WellCare terminating PFFS Medicare Advantage plans at the end of this year (this does not apply to Connecticut, Florida or Texas)

WellCare announced on May 4 that: WellCare Intends to Withdraw in 2010 from Medicare Advantage private fee-for-service (“PFFS”) plans in 2010. Here is some information from the news article:

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. WCG
has notified the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) that it
does not intend to renew its contracts to offer Medicare Advantage private
fee-for-service (“PFFS”) plans in 2010. As of March 31, 2009, about 110,000 of
the approximately 2.5 million members served by WellCare are Medicare Advantage
PFFS members.

WellCare Medicare Advantage plan members whose identification card includes
the letters “PFFS” will be affected by this action. Current WellCare Medicare
Advantage PFFS members do not need to take action now. They will continue to
have access to their WellCare benefits until January 1, 2010. WellCare members
enrolled in a WellCare HMO (coordinated care) plan or a prescription drug plan
(“PDP”), or a WellCare Medicaid plan, will not be affected. WellCare does not
offer Medicare Advantage PFFS plans in Connecticut, Florida, or Texas.

If this change affects you or your Gramps, then you should start thinking about what replacement covering you will want to sign up for. Because these plans vary, it's a good idea to start early, getting information from other providers and thinking about which plans will be best for you. Use the "Medicare" label (in the labels list at right) to look at more information about ways that some plans can be better or worse for you, depending on your needs.