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      S-8 Registration Statement
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>As
      filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16,
      2006</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong><u>Registration
      Statement No. 333-</u></strong></font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font></div>
    <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">
      <hr style="MARGIN-TOP: -5px; COLOR: #000000" noshade size="4">
      <hr style="MARGIN-TOP: -10px; COLOR: #000000" noshade size="1"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>UNITED
      STATES</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Washington,
      DC 20549</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>FORM
      S-8</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">REGISTRATION
      STATEMENT</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">UNDER</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">THE
      SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong><u>WELLCARE
      HEALTH PLANS, INC.</u></strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Exact
      Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>
    <div>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Delaware</strong></font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="25%">&#160;</td>
            <td valign="top" width="27%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>47-0937650</strong></font></div>
            </td>
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            <td valign="top" width="29%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(State
                or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="25%">&#160;</td>
            <td valign="top" width="27%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(I.R.S.
                Employer Identification No.)</font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
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      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

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            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">&#160;</td>
            <td valign="top" width="68%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>8725
                Henderson Road</strong></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="center"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Tampa,
                Florida</strong></font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>33634</strong></font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -5.75pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Address
                of Principal Executive Offices)</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>WELLCARE
                HEALTH PLANS, INC. 2004 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN </strong></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -5.75pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Full
                title of the plan)</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Thaddeus
                Bereday</strong></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Senior
                Vice President and General Counsel</strong></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>WellCare
                Health Plans, Inc.</strong></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>8725
                Henderson Road</strong></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="center"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Tampa,
                Florida</strong></font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>33634</strong></font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -5.75pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Name
                and address of agent for service)</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>(813)
                290-6200 </strong></font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>&#160;</strong></font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Telephone
                number, including area code, of agent for service)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="7%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="68%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="7%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>

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    </div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <hr style="MARGIN-TOP: -5px; COLOR: #000000" noshade size="1">
    </div>
    <div><br>
      <div><br>
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              <tr>
                <td colspan="5" valign="top" width="81%" style="border-bottom: black double;">
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -5.75pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>CALCULATION
                    OF REGISTRATION FEE</strong></font></div>
                </td>
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              <tr>
                <td valign="top" width="15%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -5.75pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Title
                    of shares</font></div>
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -5.75pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">to
                    be registered</font></div>
                </td>
                <td valign="top" width="15%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -5.75pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Amount
                    to be </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">registered</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times New Roman, serif"><sup>
                    (1)</sup></font></div>
                </td>
                <td valign="top" width="18%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -5.4pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Proposed
                    maximum </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">offering
                    price per share</font></div>
                </td>
                <td valign="top" width="20%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Proposed
                    maximum </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">aggregate
                    offering price</font></div>
                </td>
                <td valign="top" width="13%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Amount
                    of </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">registration
                    fee</font></div>
                </td>
              </tr>
              <tr>
                <td valign="top" width="15%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -5.75pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Common
                    Stock, $.01 par value</font></div>
                </td>
                <td valign="top" width="15%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -5.75pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">1,182,840
                    shares </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times New Roman, serif"><sup>(2)</sup></font></div>
                </td>
                <td valign="top" width="18%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -5.75pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">$38.79
                    </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times New Roman, serif"><sup>(3)</sup></font></div>
                </td>
                <td valign="top" width="20%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 18.6pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">$45,876,449</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times New Roman, serif"><sup>
                    (3)</sup></font></div>
                </td>
                <td valign="top" width="13%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 6pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">$4,909.00
                    </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman, Times New Roman, serif"><sup>(3)</sup></font></div>
                </td>
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    </div>
    <div align="left"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="3%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(1)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="78%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
                to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
                Registration Statement shall also cover such indeterminate number
                of
                additional shares as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting
                from
                stock splits, stock dividends, or similar transactions.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="3%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(2)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="78%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Represents
                1,182,840 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options, stock
                appreciation rights, restricted stock or units, performance shares
                or
                units and other stock-based awards granted or to be granted under
                the
                WellCare Health Plans, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="3%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(3)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="78%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: -6pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Estimated
                solely for the purpose of determining the amount of the registration
                fee
                pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
                based on the average of the high and low prices of the Company&#8217;s common
                stock on the New York Stock Exchange on February 13,
                2006.</font></div>
            </td>
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            <td align="right" style="width: 18pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></td>
            <td>&#160;</td>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Explanatory
      Note</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><em><u>Shares
      to be Registered</u></em></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">This
      Registration Statement is intended to register a total of 1,182,840 additional
      shares of common stock to be issued by WellCare Health Plans, Inc., a Delaware
      corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;), under the WellCare Health Plans, Inc. 2004 Equity
      Incentive Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;). The contents of Registration Statement No.
