WellCare Health Plans opens Syracuse office

SYRACUSE - WellCare Health Plans, Inc., based in Florida, opened a 2,488-square-foot office at 221 S. Warren St. in February.

The office will serve Syracuse's senior-citizen community with WellCare's Medicare Advantage health plan, says John Aberg, vice president of corporate communications

"We believe we are fulfilling an unmet need for seniors in the Syracuse marketplace," Aberg says. "We are new to the Syracuse market with our Medicare Advantage health plans for Medicare beneficiaries."

WellCare, a provider of government-sponsored health plans describes itself as "the largest Medicaid and Medicare distributor in the United States." WellCare (NYSE: WCG) provides managed-care plans for 2.3 million Medicare and Medicaid participants nationwide. The company employs 3,500 nationwide.

WellCare is leasing office space through Fayetteville-based COR Brokerage and the Syracuse office currently employs 10.

Aberg couldn't provide lease details.

Syracuse Properties Holding, Inc., based in Brooklyn, owns the 111,020-square-foot South Warren Street building. The five-story building is 29 years old.

WellCare is attracted to the Syracuse-area's aging population.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 13.6 percent of Onondaga County's population is older than 65. Although he couldn't provide growth projections, Aberg says WellCare predicts that Medicare Advantage health-plan sales will do well in this area as the elderly population grows.

To qualify for the Medicare Advantage health plan, subscribers must have Medicare Part A and Part B. Subscribers must pay the monthly Medicare Part B premium to Medicare and often a monthly premium to the Medicare Advantage plan for the extra benefits it offers, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Typically, the Medicare Advantage offers extra benefits and lower copayments than the standard Medicare plan, HHS says.

WellCare, based in Tampa, was founded in 1985.