WellCare Health Plans, Inc., (NYSE: WCG) and the Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger (BSCAH) announced today that John J. Burke, WellCare's state president in New York, was awarded BSCAH's 2016 Planter Award in recognition of his "commitment to serving vulnerable New Yorkers."

BSCAH is an 18-year-old nonprofit in Brooklyn dedicated to providing the city's most vulnerable residents with healthy foods and education about the important link between nutrition and health. The organization serves approximately 10,000 meals each day to those in need. Each year, BSCAH honors community leaders who make a difference in the lives of the city's most impoverished residents.

"WellCare, under John's leadership, has been a tremendous partner in our sustaining work empowering low-income New Yorkers," said Melony Samuels, BSCAH's founder and executive director. "Our annual Planter Award recognizes a community leader with a demonstrated commitment to our work and support of vulnerable New Yorkers. They are so named because of the seed of empowerment they plant in our great city. We appreciate the positive impact WellCare has on the people we serve."

Over the years, WellCare has partnered with BSCAH on holiday toy drives and community donations, a reduced-fare transportation program, and health information outreach and education efforts.

"Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger plays a critical role in helping to ensure the community's most vulnerable residents have access to healthy foods, while also providing access to programs that focus on diet and healthy lifestyle issues," said Burke.

Burke joined WellCare in 2004 and has more than 25 years of experience in the health care industry. He was named president of WellCare of New York in 2013.

As of June 30, 2016, WellCare serves approximately 122,000 Medicaid members, 42,000 Medicare Advantage members, 55,000 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan members and 7,000 Managed Long Term Care members inNew York.

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 3.8 million members nationwide as of June 30, 2016. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at www.wellcare.com or view the company's videos athttps://www.youtube.com/user/WellCareHealthPlan.