sponsor of the 2016 Tampa Bay Step Out event. WellCare employees raised more than $75,000, and more than 560 registered walkers joined 29 company teams that participated in 14 Step Out events across the country.

More than 29 million Americans are living with diabetes, and 86 million are living with prediabetes, a serious health condition that increases a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Furthermore, as many as 1 in 3 U.S. adults could have diabetes by 2050.

"Diabetes is a chronic condition that impacts a significant number of our members as well as our employees, family members and friends," said Dr. Traci Ferguson, WellCare's chief medical director, medical management and the company's executive sponsor of its fundraising initiative for the Association. "The disease increases the risk for many other serious health conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, blindness and stroke. That's why WellCare and its employees are proud to partner with the Association to help those living with diabetes live better, healthier lives."

"As we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of our Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes Signature Events, we are proud to have had the continued support of WellCare for the past eight years," said Jonathan Webb, vice president of corporate alliances for the Association. "Thank you, WellCare, for helping us to deliver on our mission to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes through research, advocacy and education."

About the WellCare Community Foundation
The WellCare Community Foundation was established in 2010 and is a non-profit, private foundation. Its mission is to foster and promote the health, well-being and quality of life for the poor, distressed and other medically under-served populations – including those who are elderly, young and indigent – and the communities in which they live. The WellCare Community Foundation carries out this mission by supporting work that helps people live healthy, safe and productive lives, and by assisting groups with serious and neglected health needs. Underscoring this mission is the WellCare Community Foundation's goal to serve as a national resource that fosters an environment where there is a continuum of education, access and quality health care, all of which improve the overall health, well-being and quality of life of targeted beneficiaries.

About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health Plans, Inc. WCG focuses exclusively on providing government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical needs. The company served approximately 3.8 million members nationwide as of Sept. 30, 2016. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at www.wellcare.com.

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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.