WellCare Health Plans, Tampa, Fla., has completed its acquisition of Easy Choice Health Plan, a Long Beach, Calif., Medicare Advantage insurer.

The two companies disclosed their deal on Sept. 6. Easy Care covers about 36,000 Medicare Advantage plan members in Southern California, with plans to expand its coverage area farther north. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

WellCare, which provides managed-care services to Medicare and Medicaid health plans, also said last month it plans to purchase UnitedHealth Group's South Carolina Medicaid business.

The company has been eyed as a potential target for larger commercial insurance plans, which are looking to expand into what's being viewed as a lucrative market for government-focused managed-care organizations.