      333-120257 filed with the SEC on November 5, 2004, which registered </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4,688,532</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">
      shares
      of common stock to be issued by the Company under the Plan, are incorporated
      by
      reference herein. Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, on January 1, 2006, the
      number of shares of common stock to be issued by the Company under the Plan
      increased by an amount equal to the lesser of 1,200,000 shares or 3% of the
      shares outstanding as of that date. </font><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">-2-</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div><br>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>PART
      I</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>INFORMATION
      REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 18pt"></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
      documents containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or given
      to employees participating in the WellCare Health Plans, Inc. 2004 Equity
      Incentive Plan, as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated under the Securities
      Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Securities Act&#8221;). In accordance with the
      instructions to Part I of Form S-8, such documents will not be filed with the
      Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) either as part of this
      registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant
      to
      Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act. These documents and the documents
      incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this registration
      statement, taken together, constitute the prospectus as required by Section
      10(a) of the Securities Act.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div><br>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>
        </div>
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">-3-</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
          <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div><br><br>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>PART
      II</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>INFORMATION
      REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      3.</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Incorporation
      of Documents by Reference.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
      Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;SEC&#8221;) allows the Company to
      "incorporate by reference" the information the Company files with it, which
      means the Company can disclose important information to you by referring you
      to
      those documents. The information included in the following documents is
      incorporated by reference and is considered to be a part of this prospectus.
      The
      most recent information that the Company files with the SEC automatically
      updates and supersedes more dated information. The Company has previously filed
      the following documents with the SEC and is incorporating them by reference
      into
      this prospectus:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td align="right" style="width: 72pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
                Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed
                by
                the Company on February 14, 2006, as amended by Amendment No.1 on
                Form
                10-K/A filed by the Company on February 16,
                2006;</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td align="right" style="width: 72pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Current
                Reports on Form 8-K filed by the Company on January 23, 2006, February
                13,
                2006, February 14, 2006 and February 16, 2006;
                and</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="list" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td align="right" style="width: 72pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol, serif">&#183;&#160;&#160;</font></td>
            <td>
              <div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
                description of the Company&#8217;s common stock contained in the Registration
                Statement on Form 8-A dated June 9, 2004, filed pursuant to Section
                12 of
                the Securities Exchange Act of
                1934.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In
      addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
      13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to
      filing a post-effective amendment that indicates all the shares of common stock
      offered have been sold, or that deregisters all shares of common stock then
      remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into, and
      to
      be a part of, this Registration Statement from the date of filing of those
      documents. The information contained in any such documents will automatically
      update and supercede any information previously incorporated by reference into
      this Registration Statement. Any such information so modified or superseded
      shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part
      of
      this Registration Statement.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div><br>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">-4-</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div><br>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      8. Exhibits.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.1</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Amended
                and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, incorporated
                by
                reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
                10-Q
                for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004. </font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.2</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Amended
                and Restated By-laws of the Company, incorporated by reference to
                Exhibit
                3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly
                period ended June 30, 2004. </font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.3</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Registration
                Statement on Form 8-A dated June 9, 2004, filed pursuant to Section
                12 of
                the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.4</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">WellCare
                Health Plans, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit&#160;10.4 to the Company&#8217;s Quarterly Report on
                Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June&#160;30,
                2004.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.5</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Form
                of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the WellCare Health
                Plans,
                Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.5
                to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly
                period
                ended June 30, 2004.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.6</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Form
                of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the WellCare Health Plans,
                Inc.
                2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.6 to
                the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
                ended
                June 30, 2004.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.7</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Form
                of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the WellCare Health Plans,
                Inc.
                2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.1 to
                the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on
                March
                17, 2005.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="consenthogan.htm">5.1</a></font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="consenthogan.htm">Opinion
                of Hogan &amp; Hartson L.L.P. regarding
                legality (filed herewith). </a></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="consentdeloitte.htm">23.1</a></font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="consentdeloitte.htm">Consent
                of Independent Registered Public
                Accounting Firm (filed herewith).</a></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="6%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><a href="consenthogan.htm"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">23.2</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font></a></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="73%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="consenthogan.htm">Consent
                of Hogan &amp; Hartson L.L.P. (included in
                Exhibit 5 hereto).</a></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div><br>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">-5-</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div><br>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>SIGNATURES</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
      to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies
      that
      it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
      for
      filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed
      on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
      Tampa, State of Florida, on this 16th day of February, 2006.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="34%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="46%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>WELLCARE
                HEALTH PLANS, INC.</strong></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="34%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="46%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">By:
                <u>/s/ TODD S. FARHA</u></font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Todd
                S. Farha</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 27pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">President
                and Chief Executive Officer</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div><br>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">-6-</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB2" style="LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font>&#160;Each
        person
        whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of Todd
        S.
