Plan year 2027 · Medicare AdvantageCMS files of Sept. 22 and Oct. 1, 2026

Wellcare Meridian Dual Align, 2027

H6971Contract001Plan

HMO D-SNP · special needs plan, dual-eligible · 102 counties in Illinois

Run by Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Inc. (contract H6971), sold as Wellcare, owned by Centene Corporation

Renews for 2027

2026 star rating, contract H6971: not rated (too new)

Wellcare Meridian Dual Align (H6971-001) costs $0 a month in 2027, down $14.20 from 2026, with an in-network out-of-pocket limit of $9,850 ($9,250 in 2026).

What changes from 2026 to 2027?

The changed lines are marked and come first. In-network amounts; members keep paying the Part B premium unless the plan reduces it.
What you pay or get	2026	2027	Change
Monthly premium	$14.20	$0	down $14.20
In-network out-of-pocket limit	$9,250	$9,850	up $600
Drug deductible	$400	$700	up $300
Hospital stay, in network	$2,050 a stay	$2,005 a stay	down $45for a 5-day stay
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	$4,000 a year	$3,000 a year	down $1,000
Over-the-counter items, yearly	not offered	$1,800 a year	added
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	20% of the cost	50% of the cost	up 30 points
Drug tier 4, injectable drugs	$100	15% of the cost	changed
11 lines do not change
Part B premium reduction, monthly	none	none	no change
Primary care visit	20% of the cost	20% of the cost	no change
Specialist visit	20% of the cost	20% of the cost	no change
Emergency room	$115 copay	$115 copay	no change
Medical deductible, in network	none	none	no change
Ground ambulance, in network	20% of the cost	20% of the cost	no change
Eyewear, yearly limit	$300 a year	$300 a year	no change
Hearing aids, yearly limit for both ears	$1,000 a year	$1,000 a year	no change
Counties served	102	102	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 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; CMS plan crosswalk from 2026 to 2027 (Oct. 1, 2026). Plan details can change during the year; confirm on Medicare Plan Finder.

What will prescriptions cost?

Your share for a 30-day supply at a retail pharmacy, as filed with CMS; tiers whose share changes are marked. The plan charges less at its preferred pharmacies
Tier	What the tier holds	2026, standard pharmacy	2027, standard pharmacy	2027, preferred pharmacy
Tier 1	Generic	$19	$15	$0
Tier 2	Preferred Brand	$20	25% of the cost	20% of the cost
Tier 3	Non-Preferred Drug	20% of the cost	50% of the cost	42% of the cost
Tier 4	Injectable Drugs	$100	15% of the cost	0% of the cost
Tier 5	Specialty Tier	25% of the cost	25% of the cost	25% of the cost
Tier 6	Select Care Drugs	$0	$0	$0

Source: CMS plan benefit package files, 2027 and 2026. Insulin is capped at $35 a month by law. A drug's tier is set by the plan's formulary.

How does it compare with plans sold where it is?

In the counties it serves, 4 dual-eligible special needs plans are sold for 2027, this one included. Against the others, 1 plan has a lower out-of-pocket limit, 2 the same. On the premium, 3 the same.

Out-of-pocket limits of the 4 dual-eligible special needs plans

$0 to under $2,0000 plans

$2,000 to under $4,0000 plans

$4,000 to under $6,0000 plans

$6,000 to under $8,0000 plans

$8,000 to $10,000 (this plan)4 plans

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2027 (Sept. 22, 2026, revised Sept. 30) and 2026 (Sept. 2, 2026 revision).

Where is it sold, and what does it cost there?

The premium and the out-of-pocket limit are the same in all 102 counties: $0 a month and $9,850.

Illinois

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2027 (Sept. 22, 2026, revised Sept. 30) and 2026 (Sept. 2, 2026 revision).

Who runs this plan?

Plan ID: H6971-001
Legal name of the contract: Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Inc.
Sold as: Wellcare
Parent company: Centene Corporation
Plan type: HMO D-SNP
2026 star rating of the contract: not rated (too new) overall; health plan not rated, drug plan not rated
Members, September 2026: 15,169
Plan website, as filed with CMS: go.wellcare.com/MeridianIL

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2027 (Sept. 22, 2026, revised Sept. 30) and 2026 (Sept. 2, 2026 revision); CMS 2026 Star Ratings (October 2025); CMS monthly enrollment by plan and by county, September 2026 (CMS hides counts under 11). CMS publishes the 2027 Star Ratings in October 2026.

What else should you check?

Other 2027 plans in Cook, ILWhere most of its members live; premiums and limits side by side
Every Wellcare plan for 2027Its contracts, counties and plans that end
Is your prescription covered?Coverage share and tier for 2,259 drugs

Data, not advice. These are the plan's filed amounts, not a quote for you; confirm on Medicare Plan Finder or call the plan before you enroll.