Plan year 2026 · coverage ends Dec. 31, 2026CMS crosswalk of Oct. 1, 2026

Wellcare Assist is not offered under this ID in 2027

H4868Contract016Plan

HMO-POS · served 10 counties in New York in 2026

Run by New York Quality Healthcare Corporation (contract H4868), sold as Wellcare, owned by Centene Corporation

CMS crosswalk: members move into H5599-002 in 7 of its 10 counties; in the others the plan ends

Folds in part

Wellcare Assist (H4868-016) is not offered under this ID in 2027. The CMS plan crosswalk of October 1, 2026 moves its members into Wellcare Fidelis Assist (H5599-002), in the 7 counties where that plan is sold (1,247 members in September 2026). In its other 3 counties (601 members) there is no plan to move into: coverage ends December 31, 2026, and members there need to choose a new plan (counties with fewer than 11 members are not counted).

What changes for its members in Wellcare Fidelis Assist?

For members in the 7 counties where Wellcare Fidelis Assist is sold: this plan's 2026 amounts beside Wellcare Fidelis Assist (H5599-002) in 2027. The changed lines are marked and come first.
What you pay or get	2026	2027	Change
Plan name	Wellcare Assist	Wellcare Fidelis Assist	renamed
Monthly premium	$51.40	$0	down $51.40
In-network out-of-pocket limit	$9,250	$9,850	up $600
Drug deductible	$590	$700	up $110
Specialist visit	$25 copay	$35 copay	up $10
Skilled nursing facility, in network	$0 a day for days 1–20, then $218 a day for days 21–70, then $0 a day for days 71–100	$0 a day for days 1–20, then $221 a day for days 21–70, then $0 a day for days 71–100	up $30for a 30-day stay
Comprehensive dental, yearly limit	$1,500 a year	$1,000 a year	down $500
Hearing aids, yearly limit for both ears	$500 a year	$350 a year	down $150
Counties served	10	58	up 48
Drug tier 1, generic	$19	$15	down $4
Drug tier 2, preferred brand	$20	25% of the cost	changed
Drug tier 3, non-preferred drug	25% of the cost	28% of the cost	up 3 points
Drug tier 4, injectable drugs	$100	25% of the cost	changed
10 lines do not change
Part B premium reduction, monthly	none	none	no change
Primary care visit	$0 copay	$0 copay	no change
Emergency room	$115 copay	$115 copay	no change
Medical deductible, in network	none	none	no change
Hospital stay, in network	$475 a day for days 1–5, then $0 a day for days 6–90	$475 a day for days 1–5, then $0 a day for days 6–90	no change
Ground ambulance, in network	$325 copay	$325 copay	no change
Eyewear, yearly limit	$200 a year	$200 a year	no change
Over-the-counter items, yearly	not offered	not offered	no change
Drug tier 5, specialty tier	25% of the cost	25% of the cost	no change
Drug tier 6, select care drugs	$0	$0	no change

Source: CMS plan crosswalk from 2026 to 2027 (Oct. 1, 2026); CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2027 (Sept. 22, 2026, revised Sept. 30) and 2026 (Sept. 2, 2026 revision); CMS plan benefit package files, 2027 and 2026. Your plan's Annual Notice of Change is the letter that confirms your 2027 plan; confirm on Medicare Plan Finder.

What can members do, and by when?

If you live in Bronx (NY), Genesee (NY), Kings (NY), Livingston (NY), Madison (NY), New York (NY), Suffolk (NY)

If you do nothing: You are moved into Wellcare Fidelis Assist on January 1, 2027.
October 15 to December 7, 2026: Open enrollment: choose another Medicare Advantage plan, or Original Medicare with a drug plan, instead.

If you live in Queens (NY), Richmond (NY), Tompkins (NY)

Your coverage: Ends December 31, 2026: Wellcare Fidelis Assist is not sold where you live.
October 15 to December 7, 2026: Open enrollment: join another Medicare Advantage plan, or Original Medicare with a drug plan. Coverage starts January 1, 2027.
December 8, 2026 to the end of February 2027: A special enrollment period because the plan is leaving: you can still join a plan, but coverage starts the first day of the month after you join, so choose by December 31 to have no gap.
If you do nothing: You are enrolled in Original Medicare when the plan ends, without a drug plan unless you join one (with Extra Help or full Medicaid, Medicare enrolls you in one).
Without a drug plan: Going 63 days or more in a row without drug coverage can mean a late enrollment penalty if you join a drug plan later; joining by the end of February keeps a January and February gap under 63 days, waiting longer does not.

Source: Medicare.gov, “Special enrollment periods” and “Joining a plan” (read Oct. 7, 2026).

Where did its members live?

Where its members lived in September 2026; each county and state page lists the 2027 plans sold there.

All 10 counties, most members first; CMS hides counts under 11 per county, so the counties add up to a little less than the plan's total
County	Members, Sept. 2026	For 2027
Kings, NY	516	moves into H5599-002
Queens, NY	481	plan ends here
Bronx, NY	282	moves into H5599-002
New York, NY	227	moves into H5599-002
Suffolk, NY	210	moves into H5599-002
Richmond, NY	99	plan ends here
Tompkins, NY	21	plan ends here
Livingston, NY	12	moves into H5599-002
Genesee, NY	fewer than 11	moves into H5599-002
Madison, NY	fewer than 11	moves into H5599-002

Source: CMS monthly enrollment by plan and by county, September 2026 (CMS hides counts under 11).

What else should you check?

2027 plans in Kings, NYThe plans you can join instead
Wellcare plans for 2027Plans the same company still offers
Every plan not offered in 2027764 Medicare Advantage and drug plans