WellCare Health Plans expands Medicaid benefits to members in Georgia

Health insurance company WellCare Health Plans enhanced its Medicaid benefits this week for members who live in Georgia as a way to encourage them to maintain healthier lives.

WellCare, headquartered in Tampa, Fla., expanded benefits by adding new incentives to its healthy rewards program and increasing over-the-counter and vision program benefits, according to a statement from the company.

"Our enhanced benefits are designed to positively impact the health of our Georgia Medicaid members and ultimately can help to reduce the long-term costs of health care," said Roman Kulich, WellCare's region president of Georgia and South Carolina, in a statement.

WellCare serves more than 640,000 people in Georgia and about 3.7 million people in the U.S.

In its healthy rewards program, WellCare now provides $50 gifts to patients who meet health goals. Members also receive a 20 percent increase in credit toward over-the-counter supplies like cold medicine and vitamins.

Additionally, members will get a $50 credit toward a pair of eyeglasses as part of WellCare’s vision plan, among other optometry benefits.

WellCare of Georgia Medicaid members will continue to have access to WellCare’s existing benefits like free cell phones for high-risk pregnancy patients, free General Education Development testing and a free smartphone app that allows users to keep track of their benefits and appointments.