UCare, a trusted health care provider in Minnesota and Wisconsin, will end all Medicare Advantage products on December 31, 2025. This change impacts approximately 158,000 members, who must select new coverage for 2026.
Medicare Advantage plans, approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), include all Original Medicare benefits plus extra features like dental, vision, and prescription coverage. Members will lose these added benefits when UCare’s plans end.
According to the The Minnesota Star Tribune, UCare is also making changes to its Medicaid services and staffing as it works through financial challenges, including a reported $504 million operating loss in 2024.
At Connie Health, we help Medicare members understand these changes and find new coverage to ensure their care continues without interruption.
About 158,000 UCare Medicare Advantage members in Minnesota and Wisconsin will need to choose new coverage for 2026. UCare has been one of the state’s largest Medicare Advantage providers, serving nearly one in four (25%) beneficiaries.
In 2025, UCare’s Medicare Advantage enrollment reached around 182,000 members before the company announced its full exit from the market. UCare will end all Medicare Advantage plans on December 31, 2025. To maintain coverage, every current member will need to enroll in a new Medicare plan before the end of 2025.
Agent tip:
“Act early during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7). Contact a licensed Medicare insurance agent to compare plans and ensure you don’t have a disruption to care. Don’t wait until the last minute.”
According to UCare’s Plan Closure FAQ, the decision was made to manage rising costs and stabilize financial performance. The company has also reduced its workforce, cutting about 80 positions, or roughly 4–5% of staff, to lower costs and address financial pressures.
Review your 2026 Medicare plan options early. Call (623) 223-8884 to compare Medicare Advantage plans available in your area and make sure your new coverage begins on January 1, 2026.
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Local, licensed insurance agents with 25+ years of experienceStarting January 1, 2026, all UCare Medicare Advantage benefits, including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage, will end for members in Minnesota and Wisconsin. According to UCare’s Plan Closure FAQ and Medicare Plan Closures notice, members must take action before December 31, 2025, to maintain continuous coverage.
You have two main options to stay insured:
According to Medicare.gov and the Minnesota Department of Commerce, members affected by UCare’s exit may qualify for a guaranteed issue right to enroll in certain Medigap policies without medical questions or denial for preexisting conditions, as long as they apply within 63 days after coverage ends. Keep your CMS-approved plan termination notice as proof of eligibility when applying.
If no new plan is chosen, you’ll automatically return to Original Medicare, which doesn’t include prescription drug, dental, or vision benefits.
Avoid coverage gaps when UCare’s plans end. Call (623) 223-8884 to compare 2026 Medicare options and keep your benefits active into the new year.
Free, unbiased serviceCompare all major plans and carriers Local, licensed insurance agents with 25+ years of experienceAccording to InsuranceNewsNet, UCare reported a $504 million operating loss in 2024, with financial reserves dropping from $1.1 billion to $595 million. Rising medical costs and lower state payments, especially within UCare’s Medicaid programs, contributed to these losses.
As reported by Becker’s Payer Issues, the company cut staff and restructured operations to reduce expenses. These financial challenges led UCare to end all Medicare Advantage plans and temporarily suspend Medicaid services in several Minnesota counties.
Despite these changes, UCare remains deeply committed to serving its community through other health care programs, including Medicaid and individual coverage.
Avoid any break in your coverage when UCare’s plans end. Call (623) 223-8884 to compare 2026 Medicare options and keep your benefits active into the new year.
According to KSTP News, as part of its restructuring, UCare has paused Medicaid services in several Minnesota counties starting September 1, 2025, affecting about 88,000 members.
If you live in one of these counties, you may need to review your Medicaid or Medicare coverage as soon as possible to avoid a lapse in care.
| Benton County, Minnesota | Sherburne County, Minnesota |
| Chisago County, Minnesota | Stearns County, Minnesota |
| Crow Wing County, Minnesota | St. Louis County, Minnesota |
| Pennington County, Minnesota | Wadena County, Minnesota |
| Ramsey County, Minnesota | Wright County, Minnesota |
| Roseau County, Minnesota |
Federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rules provide a 90-day transition period for members in active treatment. As Martin’s Point Health Care outlined, this means your new plan must continue covering ongoing care in early 2026.
Call (623) 223-8884 to check if your county is affected, compare your Medicare and Medicaid services options, and make sure your care continues without interruption during UCare’s transition.
UCare’s decision to leave Medicare Advantage and reduce some Medicaid services will impact thousands of members across Minnesota and Wisconsin. To stay covered in 2026, choose a new plan during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7, 2025).
Contact Connie Health to explore Medicare Advantage options that fit your health and budget needs.
Free, unbiased serviceCompare all major plans and carriers Local, licensed insurance agents with 25+ years of experience
Yes. UCare must send written notices explaining the plan termination and enrollment options. Call UCare if you haven’t received it by mid-October 2025.
This plan will continue in 2026, but with a smaller service area. Contact UCare to check if your county is still covered, or call a Connie Health Medicare insurance agent for help finding a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) in your area.
That depends on your new plan. Many insurers in Minnesota and Wisconsin have broad provider networks. Tell your Connie Health Medicare insurance agent which doctors you want to keep, and they’ll help you find a plan that includes them.
A licensed Connie Health Medicare insurance agent can help you review plans, compare costs and benefits, and choose coverage that fits your health and budget.
You’ll revert to Original Medicare (Parts A and B), losing prescription and supplemental benefits. Special enrollment options may apply due to involuntary coverage loss.
Read more by Renee van Staveren
Since 2009, I've been writing about complicated, technical issues, with the goal of making topics like Medicare and healthcare easier to understand. I've been writing about Medicare since 2021 and healthcare since 2019. I am an AmeriCorps alumni. I enjoy gardening, reading, and DIYing.
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