By the Kryder Cares data team · Reviewed by Kris Kryder, licensed agent · Last updated
Partly. 4 Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans sold in Wood and Lucas County in 2026, including Wellcare Simple and Wellcare Assist, end December 31, 2026 with no successor plan, according to the CMS 2027 plan crosswalk. Wellcare still offers Special Needs Plans and stand-alone drug plans in both counties for 2027.
This applies to members of the four Wellcare plans in the table below who live in Wood County or Lucas County, Ohio. If you are in one of them, choose a new plan by December 7, 2026 and it starts January 1, 2027.
How it works: which Wellcare plans end and which remain
All four ending plans are on Wellcare contract H0908, in both counties. A D-SNP is a Medicare Advantage plan only for people who also have Medicaid. Wellcare has 4 D-SNPs in each county for 2027; the two brand-new ones are shown below.
| Plan (ID) | Type | 2026 premium | 2027 premium | 2027 status (CMS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellcare Simple (H0908-003) | HMO-POS | $0 | None | Terminated, ends Dec 31, 2026 |
| Wellcare Assist (H0908-004) | HMO-POS | $30.10 | None | Terminated, ends Dec 31, 2026 |
| Wellcare Dual Access (H0908-001) | HMO-POS D-SNP | $27.40 | None | Terminated, ends Dec 31, 2026 |
| Wellcare Dual Reserve (H0908-006) | HMO-POS D-SNP | $31.40 | None | Terminated, ends Dec 31, 2026 |
| Wellcare Buckeye Health Dual Access (H4158-002) | HMO D-SNP | Not offered | $0 | New for 2027 |
| Wellcare Buckeye Health Dual Reserve (H4158-003) | HMO D-SNP | Not offered | $0 | New for 2027 |
| Wellcare Classic (S4802-085) | Stand-alone Part D | $7.70 | $7.30 | Continues |
| Wellcare Value Script (S4802-149) | Stand-alone Part D | $7.60 | $5.30 | Continues |
Source: CMS 2027 plan crosswalk; CMS CY2026 and CY2027 landscape, Wood (39173) and Lucas (39095) County and Ohio Part D region 14. Pulled October 30, 2026.
What it changes: no automatic move
These four plans have no successor, so if you do nothing, you are in Original Medicare on January 1, 2027, and Wellcare Simple and Assist members have no drug coverage. That is the situation behind Kris’s own answer, from her Medicare FAQ, to whether Original Medicare alone is enough: “Yes. However, you will not have prescription coverage, and you will face unlimited exposure to those costs due to the gaps in Original Medicare.” If you have Medicaid or Extra Help, you are generally assigned a plan so you are not left without drug coverage (by Medicare, or in some cases through Ohio Medicaid), but an assigned plan may not cover your drugs or use your pharmacy, so it still pays to choose. A Special Enrollment Period runs from December 8, 2026 to the last day of February 2027, but coverage starts the month after you join.
If you would rather go back to Original Medicare, a plan leaving your area gives you a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap policies without health questions, as early as 60 days before and no more than 63 days after your Medicare Advantage coverage ends, per the Medicare guide Choosing a Medigap Policy (pages 15 to 18).
Wellcare Simple had a $0 premium. For 2027, 43 Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage in Wood County and 45 in Lucas County (including Special Needs Plans) have a $0 monthly premium, per the CMS CY2027 landscape. A $0 premium doesn't mean $0 costs: compare copays, the drug list and the network.
What to do next
Bring your Wellcare card, your doctors and your prescriptions. Kris compares the plans she represents in your county on network and drug cost, and enrolls you before December 7. Wellcare is one of the carriers she represents.
Sources
- CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D plan crosswalks (PlanCrosswalk2027)
- CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, Contract Year 2027 (zip)
- CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, Contract Year 2026 (zip)
- CMS: Special Enrollment Periods
- CMS: Choosing a Medigap Policy (guaranteed issue rights, pages 15 to 18)
- CMS: Help with drug costs (Extra Help)
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 14 organizations which offer 119 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. This is a proprietary website and is not associated, endorsed or authorized by the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services or the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This site contains decision-support content and information about Medicare, services related to Medicare and services for people with Medicare. If you would like to find more information about the Medicare program please visit the Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare located at www.medicare.gov.
This answer is general education, not a recommendation for any specific plan. Figures were current as of October 30, 2026.