Wellcare vs. Aetna
- Wellcare and Aetna each offer private Medicare plans in many parts of the country. In this review, we compare Wellcare vs. Aetna and the types of Medicare plans they offer.
Aetna and WellCare are a pair of popular insurance companies. Aetna and WellCare are also two companies of very different sizes, so it’s important to keep that in mind when drawing any comparisons between the two.
Wellcare has over 5.3 million Medicare members in Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs).
Aetna is owned by CVS Health, which ranks 6 on the Fortune 500.
Wellcare vs. Aetna: Types of Insurance Plans Offered
Aetna offers several types of private Medicare insurance in many parts of the country, including Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans.
Wellcare sells Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans in many parts of the country. However, the company does not sell Medigap.
One big difference between Aetna and Wellcare is that Wellcare only sells Medicare insurance, while Aetna also sells other types of insurance, such as group insurance and standalone vision and dental plans.
Wellcare vs. Aetna: Areas Served
Aetna sells Medicare Advantage plans in all states and sells Medicare Part D and Medigap plans in most states. 12% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries were enrolled in a plan from CVS Health (Aetna) in 2024.
Wellcare sells Medicare Advantage plans in 32 states and Medicare Part D plans in all 50 states.
Provider Access: Aetna vs. Wellcare
Aetna allows users to search for doctors, dentists, facilities and other providers who are part of the Aetna network.
Users can also use the Wellcare provider lookup tool to search for providers.
Medicare Star Ratings
Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rates the quality of all Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans across a variety of metrics using the 5-star scale.
88% of Aetna Medicare Advantage members are part of a plan rated 4 stars or higher for 2025.
Customer Experience
Aetna customers can log into an online portal from any location to find a doctor, pay their bill, view claims, check their coverage and more. And to bring patients one step closer to their benefits, Aetna has released a mobile app that offers a variety of the same and similar services.
Aetna also has a variety of other apps available to members, including apps focused on health and exercise, vision benefits, Medicaid membership and more.
Wellcare also has a dedicated online portal for members who need assistance, and they also offer a pair of mobile apps. The My Wellcare app allows members to manage appointments, find providers and more.
Aetna vs. Wellcare Health Insurance: The Verdict
Aetna is a large company with a wide range of insurance products and a longstanding history of success.
Wellcare is a smaller company with a more focused selection of products that cater to more specific needs.
While Aetna generally outperforms Wellcare, determining which company is better ultimately comes down to which one is best for you and your own needs. You can also consider comparing UHC vs Aetna.
Helpadvisor.com is owned and operated by Tranzact, the parent company of TZ Insurance Solutions LLC, which is the owner/operator of Medicareadvantage.com and other websites mentioned on HelpAdvisor and which has a financial relationship with some of the carriers listed on HelpAdvisor. This may influence which products we write about, but HelpAdvisor maintains editorial independence, and our opinions and evaluations are our own.
