Centene consolidating Medicare Advantage plan branding under Wellcare

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Important insurance provider Centene said Thursday it will consolidate all of its Medicare Advantage makes below its wholly-owned subsidiary, Wellcare. Centene acquired Wellcare Well being Ideas in January 2020 for about $seventeen billion.

Centene said the transfer will better align with the firm’s strategy and construct more robust manufacturer recognition.

The insurer’s Medicare makes, which include Allwell, Well being Web, Fidelis Care, Trillium Advantage, Ohana Well being Program, and TexanPlus will come to be a single unified Medicare manufacturer below the Wellcare name.

What is actually THE Influence

Because the acquisition, Wellcare’s Medicare footprint has developed, ensuing in quite a few Medicare Advantage makes throughout 33 states. That was the principal impetus driving the MA manufacturer consolidation strategy, which Centene senior movie president and CEO of Medicare Wealthy Fisher said would result in better service for the firm’s 1.1 million MA members nationally.

The “manufacturer refresh,” as Centene phone calls it, also includes a new, modernized symbol the company hopes will convey a new perception of optimism and client friendliness. The tone and voice of the manufacturer will also be much more straightforward, the insurance provider said, offering an less difficult over-all practical experience for members.

Wellcare has supplied a variety of Medicare items for much more than 20 several years, which include Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Ideas, which present protection over and above primary Medicare. 

Currently, the company provides gains these types of as dental, listening to and vision solutions Flex cards to support with co-pays transportation solutions telehealth visits wellness and exercise packages in-residence assist solutions and exclusive supplemental gains for the chronically sick.

THE Greater Pattern

When Centene initial acquired Wellcare, the combination was expected to make about $five hundred million of yearly web value synergies by the next year, and a push was produced to handle the social determinants of well being these types of as food stuff insecurity, housing instability, homelessness, unemployment, lack of entry to transportation and other non-healthcare obstacles to well being.

It is not the only acquisition Centene has produced in current several years. In January it agreed to acquire Magellan Well being for $2.2 billion the firms said the deal will enable better well being outcomes at decrease full healthcare expenses by means of integrated options, and build alternatives to grow Centene’s specialty care company with improved solutions, new solution advancement and further third occasion interactions.

Not all of Centene’s subsidiaries have experienced a sleek go of it. In March, Ohio Legal professional Typical Dave Yost submitted a lawsuit versus the insurance provider, alleging that company subsidiary Buckeye Well being Program applied a internet of subcontractors for the provision of pharmacy gains to misrepresent pharmacy expenses, ensuing in thousands and thousands of pounds of overpayments by the Ohio Office of Medicaid.

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