WellCare Health Plans, Inc. : WellCare Improves New York Medicaid Quality Score

WellCare Improves New York Medicaid Quality Score

TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 30, 2013) - WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) today announced that WellCare of New York has become eligible for the State of New York's Quality Incentive for Medicaid managed care plans as a result of improvement in WellCare's health care quality score. The score is based on various health care quality, member and provider satisfaction, and regulatory compliance measurements as determined by New York's Office of Health Insurance Programs. "Health care quality and access are among our top priorities, and I am proud that the work WellCare is doing in New York is reflected in the experience of our members," said Kevin Conroy, president, WellCare of New York. "We will continue our investments with the goal of enhancing our members' health and quality of life." As of January 2013, WellCare serves an estimated 84,000 members in the State of New York Medicaid, Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus, and Managed Long-Term Care programs. In addition, WellCare serves an estimated 36,000 Medicare Advantage members and 41,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in New York as of January 2013. About WellCare Health Plans, Inc. WellCare Health Plans, Inc. provides managed care services targeted to government-sponsored health care programs, focusing on Medicaid and Medicare. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare offers a variety of health plans for families, children, and the aged, blind and disabled, as well as prescription drug plans. The company serves approximately 2.6 million members nationwide as of Sept. 30, 2012. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at www.wellcare.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking" statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. For example, statements regarding the estimated membership numbers as of January 2013 are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause WellCare's actual future results to differ materially from those projected or contemplated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, WellCare's progress on top priorities such as improving health care quality and access, ensuring a competitive cost position, and delivering prudent, profitable growth, WellCare's ability to compete for members, WellCare's ability to build and maintain satisfactory relationships with providers, and WellCare's ability to effectively manage growth. Additional information concerning these and other important risks and uncertainties can be found under the captions "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in WellCare's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and in WellCare's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2012  and other subsequent filings by WellCare with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which contain discussions of WellCare's business and the various factors that may affect it. WellCare undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements to reflect any future events, developments, or otherwise. ### CONTACTS: Investor Relations Gregg Haddad 813-206-3916 [e-mail] Media Relations Daphne Lawrence 917-229-2103 [e-mail] WellCare Improves New York Medicaid Quality Score HUG#1673985