        Farha and Thaddeus Bereday, with full power to act without the other, his
        true
        and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
        resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
        capacities (until revoked in writing) to sign any and all amendments (including
        post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, to file the same,
        together with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith,
        with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to sign any and all applications,
        registration statements, notices and other documents necessary or advisable
        to
        comply with applicable state securities laws, and to file the same, together
        with all other documents in connection therewith, with the appropriate state
        securities authorities, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents or
        any
        of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, full power and authority
        to
        perform and do each and every act and thing necessary and advisable as fully
        to
        all intents and purposes as he might or could perform and do in person, hereby
        ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any
        of
        them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause
        to be
        done by virtue hereof.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
        to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement
        has been signed by the following persons as of February 16, 2006 in the
        capacities indicated.</font></div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
      <div>
        <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Signature</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Title</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">/<u>s/
                  TODD S. FARHA</u></font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">
                  <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Todd
                    S. Farha</font></div>
                </div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">President,
                  Chief Executive Officer and Director</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font size="2">(Principal
                  Executive Officer)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><u>/s/
                  PAUL BEHRENS</u></font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Paul
                  Behrens</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Senior
                  Vice President and Chief Financial</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Officer
                  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><u>/s/
                  REGINA HERZLINGER</u></font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Regina
                  Herzlinger</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">/<u>s/
                  KEVIN HICKEY</u></font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Kevin
                  Hickey</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><u>/s/
                  ALIF HOURANI</u></font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Alif
                  Hourani</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><u>/s/
                  GLEN R. JOHNSON</u></font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Glen
                  R. Johnson</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">/<u>s/
                  RUBEN JOSE KING-SHAW, JR.</u></font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Ruben
                  Jose King-Shaw, Jr.</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">/<u>s/
                  CHRISTIAN MICHALIK</u></font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Christian
                  Michalik</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">/<u>s/
                  JANE SWIFT</u></font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Jane
                  Swift</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Director</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">/<u>s/
                  NEAL MOSZKOWSKI</u></font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font></div>
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Neal
                  Moszkowski</font></div>
              </td>
              <td align="left" valign="top" width="40%">
                <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Chairman
                  of the Board</font></div>
              </td>
            </tr>

        </table>
      </div>
      <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
      <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
        <div id="FTR">
          <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">-7-</font></div>
          <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
            <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="2">
          </div>
        </div>
        <div id="HDR">
          <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div><br>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>EXHIBIT
      INDEX</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.1</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Amended
                and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, incorporated
                by
                reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
                10-Q
                for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004. </font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.2</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Amended
                and Restated By-laws of the Company, incorporated by reference to
                Exhibit
                3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly
                period ended June 30, 2004. </font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.3</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Registration
                Statement on Form 8-A dated June 9, 2004, filed pursuant to Section
                12 of
                the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.4</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">WellCare
                Health Plans, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit&#160;10.4 to the Company&#8217;s Quarterly Report on
                Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June&#160;30,
                2004.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.5</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Form
                of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the WellCare Health
                Plans,
                Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.5
                to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly
                period
                ended June 30, 2004.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.6</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Form
                of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the WellCare Health Plans,
                Inc.
                2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.6 to
                the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
                ended
                June 30, 2004.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4.7</font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Form
                of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the WellCare Health Plans,
                Inc.
                2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.1 to
                the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on
                March
                17, 2005.</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="consenthogan.htm">5.1</a></font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="consenthogan.htm">Opinion
                of Hogan &amp; Hartson L.L.P. regarding
                legality (filed herewith). </a></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="consentdeloitte.htm">23.1</a></font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="consentdeloitte.htm">Consent
                of Independent Registered Public
                Accounting Firm (filed herewith).</a></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">&#160;</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="5%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="consenthogan.htm">23.2</a></font></div>
            </td>
            <td align="left" valign="top" width="75%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="consenthogan.htm">Consent
                of Hogan &amp; Hartson L.L.P. (included in
                Exhibit 5.1 hereto).</a></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "s8registrationstatement.htm", "description": "S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 77831}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "WELLCARE HEALTH PLANS, INC.", "cik": "0001279363", "assigned-sic": "6324", "irs-number": "470937650", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-131908", "film-number": "06626425"}, "business-address": {"street1": "8725 HENDERSON ROAD", "street2": "RENAISSANCE ONE", "city": "TAMPA", "state": "FL", "zip": "33634", "phone": "8132906200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "8725 HENDERSON ROAD", "street2": "RENAISSANCE ONE", "city": "TAMPA", "state": "FL", "zip": "33634"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "WELLCARE GROUP INC", "date-changed": "20040210"}}
S-8 Registration Statement
As
      filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16,
      2006
Registration
      Statement No. 333-
UNITED
      STATES
SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
      DC 20549
FORM
      S-8
REGISTRATION
      STATEMENT
UNDER
THE
      SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
WELLCARE
      HEALTH PLANS, INC.
