WellCare Expands Medicare Advantage Service Area Across Eight Counties in Three States

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) announcedtoday that it has added eight new counties across three states to its 2014Medicare Advantage service area. With the addition of these new counties,WellCare will offer Medicare Advantage plans in 210 counties in 14 states. Theadditional counties are in our newest Medicare Advantage markets in Arizona,California and Kentucky.  When Medicare open enrollment begins, eligible seniors in Arizona's La Paz,Maricopa and Pima counties; California's Fresno County; and Kentucky'sBullitt, Carroll, Gallatin and Owen counties will now be able to selectWellCare as their Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare's open enrollment periodbegins on October 15 and ends on December 7. Across the country, WellCare Medicare Advantage plans are available to morethan 17 million Medicare-eligible residents. As of June 30, 2013, WellCareserves approximately 272,000 Medicare Advantage members nationwide. "WellCare is singularly focused on serving our members day in and day out, andwe understand their special needs and challenges," said Rob Beck, vicepresident, member operations. "We look forward to the opportunity to servebeneficiaries in these new counties." In addition to the expansion of its Medicare Advantage service area, WellCarerecently announced that it has agreed to acquire Windsor Health Group, Inc.from Munich Re. Windsor currently offers Medicare Advantage plans primarily inMississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and South Carolina. WellCare expects theWindsor acquisition to close in the next three to four months, subject tocustomary regulatory approvals. Windsor has been approved to serve 192counties in 2014. In addition, Windsor also offers stand-alone prescriptiondrug plans in various other counties across the country. For information on becoming a WellCare member, or to learn more about thecompany's plans and services, Arizona and Kentucky residents can call1-866-765-4385 (TTY/TDD: 1-877-247-6272) and California residents can call1-866-999-3945 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-735-2929).