Wellcare Medicare Advantage members who use Detroit Medical Center hospitals could lose in-network access on Jan. 1, 2027. Detroit Medical Center says Centene, the insurer behind the Wellcare plans, has sent a notice to terminate in-network access effective that date. The notice covers DMC’s hospitals and its health system-employed providers, and Medicare open enrollment, the window to pick a different 2027 plan, closes Dec. 7.
DMC and Children’s Hospital of Michigan, both Tenet Healthcare hospitals, are negotiating with Centene, DBusiness reported Oct. 29. DMC’s insurance page still carries the termination notice as of Nov. 8 and announces no agreement. Members who wait for a deal have only the Dec. 7 date to rely on if they want to switch.
What Centene’s notice covers
The notice is not limited to Medicare. Centene has sent a notice to terminate in-network access, DMC says, and it affects patients with Centene’s Health Insurance Exchange, Medicare Advantage and Managed Medicaid plans. Two plans are marked as affected: Wellcare/Meridian for Managed Medicaid and Wellcare for Medicare Advantage…