UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 31, 2012
WELLCARE HEALTH PLANS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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001-32209
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47-0937650
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(State or other jurisdiction
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(Commission File Number)
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(IRS Employer
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of incorporation)
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Identification No.)
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8735 Henderson Road, Renaissance One
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Tampa, Florida
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33634
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code)
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (813) 290-6200
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Item 8.01 Other Events
On October 31, 2012, WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (“WellCare”) announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire UnitedHealthcare's Medicaid business in South Carolina. from UnitedHealth Group, Inc. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, and WellCare anticipates that the transaction will close during the fourth quarter of 2012.
As of October 2012, UnitedHealthcare's Medicaid busines in South Carolina serves approximately 65,000 members in 39 of the state’s 46 counties, including the Columbia and Greenville metropolitan areas, through the South Carolina Healthy Connections Choices program.
A copy of the press release announcing the transaction is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 8-K and the accompanying news release on Exhibit 99.1 contain “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. For example, statements regarding the timing of the closing of the acquisition of UnitedHealthcare of South Carolina, Inc. and the upcoming state policy changes to improve the Medicaid program for managed care plans and offer the potential for increased membership are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause WellCare’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, the satisfaction of the closing conditions for the acquisition, the receipt of regulatory approval for our business expansion, WellCare’s ability to address operational challenges relating to new business, WellCare’s ability to effectively execute and integrate acquisitions, WellCare’s progress on top priorities such as improving health care quality and access, ensuring a competitive cost position, and delivering prudent, profitable growth, and WellCare’s ability to effectively manage growth.
Additional information concerning these and other important risks and uncertainties can be found under the captions “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in WellCare’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and in WellCare’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2012 and other subsequent filings by WellCare with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which contain discussions of WellCare’s business and the various factors that may affect it. WellCare undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements to reflect any future events, developments, or otherwise.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: October 31, 2012
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WELLCARE HEALTH PLANS, INC.
/s/ Lisa G. Iglesias
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Lisa G. Iglesias
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Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
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Exhibit Index