WellCare Announces Florida Elections Commission Resolution

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) today announced that it voluntarily disclosed to the Florida Elections Commission questionable campaign contributions by certain subsidiaries from 2003 through 2007. The Company has resolved the matter by entering into a Consent Order, which the Commission has approved. Under the Consent Order, the Company agreed to pay a total civil penalty of $142,000, and did not contest the Commission’s finding that there was probable cause that the contributions in question violated Florida Statutes section 106.08(5)(a).

"We are pleased this matter has been resolved,” said Thomas F. O’Neil III, WellCare’s vice chairman. "Our voluntary disclosure to the Commission demonstrates our enterprise-wide commitment to regulatory compliance, transparency, and accountability. Those responsible for these issues are no longer employed by the Company.”

As set forth in the Consent Order, from 2003 through 2007, the four WellCare subsidiaries at issue lacked a source of revenue independent of affiliate transfers or cash balances. In addition, some of the contributions exceeded the legal limit. There is no evidence that the violations were intentional, or that any subsidiary was created or maintained for the purpose of making the contributions. WellCare suspended its contributions to Florida election campaigns during the second quarter of 2008.

About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. provides managed care services exclusively for government-sponsored health care programs, focusing on Medicaid and Medicare. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, WellCare offers a variety of health plans for families, children, and the aged, blind, and disabled, as well as prescription drug plans. The Company served approximately 2.4 million members nationwide as of June 30, 2009. For more information about WellCare, please visit the Company’s website at www.wellcare.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking” statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "expects,” "anticipates,” "intends,” "plans,” "believes,” "estimates,” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual future results to differ materially from those projected or contemplated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to the Company’s obligation to make a payment to the Florida Elections Commission in connection with the Consent Order. Additional information concerning other important risks and uncertainties can be found under the captions "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and "Risk Factors” in the Company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, and other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements to reflect any future events, developments, or otherwise.