2024 WellCare Value Script PDP Review
When you start shopping for a 2024 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, Wellcare is sure to be a company that enters the realm of possibilities.
Over the last several years, Wellcare has become one of the most competitively priced Medicare drug plans available in the central Illinois area. Many of our clients here at Sams/Hockaday have a Wellcare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP).
Before we get into our full Wellcare PDP review, we’d like to share that prescription drug plans are not one size fits all. Just because someone you know loves their Wellcare drug plan doesn’t not means it’ll be right for you.
The prescriptions you take will have a huge impact on which drug plan we recommend. It has a lot to do with each plan’s drug formulary, but before we get into the weeds, let’s quickly go over what Wellcare is.
Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 4 organizations which offer 41 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1‑800‑MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program to get information on all of your options.
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What is WellCare?
Wellcare, acquired by Centene in 2020, is now part of the largest Medicaid-managed care organization in the country. Centene serves more than 28 million members in all 50 states.
Wellcare offers Medicare Advantage Plans in 37 states and stand-alone Prescription Drug Plans nationwide.
How is Wellcare Rated?
Medicare uses a Star Rating System to help consumers understand how well different companies perform. Every Medicare Prescription Drug Plan company is going to have one of these Star Ratings, which range from 1 (worst) to 5 (best).
The Star Rating is a reflection of how well these plans perform in many different areas, including:
- Customer service
- Member complaints
- Changes in the drug plan’s performance
- Member experience with the drug plan
- Drug safety
- Accuracy of drug pricing
Every year, Medicare reviews how each plan performs, and it releases brand new Star Ratings in the fall.
While the star rating isn’t everything, it's one piece of the puzzle when looking at which drug plan will be right for you.
Wellcare was given an overall 2024 Star Rating of 3.5.
That’s back up from a quick dip to 3 stars in 2023 (likely due to certain post-pandemic flexibilities being removed), but not quite back up to the 4-star rating it held in 2022.
However, considering the downward trend of many plans’ star ratings for the second consecutive year in a row, the increase is a step in the right direction.
Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans Offered by Wellcare
Wellcare currently offers 3 PDP options in Illinois:
- 2024 Wellcare Value Script
- 2024 Wellcare Classic
- 2024 Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus
Medicare Part D plans do change every single year, and the 2024 plans from WellCare are different than last year.
When looking at these 3 plan options, each plan is going to suit different individuals with different prescription regimens.
2024 Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus
This is the plan with the highest premium. In Decatur, IL, this plan is $79.00 per month (up from $71.40 per month in 2023), and it has a $0 drug deductible.
2024 Wellcare Classic
This Wellcare PDP plan has a $27.90 monthly premium (up from $26.90 in 2023). It comes with a $545 drug deductible.
2024 Wellcare Value Script
Wellcare’s lowest premium plan is the Value Script. This plan, which has always had a low premium, now has a $0 premium for 2024 (previously $8.10 in 2023). It has a $545 drug deductible.
If you don't take any drugs and are trying to avoid the penalty for not choosing a drug plan, this $0 premium plan may be a great option.
How Different Are The 2024 Wellcare Plans?
You might be wondering why the Medicare Rx Value Plus plan has a $79.00 premium while the Value Script is $0 per month.
The difference becomes clear when you start entering your prescription medications.
Different drugs are in different formularies, so running a personalized comparison is key. In addition, the highest premium plan has a $0 drug deductible, which may be important to you.
Ultimately, it’s a math game. When you add up the premium, the deductible, and your copays, which plan has the lowest annual cost?
That is going to vary depending on the specific drugs you take.
Also, Wellcare may not have the best plan for you once you enter in your medications. That's why we do no-cost drug comparisons here at Sams/Hockaday, where we look at all available carriers and compare them.
How Does a Wellcare Medicare Drug Plan Work?
All Medicare Part D drug plans follow an outline:
- Premium
- Yearly deductible
- Copayments or coinsurance (one or the other)
Every plan is going to have all three of these elements – it’s just a matter of what they are, and what drugs you’re taking. That will determine your annual price.
In addition, insurance companies – including Wellcare – develop a formulary. A formulary is a list of drugs the Part D company chooses to cover.
Within that formulary, you have drug tiers.
Drug Tiers, Explained
Generic drugs are found in the lower tiers, whereas specialty/brand-name drugs will be in the higher (and more expensive) tiers.
Drugs in the Preferred Generics tier won't cost you anything at the pharmacy counter since they're a $0 copay with all three of the Wellcare PDP plans.
However, if you have any prescriptions in the Select Care Drugs tier, you'll only pay $0 if you have the classic plan. You'll pay a $2.00 copay with the Value Script and an $11 copay if you have the Rx Value Plus plan.
Keep in mind that different companies put different drugs in different tiers (can you say different one more time?!). That’s why it’s important to shop around!
So if you can get your drug priced as a Preferred Generic with Wellcare, and it’s a Preferred Brand with a different company, it’s going to cost you less with Wellcare.
Conclusion
For 2024, there are 22 drug plans to choose from here in Decatur, IL, and these three from Wellcare represent a good selection.
Because drug plans aren’t one-size-fits-all, it’s important to run your own drug comparison with your exact list of medications. Many times, we find that a Wellcare drug plan is the best plan for our clients. Other times, it’s not – it's very personalized.
To find out if a Wellcare PDP plan is the best plan for you, schedule an appointment online with one of our local agents. We’d love to run a no-cost drug comparison for you!
You can also call our office at 217-423-8000.
You can purchase a drug plan or make changes to yours during the Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare. This begins on October 15 and ends December 7, so schedule your appointment today!
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Get a Prescription Drug Plan Comparison
Whether your premiums change or not, there's a good chance that the medications covered by your plan change yearly. Let us help you choose the best plan.
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