Wellcare Assist Open (PPO) in Avery County, North Carolina — 2026 plan details
Last updated Jul 18, 2026
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward
Published by Senior Direct Answers · Licensed under Citation License 1.0
Wellcare Assist Open (PPO) (H1914-009) is a $31-premium Medicare Advantage PPO from Centene Corporation available in Avery County, North Carolina in 2026, with a 3.5-star overall rating, a $4,201 in-network out-of-pocket maximum, and a $480 annual Part D drug deductible.
Plan facts (CMS CY2026 Landscape file)
| Organization | Centene Corporation |
|---|---|
| Plan name | Wellcare Assist Open (PPO) |
| Contract ID | H1914 |
| Plan ID | 009 |
| Segment ID | 0 |
| Contract year | 2026 |
| Contract category | MA-PD |
| Plan type | PPO |
| SNP | No |
| Monthly consolidated premium | $31.00 |
| Part C premium | $0.00 |
| Part D basic premium | $31.00 |
| Part D total premium | $31.00 |
| Annual Part D deductible | $480.00 |
| Maximum out-of-pocket (in-network) | $4201.00 |
| Overall star rating | 3.5 |
How this plan is structured
- $31 consolidated premium. A $0 or near-$0 consolidated premium does not remove the Part B premium — the standard 2026 Part B premium is $202.90 per month and still applies. See the 2026 Medicare Part B premium.
- PPO plan type. Plan-type rules determine in-network use and referrals. See how Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans differ.
- $4,201 in-network out-of-pocket maximum. The MOOP is the annual cap on what a member pays in-network for covered Part A and Part B services. See how the Medicare Advantage MOOP works.
- Service area = Avery County. Medicare Advantage plans are sold by service area; moving out of the plan's service area triggers a Special Enrollment Period to switch plans. See how moving changes your Medicare options.
How it compares in Avery County
The CMS CY2026 Landscape file lists 77 Medicare Advantage plans in Avery County, North Carolina, of which 11 carry a 5.0-star overall rating and 38 have a $0 consolidated monthly premium. Consolidated premiums range from $0.00 to $255.00 per month, and in-network out-of-pocket maximums range from $3000.00 to $9250.00.
Other 5.0-star Medicare Advantage plans in Avery County (first three alphabetically):
| Plan | Organization | Premium | MOOP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alignment Health Heart & Diabetes Care (HMO C-SNP) | Alignment Healthcare USA, LLC | $0.00 | $3400.00 |
| Alignment Health Heart & Diabetes NCPlus (HMO-POS C-SNP) | Alignment Healthcare USA, LLC | $36.20 | $9250.00 |
| Alignment Health NC Duals (HMO-POS D-SNP) | Alignment Healthcare USA, LLC | $36.20 | $9250.00 |
For the full county plan directory, see all Medicare plans in Avery County, North Carolina.
How to verify your doctors take this plan
Network participation changes throughout the year; we hold no provider-network data, so verify directly with these three sources before you decide:
- Open the plan's official Medicare.gov page and use its provider-directory link: Medicare.gov Plan Finder — H1914-009.
- Call the plan (Centene Corporation) using the member-services number listed on that plan page and ask whether each doctor, hospital, and pharmacy is in-network for 2026.
- Get free, unbiased help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — see free unbiased Medicare help from SHIP.
What H1914-009 means
CMS assigns every Medicare Advantage and Part D offering a plan identifier made of three parts. In H1914-009, the leading H marks the contract type (H = Medicare Advantage / Part C contract), the four digits 1914 are the contract number issued to the organization, and the three-digit 009 is the plan benefit package under that contract. The segment ID 0 identifies the service-area segment within the plan (0 = the default single segment).
Frequently asked questions
Is Wellcare Assist Open (PPO) an HMO or PPO?
Wellcare Assist Open (PPO) is a PPO Medicare Advantage plan.
Does Wellcare Assist Open (PPO) include prescription drug coverage?
Yes — Wellcare Assist Open (PPO) is a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD) and a $480.00 annual Part D drug deductible for 2026.
What is the maximum out-of-pocket cost for Wellcare Assist Open (PPO)?
The 2026 in-network maximum out-of-pocket limit for Wellcare Assist Open (PPO) is $4201.00, per the CMS CY2026 Landscape file.
What counties offer Wellcare Assist Open (PPO) (H1914-009)?
Wellcare Assist Open (PPO) (H1914-009) is offered in 70 North Carolina counties: Alamance County, Alexander County, Alleghany County, Anson County, Ashe County, Avery County, Bladen County, Buncombe County, Burke County, Cabarrus County, Caldwell County, Caswell County, Catawba County, Chatham County, Clay County, Cleveland County, Columbus County, Cumberland County, Davidson County, Davie County, Duplin County, Durham County, Forsyth County, Franklin County, Gaston County, Graham County, Granville County, Greene County, Guilford County, Harnett County, Haywood County, Henderson County, Hoke County, Iredell County, Jackson County, Johnston County, Jones County, Lincoln County, Macon County, Madison County, Martin County, McDowell County, Mecklenburg County, Mitchell County, Montgomery County, Moore County, Orange County, Person County, Polk County, Randolph County, Richmond County, Robeson County, Rockingham County, Rowan County, Rutherford County, Sampson County, Scotland County, Stanly County, Stokes County, Swain County, Transylvania County, Tyrrell County, Union County, Vance County, Wake County, Warren County, Watauga County, Wilkes County, Yadkin County, and Yancey County.
Sources
- CMS, Plan Year 2026 Medicare Advantage & Part D Landscape source file (March 2026) — retrieved 2026-07-18. Overall star rating year: 2026.
- Medicare.gov Plan Finder — compare plans and enroll.