HMO · Special Needs Plan · Contract H6971 · 2026
Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc.
Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc. is a HMO Medicare Advantage plan from Wellcare By Meridian, available in 1 state. Here is its CMS quality rating, drug coverage, and benefits.
- N/R
- Overall CMS rating
- $14.20
- Premium/mo
- 1
- States available
Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc. plan score
A single 0-100 verdict combining Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc.'s nationwide standing on 3 of 4 CMS-filed measures: quality, affordability, cost protection, and supplemental-benefit richness, each from its own CMS source file. A missing filing drops out and redistributes its weight rather than deflating the score.
65/100
Percentile-weighted across 3 of 4 measures
- CMS quality (star rating)
- N/A not on file
- Affordability (premium)
- B 14.2 $/mo
77th percentile nationwide
- Cost protection (deductible)
- C 400 $/yr
73th percentile nationwide
- Benefit richness (supplemental coverage)
- D 4 benefits
43th percentile nationwide
Benchmarked live against every plan or plan-county row reporting each measure in the current CMS extract (CY2026 Star Ratings, Landscape file, and Plan Benefit Package). Not a CMS-endorsed score; PlainMedicare's own weighting (quality 40%, affordability 25%, cost protection 15%, benefit richness 20%).
What the CMS Data Shows About Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc.
Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc. operates under CMS contract H6971, issued by Wellcare By Meridian (parent organization Centene Corporation). The contract is classified as a HMO product, which governs how enrollees access care: HMOs require in-network providers and referrals for most specialist care, trading network flexibility for lower cost-sharing. This contract is also flagged in CMS data as a Special Needs Plan (SNP), meaning enrollment is restricted to beneficiaries meeting specific eligibility criteria, chronic condition, dual Medicare-Medicaid status, or institutional residence. Service area spans 1 state (IL) and more than 40 counties, a geography set at the CMS service-area definition level.
The overall CMS Star Rating for this contract is not yet published by CMS. Individual measure-level data is not published for this contract. Ratings at 4+ stars trigger federal Quality Bonus Payments that insurers typically reinvest in supplemental benefits.
On costs, this contract lists a monthly plan premium of $14.20 (Part C + D combined) and an annual Part D drug deductible of $400.00, from the CMS CY2026 Landscape file; every enrollee also pays the standard Part B premium. Beyond standard Medicare Parts A and B, the contract documents 4 supplemental benefits in the CMS benefits file, coverage extras such as dental, vision, hearing aids, fitness programs, and OTC allowances that Original Medicare does not provide. Before enrolling, verify that your preferred providers participate in the plan's network for your specific county, review the current Summary of Benefits, and confirm that your prescriptions appear on the plan formulary. All figures shown come from CMS public-use files for the 2026 contract year; this page is informational only and is not personalized Medicare counseling advice.
Supplemental Benefits
| Benefit | Covered | Max Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Hearing Aids | ✓ Yes | - |
| Hearing Exam | ✓ Yes | - |
| Vision, Eye Exam | ✓ Yes | - |
| Vision, Eyewear | ✓ Yes | - |
County Availability
Showing 40 of 50 counties. Search by state for full coverage.
Medicare Advantage Guides
Official Medicare resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the star rating for Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc.?
Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc. (Contract H6971) by Wellcare By Meridian has an overall CMS star rating of Not yet rated out of 5. Star ratings are based on quality measures including preventive care, chronic disease management, and member satisfaction.
How much does Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc. cost per month?
Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc. has a monthly plan premium (Part C + D combined) of $14.20, with an annual Part D drug deductible of $400. Every enrollee also pays the standard Part B premium (about $202.90/month in 2026). Premiums are from the CMS CY2026 Landscape file and can vary by county; confirm current costs on Medicare.gov.
What type of plan is Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc.?
Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc. is a HMO Medicare Advantage plan offered by Wellcare By Meridian. This is also a Special Needs Plan (SNP) designed for beneficiaries with specific diseases, characteristics, or care needs. HMO plans generally require you to use in-network providers and get referrals for specialists.
Where is Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc. available?
Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc. is available in 1 state (IL) across more than 40 counties. Coverage area can vary, check with the insurer or Medicare.gov for exact availability in your ZIP code.
What supplemental benefits does Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc. offer?
Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc. covers 4 supplemental benefits beyond standard Medicare, including hearing aids, hearing exam, vision eye exam, vision eyewear. Many Medicare Advantage plans include dental, vision, and hearing coverage not available under Original Medicare.
Data Source
Data from CMS Medicare Advantage 2026 Star Ratings and Plan Finder datasets. Contract ID: H6971. Last updated: 2026 plan year.
Nationwide Medicare Advantage plans with similar county footprint or CMS star rating
Data-derived peers across the CMS Landscape file: nearest county inventory and nearest overall CMS star rating at the contract level. Not parent-org containment or same-state overlap.
Similar county footprint
- Molina Healthcare OF Illinois Inc 102 counties
- Molina Healthcare OF Illinois, Inc. 102 counties
- Humana Benefit Plan OF Illinois, Inc. 102 counties
- Aetna Better Health Premier Plan Mmai Inc. 102 counties
- Aetna Health OF Michigan Inc. 103 counties
- Missouri Care, Incorporated 103 counties
Related
Before you enroll in Meridian Health Plan OF Illinois, Inc.
Star rating and network fit matter more than the premium alone.
- This contract's premium is $14.20/mo (Part C + D) - compare it against other plans before enrolling. Browse all plans
- Check that your doctors and drugs are in-network before you enroll, and confirm the plan on Medicare.gov. Medicare Plan Compare
- This plan documents 4 supplemental benefits beyond Original Medicare - see how it stacks up against Original Medicare's coverage. MA vs Original Medicare
Figures are from CMS CY2026 public files for this contract; benefits and premiums can vary by the specific plan you enroll in and your county.
PlainMedicare is rendered directly from CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D public files, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a correction. Data current as of 2026-09-01.
CMS lists 131,985 Medicare Advantage and Part D plan records in the current public files. PlainMedicare refreshes this registry with each annual release.