Allwell Medicare Advantage 2024-2025 Review: Pros, Cons, Costs

Allwell sells plans under the Wellcare name. It falls behind other providers in ratings for quality and member experience.

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The bottom line: Allwell Medicare Advantage may offer some nice benefits, but star ratings and member experience scores are below average, and plans are available in only 11 states. Jump to: Full Review

Allwell Medicare Advantage - Chapter

Allwell

3.44

CMS Star Rating

(855) 432-0512

TTY 711

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
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We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.

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Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
(855) 432-0512

TTY 711

IS THIS PROVIDER AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?

Allwell Medicare Advantage pros and cons

Pros

Benefits card: Some Wellcare by Allwell plans include the Spendables card, which comes preloaded with funds members can use on extra benefits, depending on the plan.

Part B premium coverage: Some plans include a Giveback benefit that refunds some or all of your Medicare Part B premium.

Cons

Star ratings: For 2025, the average star rating from Medicare for Wellcare by Allwell plans, weighted by enrollment, is 3.44 stars, which is lower than the average for all providers.

Member discontent: Allwell underperforms on measures of member experience, including metrics for customer service and care coordination.

State coverage: Allwell Medicare Advantage plans are available in only 11 states.

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Aetna Medicare Advantage

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4.27

CMS Star Rating

(855) 432-0512

TTY 711

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Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
(855) 432-0512

TTY 711

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Humana Medicare Advantage - Chapter

Humana

3.63

CMS Star Rating

(855) 432-0512

TTY 711

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We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.

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Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
(855) 432-0512

TTY 711

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Cigna Medicare Advantage

Cigna

3.93

CMS Star Rating

(855) 432-0512

TTY 711

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
GET A QUOTE

on NerdWallet

We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.

M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
(855) 432-0512

TTY 711

IS THIS PROVIDER AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?

» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Advantage plans

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UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage - UHC

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3.93

CMS Star Rating

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Humana Medicare Advantage - Chapter

Humana

3.63

CMS Star Rating

(855) 432-0512

TTY 711

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
GET A QUOTE

on NerdWallet

We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.

M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
(855) 432-0512

TTY 711

IS THIS PROVIDER AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?

» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Advantage plans

Our full review

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Wellcare by Allwell Medicare star ratings

Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 3.44

Allwell Medicare Advantage plans are rated well below the industry average, with an average rating of 3.44 stars out of 5 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2025, weighted by enrollment. For comparison, the average weighted star rating for plans from all providers is 3.95.

There is only one 2025 Wellcare by Allwell plan rated 4 stars. The rest of the provider's plans are rated 3.5 stars or lower

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2025 Star Ratings Data Tables (ZIP). Accessed Dec 6, 2024.
.

CMS maintains its own star ratings, which rank each plan from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction, and ratings may change from year to year.

You can find a plan’s rating with Medicare's plan finding tool.

December update

Medicare star ratings are typically released once per year, but CMS recalculated its 2025 star ratings for Wellcare by Allwell’s parent company, Centene, in December 2024. Updates took place after multiple lawsuits from insurance companies alleging that CMS improperly calculated the 2025 star ratings. NerdWallet has updated this article accordingly.

What does Allwell Medicare Advantage cost?

In 2025, nearly 7 in 10 standard Wellcare by Allwell plans with prescription drug coverage have no premium

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2025 Landscape (202410) (ZIP). Accessed Dec 6, 2024.
. You'll still be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $174.70 per month in 2024 ($185 in 2025).

(Most people pay this standard Part B amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you’ll pay the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). Some Medicare Advantage plans cover part or all of your Part B premium.)

Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:

  • Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.

  • The plan’s yearly deductibles and any other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.

  • Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.

  • The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.

  • Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out of network for care.

  • Whether you require extra benefits, and if the plan charges for them.

Here are examples of Wellcare by Allwell Medicare Advantage costs for three plans in a mid-range city:

Wellcare by Allwell Medicare Advantage plan

Pricing

Wellcare Simple Open (PPO)

Monthly premium: $0.

Deductible: None.

Out-of-pocket max: $3,900 in-network.

Copays:

  • Primary care: $0.

  • Specialist: $25.

  • Emergency care: $140.

