UCare Medicare Advantage 2027: Plans Ended, What Former Members Can Do
Reviewed November 9, 2026. There are no UCare Medicare Advantage 2027 plans. UCare ended all of its Medicare plans on December 31, 2025, including its Medicare Advantage, EssentiaCare, Medicare Supplement, Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) and UCare Connect + Medicare plans. You can’t join a UCare Medicare plan during the 2027 Open Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7, 2026). If you were a UCare member, review the plan you moved to for 2026 and compare 2027 options from other companies.
Quick answer:
- UCare Medicare Advantage: closed December 31, 2025. UCare says it is “not offering these plans in 2026,” and these plans did not move to Medica.
- UCare Medicare Supplement (Medigap): ended December 31, 2025.
- MSHO and UCare Connect + Medicare: ended December 31, 2025. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) moved MSHO members to UCare MSC+ on January 1, 2026.
- The special deadlines are over: the special enrollment period for the closure ended February 28, 2026, and the Medigap guaranteed-issue deadline was March 4, 2026.
- For 2027: use the regular Open Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, 2026, to compare plans on Medicare.gov. Free help is available from Minnesota Aging Pathways at 1-800-333-2433.
What happened to UCare Medicare Advantage plans
UCare was a Minnesota nonprofit health plan that sold Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. During 2025 it closed new enrollment and said its Medicare plans would not continue in 2026. In November 2025, UCare and Medica signed an agreement, pending regulatory approval, for Medica to take over certain UCare contracts and assets.
UCare’s plan-closure FAQ says the Medicare plans were left out of that deal: “UCare Medicare Advantage plans are closing and are not part of the agreement with Medica.” Medica took over UCare’s Medicaid and Individual and Family plans. UCare members did not move into Medica Medicare Advantage plans.
On December 17, 2025, a Ramsey County district court placed UCare Minnesota into rehabilitation, a form of state regulatory supervision. UCare says it will keep winding down its operations under that supervision.
UCare Medicare plans that closed December 31, 2025
UCare’s plan-closure FAQ lists these plans as closed:
| Plan family (contract) | Plans that closed | Status in 2026 and 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| UCare Medicare Plans (HMO-POS, H2459) | Classic Metro, North and South; Complete Metro, North and South; Essentials Rx Metro and North; Standard; Aware; Value; Value Plus | Not offered |
| UCare Your Choice (PPO, H8070) | Your Choice, Your Choice Plus | Not offered |
| EssentiaCare (PPO, H8783) | Access, Grand, Secure | Not offered |
| UCare Advocate (HMO I-SNP, H2459) | Advocate Choice, Advocate Plus | Not offered |
| UCare Medicare Group Plans (H2459) | Employer and retiree group plans | Not offered |
| UCare Medicare Supplement | Basic, Extended Basic, $20/$50 Copay | Not offered |
| Medicare and Medical Assistance (HMO D-SNP) | Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO), UCare Connect + Medicare | Ended December 31, 2025 |
The Medicare & You 2026 handbook still listed some of these plans because it was printed before the closure. UCare told members to rely on Medicare.gov for accurate plan information.
What UCare still offers in 2026 and 2027
UCare no longer offers any Medicare plan. Here is what official sources say about its other products:
- Medical Assistance (Medicaid) and MinnesotaCare: A December 2025 DHS bulletin says UCare’s PMAP, MinnesotaCare, MSC+ and Non-Integrated SNBC products continued under the UCare name, with the same provider network, starting January 1, 2026, as part of the move to Medica. Medica has committed to give advance notice of any future changes. If you are enrolled, read every notice from DHS, your county and your health plan about 2027.
- Individual and Family Plans (MNsure): MNsure says UCare plans won’t be available through MNsure for 2027. 2026 UCare enrollees will be renewed automatically into a Medica plan for 2027, and benefits and networks may change.
- Medicare Advantage, Medigap, MSHO and Connect + Medicare: not offered in 2026 or 2027.
