Wellcare Value Script 2027: Premium, Deductible and Covered Drugs

Reviewed October 15, 2026. Wellcare Value Script is a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) from Wellcare, a Centene company, and it is offered again for 2027. Its 2027 Summary of Benefits lists a monthly premium of $5.30 in many states, including California and Texas (higher in some, such as $37.30 in New York), a $700 deductible that applies to Tiers 2 to 5 only, and $0 Tier 1 generics at preferred pharmacies. Value Script covers drugs only, so you pair it with Original Medicare.

Quick answer: Value Script can work well if your drugs are on its 2027 formulary and you use a preferred pharmacy. Before you enroll or renew during Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7, 2026), confirm your state’s 2027 premium, check every drug on the formulary, and set up automatic premium payments. In 2026, thousands of Value Script members lost coverage after not paying premiums they didn’t expect to owe.

What is Wellcare Value Script?

Value Script is a Part D plan, not a Medicare Advantage plan. It covers prescription drugs only. You keep Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) for hospital and medical care, and you can pair it with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy. Key features to understand:

• Premium: set by region. It may be $0 in some areas and more in others, and it can change from one year to the next.
• Formulary: a list of covered drugs sorted into cost tiers. Generics are usually on the lowest tiers.
• Preferred pharmacies: your copay is typically lower at preferred network pharmacies than at standard network pharmacies.
• Rules: some drugs need prior authorization, step therapy or quantity limits.

Compare Value Script with other carriers’ drug plans in our SilverScript Part D guide and the plan-by-plan details in Wellcare Value Script prescription medications.

Wellcare Value Script 2027: premium, deductible and copays

Centene confirmed on October 1, 2026 that Wellcare will offer two stand-alone drug plans for 2027, Wellcare Classic and Wellcare Value Script, with Value Script as “a low-premium option.” (Centene, October 1, 2026) The 2027 national Summary of Benefits lists these premiums:

Value Script’s 2027 drug costs in California (30-day supply at a preferred retail pharmacy) are: Tier 1 generics $0, Tier 2 25%, Tier 3 40%, Tier 4 15%, Tier 5 25% and Tier 6 $11. Tier 1 costs $20 at a standard retail pharmacy. Covered insulin is $35 for a one-month supply on every tier, even before the deductible, and once your out-of-pocket costs reach $2,400 you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of 2027.

2026 vs 2027: Wellcare Value Script S4802-163 (California)

Does Wellcare Value Script cover Zepbound or Wegovy?

Not for weight loss alone. By law, Part D plans exclude drugs “when used for weight loss,” and Wellcare’s own page says “Medicare Part D plans do not cover GLP-1 drugs when they are used only for weight loss.” Part D plans can cover these drugs for other approved uses, such as Zepbound for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, or Wegovy to lower the risk of major heart problems, usually with prior authorization. Whether Value Script lists a specific drug, and on which tier, is in its 2027 formulary, so check it or call Member Services. (Wellcare: Does Medicare cover weight-loss drugs?; CMS GLP-1 Bridge FAQs)

Separately, Medicare runs the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027. Eligible Part D enrollees who meet its BMI and health criteria can get Wegovy, Zepbound (KwikPen) or Foundayo for $50 a month. It’s run by Medicare, not Wellcare, and the $50 doesn’t count toward your deductible or the $2,400 cap. (Medicare.gov: Weight-loss drugs)

Wellcare Value Script phone numbers

• Members: 1-888-550-5252 (TTY 711). October 1 to March 31, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week; April 1 to September 30, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Not a member yet: 1-844-480-0700 (TTY 711). October 1 to December 15, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week.

Source: Wellcare 2027 Summary of Benefits and Annual Notice of Change.

Part D rules that apply to Value Script in 2026 and 2027

Every Part D plan, including Value Script, follows Medicare’s standard limits:

Sources: Medicare.gov, How much does Medicare drug coverage cost?; CMS, Part D 2027 bid information; Medicare.gov, 2026 Medicare costs; Medicare.gov, Insulin.

Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches the yearly cap, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year. For how costs move through the year, see Part D drug coverage phases.