  • Inpatient hospital: $350.*

Dental allowance: $1,000.

Wellcare Simple (HMO-POS)

Monthly premium: $0.

Deductible: None.

Out-of-pocket max: $5,000.

Copays:

  • Primary care: $0.

  • Specialist: $25.

  • Emergency care: $125.

  • Inpatient hospital: $350.*

Dental allowance: $1,000.

Wellcare Patriot Giveback Open (PPO)

Monthly premium: $0.

Deductible: None.

Out-of-pocket max: $4,400 in-network.

Copays:

  • Primary care: $0.

  • Specialist: $35.

  • Emergency care: $125.

  • Inpatient hospital: $375.**

Dental allowance: $1,500.

Selected plans are available in ZIP code 66013. *Inpatient hospital copay is per day for days 1-7. **Inpatient hospital copay is per day for days 1-6.

To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s plan finding tool to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only Allwell plans, or compare across carriers.

Wellcare by Allwell Medicare Advantage plan types

Allwell offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans as well as Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage.

Plan availability may vary by county. Other plan offerings may include the following types:

A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.

Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans provide the most freedom, allowing you to see any provider that accepts the insurance. You may not need to choose a primary doctor, and you don’t need referrals to see specialists. You can seek out-of-network care, although it may cost more than seeing an in-network doctor.

Special needs plans (SNPs) restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics. Hence, the benefits, network and drug formularies are tailored to the needs of those members. Allwell offers two types of SNPs:

  • Chronic Condition SNP: For people with one or more specific conditions, such as chronic heart failure, congestive heart failure or diabetes.

  • Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.

Third-party ratings

J.D. Power Ranking

In its 2024 U.S. Medicare Advantage Study — the 10th it’s done so far — J.D. Power measured member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans based on eight factors ranging from level of trust to how well a provider resolves problems or complaints. The study was fielded in the 10 biggest state Medicare markets, and here’s how Wellcare (Allwell's brand) ranked in the states where it had enough market share to be considered

:

Allwell Medicare Advantage service area

Wellcare by Allwell offers Medicare Advantage plans in 11 states.

Centene, Allwell’s parent company, is the fifth-largest Medicare Advantage provider among for-profit health plans. Allwell-branded plans cover about 170,000 Medicare beneficiaries

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Monthly Enrollment by Plan. Accessed Dec 6, 2024.
.

About Allwell

Allwell is a Medicare brand of Centene Corp., which was founded in 1984. In 2020, Centene acquired Wellcare, and in 2022, Allwell became a Medicare brand under the Wellcare name. Centene headquarters are in St. Louis, Missouri. Centene offers coverage through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans, as well as individual and family coverage through the health insurance marketplace.

» MORE: Read our review of Wellcare Part D prescription drug plans

Wellcare by Allwell customer service

Allwell Medicare Advantage members can contact their plan’s customer service in a couple of ways:

Compare Medicare Advantage providers

Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.

Find the right Medicare Advantage plan

It’s important to do your research before selecting a Medicare Advantage plan for yourself. Here are some questions to consider asking:

  • What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?

  • Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.

  • Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?

  • Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?

  • Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?

If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
Allwell Medicare Advantage - Chapter

Allwell

3.44

CMS Star Rating

Allwell is a brand of Wellcare, and Wellcare by Allwell plans are available in only 11 states. The company performs below average on star ratings and member experience metrics.

(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711

M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org

GET A QUOTE

on NerdWallet

We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.

States available

11 states


Members in high-rated plans

Low (49% or less)


Member experience

3.04 (Below average)

IS THIS PROVIDER AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?

States available

11 states


Members in high-rated plans

Low (49% or less)


Member experience

3.04 (Below average)

IS THIS PROVIDER AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?

Pros

  • Parent company Centene is the fifth-largest for-profit Medicare Advantage provider.
  • Some plans include the Spendables card, which is preloaded with funds members can use on extra benefits.

Cons

  • Lower-than-average star ratings from CMS.
  • Below-average ratings for member experience metrics such as customer service and care coordination.
  • Wellcare by Allwell plans are available in only 11 states.

Medicare will have big changes in 2025. Compare Medicare Advantage plans