Medicare Advantage Costs, Benefits, and Enrollment: Wellpoint & Amerigroup by State
Medicare Advantage plans offered by Amerigroup and Wellpoint: Key insights for consumers
A comprehensive guide to understanding the costs, benefits, and enrollment processes for Medicare Advantage plans offered by Wellpoint and Amerigroup across various states.
Wellpoint Medicare Advantage Plans
Wellpoint, often known as Blue Cross Blue Shield in various states, and its subsidiary Anthem (previously a separate brand, now consolidated under Elevance Health) have historically offered Medicare Advantage plans under several names. However, the provided search results do not specify the branding relationship between these companies in all states or provide direct, state-by-state breakdowns of their Medicare Advantage plans.
Typical Wellpoint (Anthem, Elevance) Medicare Advantage Features
Although specific product details, state availability, costs, or benefits for Wellpoint’s Medicare Advantage plans are not detailed in the search results, based on general industry knowledge, Wellpoint- and Anthem-branded Medicare Advantage plans in the past have typically included:
- Zero or low monthly premiums
- Prescription drug coverage (Part D) bundled with medical coverage
- Extras like dental, vision, hearing, fitness programs, and telehealth
- Provider networks (HMO, PPO, PFFS options in select regions)
- Maximum out-of-pocket limits for in-network care
- Wellness and preventive care incentives
Enrollment Process
- Enrollment periods: Initial, Annual, and Special Enrollment Periods as allowed by Medicare
- Apply online, by phone, or with a licensed agent
- Eligibility: Must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B and live in the plan’s service area
Amerigroup Medicare Advantage Plans
Amerigroup, owned by Elevance Health (the parent company of Anthem/Wellpoint), is primarily known as a Medicaid managed care organization. It also operates some Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) for people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. However, general Medicare Advantage plans are rare for Amerigroup. There is no information in the provided search results about Amerigroup’s Medicare Advantage plan offerings, benefits, or costs in any state.
Typical Amerigroup Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible (D-SNP) Features
- Zero or low premiums for dual eligibles
- Coordinated care for Medicare and Medicaid benefits
- Care management and social services support
- Transportation, meal, and other supplemental benefits for eligible members
- Provider networks often tailored to local Medicaid providers
Enrollment Process
- Open to individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid
- Apply during Medicare enrollment periods or through state Medicaid agencies
- Automatic enrollment in some states for certain populations
State-Specific Details
The provided search results do not offer explicit state-by-state plan details, costs, or benefit grids for Wellpoint, Anthem, or Amerigroup Medicare Advantage plans.
- Wellpoint’s commercial plans are listed for Massachusetts, but these are not Medicare Advantage plans.
- Amerigroup is not mentioned in the context of Medicare Advantage in the search results.
- No direct cost, benefit, or enrollment process details are available for these brands in the results.
If you need state-specific information, it is best to check directly with the plan’s official website, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or consult your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
Summary Table: Known vs. Unknown
| Plan/Brand | Cost Details | Benefit Details | Enrollment Process Details | State-Specific Info | Notes | |---------------|--------------|-----------------|---------------------------|---------------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | Wellpoint | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Commercial MA plans referenced only; MA plans not detailed | | Amerigroup | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Primarily Medicaid; D-SNPs only; no MA details in results |
Expert Recommendation
For the most accurate, up-to-date information on Wellpoint and Amerigroup Medicare Advantage plans—including premiums, benefits, provider networks, and enrollment—contact the plans directly or use the Medicare Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov. State-specific offerings, costs, and benefits can vary widely and change annually. The search results do not provide sufficient detail to compare these plans across states.
- Premium is the amount of money someone pays each month for Medicare coverage.
- C-SNPs are specifically designed for people receiving dialysis.
- Under some circumstances, a person may qualify for the special enrollment period, such as moving to another state, qualifying for Medicaid or Extra Help, or moving to a skilled nursing or long-term care facility.
- Copayment is a fixed dollar amount a person with insurance pays when receiving certain treatments. For Medicare, this usually applies to prescription drugs.
- Amerigroup Medicare Advantage plans are currently only available in New Mexico.
- Premiums for Wellpoint and Amerigroup's Advantage plans can range from $0 to $200.
- The benefits of Wellpoint and Amerigroup's Medicare Advantage plans may include prescription drug coverage, dental care, hearing care, vision care, a prepaid card for essential groceries and other items, and transport to medical appointments.
- Amerigroup is a health insurance provider offering programs related to Medicare, CHIP, and Medicaid.
- HMO plans may have $0 or low cost monthly premiums, prescription copays, and copays for primary care visits.
- Deductible is an annual amount a person must spend out of pocket within a certain period before Medicare starts to fund their treatments.
- Wellpoint offers C-SNPs and D-SNPs, in addition to the HMO plans they already offer.
- During the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period, a person with an existing Advantage plan can leave their plan or switch to another one.
- Out-of-pocket cost refers to the amount a person must pay for care when Medicare does not pay the total amount or offer coverage.
- HMO plans offered by Wellpoint and Amerigroup require a person to visit in-network providers, except in certain circumstances such as emergencies.
- D-SNPs are for those with both Medicare and Medicaid.
- Wellpoint and Amerigroup both offer Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans and Special Needs Plans (SNPs).
- A person can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during their initial enrollment period, which is a 7-month period that occurs 3 months before their 65th birthday, during their birthday month, and 3 months afterward.
- Medicare Advantage plans under Wellpoint and its subsidiary Anthem offer zero or low monthly premiums, bundled prescription drug coverage, optional dental, vision, and hearing benefits, and telehealth services.
- Enrollment periods for Wellpoint's Medicare Advantage plans follow the Medicare guidelines, which include Initial, Annual, and Special Enrollment Periods.
- Amerigroup, owned by Elevance Health, primarily offers Medicaid managed care and Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans, with limited general Medicare Advantage offerings.
- Amerigroup Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible plans provide zero or low premiums, coordinated care, care management, and social services support, with some supplemental benefits.
- Information on state-specific plan details, costs, or benefits for Wellpoint, Anthem, or Amerigroup Medicare Advantage plans can be found by checking directly with the respective plan's official website, calling 1-800-MEDICARE, or consulting your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
