WellCare of North Carolina has partnered with the NC Alliance of YMCAs to provide WellCare Medicaid members with a one-year YMCA membership to support their health and well-being, according to the NC Alliance of YMCAs. WellCare is paying YMCAs for family and adult memberships for their Medicaid members who wish to join the Y in North Carolina.
“The Y is a valued community health partner,” said Dr. Matt Oettinger, Vice President of Population Health for WellCare of North Carolina. “We’re pleased to invest in Y membership at no extra cost to our WellCare Medicaid members to complement our quality health care services and further support our members’ health. We are committed to providing a wide range of support to our members.”
WellCare also provides its Medicaid members with access to two proven YMCA programs: the Diabetes Prevention Program and Healthy Weight and Your Child. Both programs are offered virtually statewide to WellCare members who qualify and have a physician’s referral. Like the Y memberships, there is no additional cost to WellCare’s Medicaid members to participate in these health programs.
WellCare and the NC YMCAs have agreed on a standard rate for a YMCA adult membership and a family membership for WellCare Medicaid members across the state. YMCAs vary in how they define a “family” membership; WellCare Medicaid memberships may not include all members of a household depending on local Ys’ membership categories.
“Our Ys are pleased to collaborate with WellCare to provide access to the Y’s programs and services,” said Sheree Thaxton Vodicka, CEO of the NC Alliance of YMCAs. “The Y provides a place to play, to learn, to be healthy, to eat well, and to give back. Our Ys give parents childcare, young adults job training, seniors a way to connect, and children a safe place to go. We’re devoted to strengthening communities across North Carolina, and this partnership with WellCare enables us to move closer toward our goal to improve the health of North Carolinians.” The Y is committed to growing partnerships with health care organizations statewide.
How WellCare Members Can Join the Y
WellCare Medicaid members may contact Member Services at 1-866-799-5318 (TTY 711), 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Saturday, to complete a WellCare YMCA membership voucher they can bring to their local Y, and to learn how they can enroll in the Y’s health programs.
A list and map showing all the Ys in North Carolina is on the Alliance’s website at www.ncymcas.org/locations.
Additional Supports for Medicaid Members
Healthy Opportunities Pilots
Youth Services & Evidence-based Health Programs