(Exact
      Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
47-0937650
(State
                or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S.
                Employer Identification No.)
8725
                Henderson Road
Tampa,
                Florida
33634
(Address
                of Principal Executive Offices)
WELLCARE
                HEALTH PLANS, INC. 2004 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full
                title of the plan)
Thaddeus
                Bereday
Senior
                Vice President and General Counsel
WellCare
                Health Plans, Inc.
8725
                Henderson Road
Tampa,
                Florida
33634
(Name
                and address of agent for service)
(813)
                290-6200
(Telephone
                number, including area code, of agent for service)
CALCULATION
                    OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title
                    of shares
to
                    be registered
Amount
                    to be
registered
(1)
Proposed
                    maximum
offering
                    price per share
Proposed
                    maximum
aggregate
                    offering price
Amount
                    of
registration
                    fee
Common
                    Stock, $.01 par value
1,182,840
                    shares
(2)
$38.79
(3)
$45,876,449
(3)
$4,909.00
(3)
(1)
Pursuant
                to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
                Registration Statement shall also cover such indeterminate number
                of
                additional shares as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting
                from
                stock splits, stock dividends, or similar transactions.
(2)
Represents
                1,182,840 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options, stock
                appreciation rights, restricted stock or units, performance shares
                or
                units and other stock-based awards granted or to be granted under
                the
                WellCare Health Plans, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan.
(3)
Estimated
                solely for the purpose of determining the amount of the registration
                fee
                pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
                based on the average of the high and low prices of the Company's common
                stock on the New York Stock Exchange on February 13,
                2006.
Explanatory
      Note
Shares
      to be Registered
This
      Registration Statement is intended to register a total of 1,182,840 additional
      shares of common stock to be issued by WellCare Health Plans, Inc., a Delaware
      corporation (the "Company"), under the WellCare Health Plans, Inc. 2004 Equity
      Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). The contents of Registration Statement No.
      333-120257 filed with the SEC on November 5, 2004, which registered
4,688,532
shares
      of common stock to be issued by the Company under the Plan, are incorporated
      by
      reference herein. Pursuant to the terms of the Plan, on January 1, 2006, the
      number of shares of common stock to be issued by the Company under the Plan
      increased by an amount equal to the lesser of 1,200,000 shares or 3% of the
      shares outstanding as of that date.
-2-
PART
      I
INFORMATION
      REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
The
      documents containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or given
      to employees participating in the WellCare Health Plans, Inc. 2004 Equity
      Incentive Plan, as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated under the Securities
      Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). In accordance with the
      instructions to Part I of Form S-8, such documents will not be filed with the
      Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") either as part of this
      registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant
      to
      Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act. These documents and the documents
      incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this registration
      statement, taken together, constitute the prospectus as required by Section
      10(a) of the Securities Act.
-3-
PART
      II
INFORMATION
      REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item
      3.
Incorporation
      of Documents by Reference.
The
      Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") allows the Company to
      "incorporate by reference" the information the Company files with it, which
      means the Company can disclose important information to you by referring you
      to
      those documents. The information included in the following documents is
      incorporated by reference and is considered to be a part of this prospectus.
      The
      most recent information that the Company files with the SEC automatically
      updates and supersedes more dated information. The Company has previously filed
      the following documents with the SEC and is incorporating them by reference
      into
      this prospectus:
·
The
                Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed
                by
                the Company on February 14, 2006, as amended by Amendment No.1 on
                Form
                10-K/A filed by the Company on February 16,
                2006;
·
Current
                Reports on Form 8-K filed by the Company on January 23, 2006, February
                13,
                2006, February 14, 2006 and February 16, 2006;
                and
·
The
                description of the Company's common stock contained in the Registration
                Statement on Form 8-A dated June 9, 2004, filed pursuant to Section
                12 of
                the Securities Exchange Act of
                1934.
