Wellpoint Medicare Advantage Plans: How They Work in 2026

What Wellpoint is — and what it isn't

Wellpoint is a consumer brand used by Elevance Health, the company formerly known as Anthem. In 2024 Elevance rebranded its Amerigroup Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans as "Wellpoint" across a group of states. Members who were enrolled in those Amerigroup plans generally kept the same benefits and were issued new cards reflecting the new name.

It is important to be clear about what this means: Wellpoint is a private insurance brand, not a government program and not a type of Medicare. Medicare Advantage itself is the federal program (also called Part C) under which the government pays private insurers like Wellpoint to administer your Medicare benefits. medicareloginguide.com is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with Wellpoint, Elevance Health, or the federal government.

• Brand owner: Elevance Health (formerly Anthem)
• Replaced the Amerigroup brand for Medicare Advantage in select states
• Sold in a limited set of states — availability and plan designs differ by county

What Medicare Advantage (Part C) covers

Any Medicare Advantage plan, whether from Wellpoint or another insurer, must cover everything Original Medicare Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) cover. Most Advantage plans also bundle in Part D prescription drug coverage and add extras that Original Medicare doesn't include.

Common extras marketed with Medicare Advantage plans include dental, vision, hearing, and wellness benefits. These are not guaranteed on every plan — the specific dollar allowances, covered services, and provider networks vary by plan and can change each year. Never assume a benefit you saw advertised applies to the exact plan offered in your county; confirm it in that plan's Summary of Benefits.

• Covers at minimum everything Part A and Part B cover
• Many plans include Part D drug coverage and extras like dental, vision, and hearing
• Most use provider networks (HMO or PPO) and may require referrals or prior authorization
• Extra benefits 'vary by plan' — verify each one before enrolling

The Medicare costs behind any Advantage plan in 2026

A Medicare Advantage plan may advertise a $0 monthly plan premium, but you still must keep paying your Part B premium, which is $202.90 per month in 2026. The Part B annual deductible is $283, after which Original Medicare normally pays 80% and you pay 20% coinsurance — inside an Advantage plan, that 20% is replaced by the plan's own copays and an annual out-of-pocket maximum.

If a plan includes drug coverage, the 2026 Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 per year. Most people pay no Part A premium because they have 40+ quarters of Medicare-covered work; those with 30–39 quarters pay $311 per month and those with fewer than 30 quarters pay $565 per month. CMS projects the average Medicare Advantage monthly plan premium will decline from $16.40 in 2025 to about $14.00 in 2026, but averages don't tell you your price — your actual premium depends on the plan.

• Part B premium: $202.90/month (you keep paying this even on a $0-premium plan)
• Part B deductible: $283/year; 20% coinsurance under Original Medicare
• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100/year in 2026
• Part A deductible: $1,736 per benefit period if you use hospital inpatient care

Where Wellpoint Medicare Advantage plans are sold

Unlike Original Medicare, which works the same nationwide, Medicare Advantage plans are sold county by county and brand availability is regional. Wellpoint's Medicare Advantage footprint has been reported in states including Arizona, Iowa, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia, but offerings are added, changed, or withdrawn each plan year.

Because participation changes annually, the only authoritative way to know what's available to you is to enter your ZIP code in the official Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov. That tool shows every plan in your area — Wellpoint and competitors alike — with premiums, drug coverage, star ratings, and whether your doctors are in network.

When and how to enroll or switch

Medicare's Fall Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year, with changes effective January 1. During this window you can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan. If you're already in an Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) lets you make one change — switch to a different Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare with a separate drug plan.

Before enrolling in any plan, confirm three things for that specific plan: that your doctors and hospitals are in network, that your prescriptions are on its formulary, and that its out-of-pocket maximum and copays fit your budget. Compare options neutrally on Medicare.gov rather than relying on a single insurer's marketing.

• Oct 15 – Dec 7: Fall Open Enrollment; changes take effect Jan 1
• Jan 1 – Mar 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment — one change allowed
• Late Part B enrollment penalty is 10% per full 12-month period and is permanent
• Compare all plans in your ZIP at Medicare.gov before signing up