WellCare Supports Marshall County Schools with $10,000 donation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. and TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognizing that the entire school district has suffered a trauma and will need longer-term counseling and support, WellCare of Kentucky, a subsidiary of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG), is making a $10,000 donation to the Marshall County Schools in Benton, Kentucky. Two students were killed and 20 people were injured on Tuesday in Marshall County High School.

"After a tragedy like this, students and faculty will be dealing with the after effects of trauma," said Bill Jones, WellCare of Kentucky president. "We want to ensure that they have what they need to process these horrible events."

WellCare has a special relationship with Marshall County Schools, having sponsored the "Team Ultra" program there for the past four years. Through that program, WellCare has provided nearly $30,000 in nutrition and physical education support to more than 250 students a year. Initially a program in the six elementary schools, it was recently expanded to the middle school level.  "Our commitment is to the health of the entire community," Jones said. "We have members, colleagues, and friends in Marshall County. This is being a good neighbor."

In October, WellCare helped sponsor a "trauma-informed care" conference in Paducah, less than 30 miles from Benton. That conference was aimed at helping healthcare and social service providers better serve patients who had experienced past trauma, such as sexual, domestic or other violence. Trauma can be a factor in substance abuse, depression, anxiety and other mental and behavioral health conditions.

As of Sept. 30, 2017, WellCare serves approximately 446,000 Medicaid members, 9,000 Medicare Advantage plan members and 23,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members in Kentucky. To learn more about how we care for Kentuckians, watch Brandi's story at http://youtu.be/YwOw5EgeSYo.

About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses exclusively on providing government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical needs. WellCare serves approximately 4.3 million members nationwide as of Sept. 30, 2017. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at www.wellcare.com or view the company's videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/WellCareHealthPlan.

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SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.