In
      addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
      13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to
      filing a post-effective amendment that indicates all the shares of common stock
      offered have been sold, or that deregisters all shares of common stock then
      remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into, and
      to
      be a part of, this Registration Statement from the date of filing of those
      documents. The information contained in any such documents will automatically
      update and supercede any information previously incorporated by reference into
      this Registration Statement. Any such information so modified or superseded
      shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part
      of
      this Registration Statement.
-4-
Item
      8. Exhibits.
4.1
Amended
                and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, incorporated
                by
                reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
                10-Q
                for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004.
4.2
Amended
                and Restated By-laws of the Company, incorporated by reference to
                Exhibit
                3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly
                period ended June 30, 2004.
4.3
Registration
                Statement on Form 8-A dated June 9, 2004, filed pursuant to Section
                12 of
                the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
4.4
WellCare
                Health Plans, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan
incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on
                Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30,
                2004.
4.5
Form
                of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the WellCare Health
                Plans,
                Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.5
                to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly
                period
                ended June 30, 2004.
4.6
Form
                of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the WellCare Health Plans,
                Inc.
                2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.6 to
                the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
                ended
                June 30, 2004.
4.7
Form
                of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the WellCare Health Plans,
                Inc.
                2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.1 to
                the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on
                March
                17, 2005.
5.1
Opinion
                of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. regarding
                legality (filed herewith).
23.1
Consent
                of Independent Registered Public
                Accounting Firm (filed herewith).
23.2
Consent
                of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. (included in
                Exhibit 5 hereto).
-5-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
      to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies
      that
      it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
      for
      filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed
      on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
      Tampa, State of Florida, on this 16th day of February, 2006.
WELLCARE
                HEALTH PLANS, INC.
By:
/s/ TODD S. FARHA
Todd
                S. Farha
President
                and Chief Executive Officer
-6-
Each
        person
        whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of Todd
        S.
        Farha and Thaddeus Bereday, with full power to act without the other, his
        true
        and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
        resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
        capacities (until revoked in writing) to sign any and all amendments (including
        post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, to file the same,
        together with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith,
        with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to sign any and all applications,
        registration statements, notices and other documents necessary or advisable
        to
        comply with applicable state securities laws, and to file the same, together
        with all other documents in connection therewith, with the appropriate state
        securities authorities, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents or
        any
        of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, full power and authority
        to
        perform and do each and every act and thing necessary and advisable as fully
        to
        all intents and purposes as he might or could perform and do in person, hereby
        ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any
        of
        them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause
        to be
        done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant
        to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement
        has been signed by the following persons as of February 16, 2006 in the
        capacities indicated.
Signature
Title
/
s/
                  TODD S. FARHA
Todd
                    S. Farha
President,
                  Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal
                  Executive Officer)
/s/
                  PAUL BEHRENS
Paul
                  Behrens
Senior
                  Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
                  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/
                  REGINA HERZLINGER
Regina
                  Herzlinger
Director
/
s/
                  KEVIN HICKEY
Kevin
                  Hickey
Director
/s/
                  ALIF HOURANI
Alif
                  Hourani
Director
/s/
                  GLEN R. JOHNSON
Glen
                  R. Johnson
Director
/
s/
                  RUBEN JOSE KING-SHAW, JR.
Ruben
                  Jose King-Shaw, Jr.
Director
/
s/
                  CHRISTIAN MICHALIK
Christian
                  Michalik
Director
/
s/
                  JANE SWIFT
Jane
                  Swift
Director
/
s/
                  NEAL MOSZKOWSKI
Neal
                  Moszkowski
Chairman
                  of the Board
-7-
EXHIBIT
      INDEX
4.1
Amended
                and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, incorporated
                by
                reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
                10-Q
                for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004.
4.2
Amended
                and Restated By-laws of the Company, incorporated by reference to
                Exhibit
                3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly
                period ended June 30, 2004.
4.3
Registration
                Statement on Form 8-A dated June 9, 2004, filed pursuant to Section
                12 of
                the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
4.4
WellCare
                Health Plans, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan
incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on
                Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30,
                2004.
4.5
Form
                of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the WellCare Health
                Plans,
                Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.5
                to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly
                period
                ended June 30, 2004.
4.6
Form
                of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the WellCare Health Plans,
                Inc.
                2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.6 to
                the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
                ended
                June 30, 2004.
4.7
Form
                of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the WellCare Health Plans,
                Inc.
                2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.1 to
                the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on
                March
                17, 2005.
5.1
Opinion
                of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. regarding
                legality (filed herewith).
23.1
Consent
                of Independent Registered Public
                Accounting Firm (filed herewith).
23.2
Consent
                of Hogan & Hartson L.L.P. (included in
                Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
-8-