The 2026 Value Script premium problem

NPR reported in July 2026 that about 140,000 Value Script members lost their coverage in April 2026 after they didn’t pay premiums during a grace period. Many had paid $0 in 2025 and didn’t realize their plan began charging a small monthly premium in 2026, with some owing only a few dollars a month (NPR).

Losing drug coverage can be costly. You may have to wait for an enrollment period to get a new plan, and if you go 63 days or more in a row without creditable drug coverage, you could owe a Part D late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part D.

How to avoid losing your drug coverage

1. Open your Annual Notice of Change each fall and look for the premium for next year.
2. Set up automatic payment from your bank account or have the premium withheld from your Social Security check. Medicare.gov notes Social Security withholding can take up to 3 months to start.
3. Keep your address current with the plan so bills reach you. See how to change your address with Social Security and Medicare.
4. Open every letter from your plan. A past-due notice usually comes before coverage ends.

How to check whether Value Script is right for you in 2027

1. List every drug you take, with the dose and how often.
2. Enter them on Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder with your ZIP code and preferred pharmacy to see estimated 2027 yearly costs for Value Script and other plans.
3. Compare total cost, not just premium. A $0 or low premium can cost more overall if your drugs sit on higher tiers.
4. Check pharmacy status. Make sure the pharmacy you use is preferred in the plan’s network.
5. Look at restrictions such as prior authorization on drugs you take now.

Our annual Medicare plan review checklist lists the questions to ask.

When you can join, switch or leave Value Script

• Open Enrollment: October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes start January 1, 2027.
• Initial Enrollment: when you first get Medicare.
• Special Enrollment Periods: for example, if you move out of the plan’s service area, lose other drug coverage, or qualify for Extra Help or Medicaid.

People with limited income and resources may qualify for Extra Help, which lowers Part D premiums and copays. You can apply through Social Security. For the zero-premium history of this plan, see $0-premium Wellcare Value Script.

Frequently asked questions

What is Wellcare Value Script?

A stand-alone Medicare Part D drug plan from Wellcare that you add to Original Medicare. It covers prescription drugs only, with premiums and costs that vary by region.

Is Wellcare Value Script a good plan?

It depends on your drugs, pharmacy and location. Compare its total estimated yearly cost against other plans on Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder using your own medication list.

Does Wellcare Value Script have a premium in 2027?

Yes. The 2027 Summary of Benefits lists $5.30 a month in many states, including California and Texas, with higher premiums in a few states such as Connecticut ($13.30), Hawaii ($23.30) and New York ($37.30). Full Extra Help can lower it.

Does Wellcare Value Script cover Zepbound?

Not for weight loss alone, because Part D excludes weight-loss drugs. It may cover a GLP-1 for another approved use, such as sleep apnea, if the drug is on the 2027 formulary and prior authorization is approved. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge is a separate $50-a-month option.

What is the Wellcare Value Script deductible for 2027?

$700, applied to Tiers 2 to 5. Tier 1 and Tier 6 drugs aren’t subject to it, and covered insulin is $35 a month before the deductible.

What happens if I don’t pay my Value Script premium?

The plan can end your coverage after a grace period. In 2026, many members lost coverage this way. Set up automatic payment to avoid a lapse.

What is the maximum I can pay for drugs with Value Script?

Like all Part D plans, out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs is capped at $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.

This article is general information, not individual insurance advice. Medicare365 is an independent website and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Wellcare, Centene, the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

Sources

• Medicare.gov: How much does Medicare drug coverage cost?
• CMS: Medicare Part D 2027 national average monthly bid amount
• Medicare.gov: 2026 Medicare costs fact sheet
• Medicare.gov: Medicare Plan Finder
• Wellcare: 2027 PDP Summary of Benefits (PDF)
• Wellcare: Value Script 2027 Annual Notice of Change, S4802-163 (PDF)
• Centene: Wellcare 2027 Medicare offerings
• Medicare.gov: Weight-loss drugs and the GLP-1 Bridge
• NPR: These Medicare beneficiaries thought their drug plan was free. Then they lost it (July 6, 2026)