UCare Medicare Advantage 2027: what former members should do during Open Enrollment
The UCare closure rights covered the switch into 2026. They don’t carry over to 2027. Most former UCare members are now in a plan from another company, in Original Medicare with a standalone Part D plan, or in Original Medicare with a Medigap policy. Medicare.gov says Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year. During that window, anyone with Medicare can change health and drug plans for the next year or keep their current plan. Coverage you choose starts January 1, 2027.
If you joined another Medicare Advantage plan for 2026
- Read your plan’s 2027 Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Check the premium, deductible, maximum out-of-pocket limit and supplemental benefits for 2027.
- Confirm that your doctors, clinics and hospitals are still in the 2027 network, and that your drugs are on the 2027 formulary.
- Compare 2027 plans in your county with the Medicare.gov Plan Finder. Minnesota Aging Pathways warns of big changes for 2027, including plan withdrawals, rising premiums and new enrollment caps.
- If your 2026 plan isn’t renewing for 2027, Medicare.gov says you can switch plans from December 8 through the last day of February. If you don’t join another Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll be enrolled in Original Medicare.
For a refresher on how these plans work, see Medicare Advantage plans explained and our guide to Medicare Open Enrollment dates and rules.
If you’re in Original Medicare without a Medigap policy
UCare told members that people without a new plan by December 31, 2025 would have only Original Medicare, and that their drug coverage would end. They could still join a plan with drug coverage through February 28, 2026.
- Drug coverage: If you still have no Part D coverage, you can join a Medicare drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage during Open Enrollment. UCare warned that a gap in drug coverage can lead to a lifetime Part D late-enrollment penalty.
- Medigap: The guaranteed-issue window tied to the UCare closure has ended. Outside a guaranteed-issue situation, Medicare.gov says there is no federal guarantee that an insurer will sell you a Medigap policy. Insurers can use medical underwriting, which means they can deny you or charge you more because of your health. Minnesota’s Department of Commerce notes that Minnesota Medigap premiums are community-rated. That means everyone in the same policy pays the same premium regardless of age, though premiums can vary by area and tobacco use.
Read more about when you can go back to Original Medicare and how to switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap.
If you had a UCare Medicare Supplement plan
UCare’s Medicare Supplement plans ended December 31, 2025. UCare said former members could use guaranteed enrollment rights until March 4, 2026 to buy a Basic Medicare Supplement plan from any company selling one in Minnesota, with no health screening. If you bought a replacement policy, it is guaranteed renewable under Minnesota rules: you keep it as long as you pay the premium. Minnesota uses its own Medicare Supplement plan names, such as Basic and Extended Basic. Confirm which plans an insurer sells in Minnesota before you compare. For how a lettered plan design works, see our overview of Medigap Plan G benefits.
If you had MSHO or UCare Connect + Medicare
DHS moved MSHO enrollees to UCare MSC+ on January 1, 2026. Dual-eligible members got a special election period to choose a new Medicare plan. Those who didn’t choose were assigned a Medicare drug plan by CMS. UCare said people with both Medicare and Medical Assistance could join an MSHO or integrated SNBC plan with another health plan at any time in 2026, starting the first day of the next month.
Medicare.gov also says people with Medicare and full Medicaid can join or switch to an integrated dual eligible special needs plan once per calendar month. People with Medicaid or Extra Help can change drug plans once per calendar month. See our guide to Medicare Special Needs Plans. For one-on-one help, MSHO members can call Minnesota Aging Pathways at 1-800-333-2433, and former Connect + Medicare members can call Disability Hub MN at 1-866-333-2466 (both numbers as listed by UCare).
Medigap guaranteed-issue rights if a plan leaves Medicare
These federal rules apply to any plan, not only UCare. Knowing them helps if your current plan exits for 2027. Medicare.gov says you have a guaranteed right to buy any Medigap policy sold in your state in these cases:
- Your Medicare Advantage plan leaves Medicare, stops covering your area, or you move out of its service area.
- Your Medicare Advantage plan broke the rules or misled you.
You can apply as early as 60 days before your Medicare Advantage coverage ends and no later than 63 days after it ends. If your Medigap insurer goes bankrupt or ends your policy through no fault of your own, you have 63 days after coverage ends. Keep the letters and notices you receive, because insurers may ask for them as proof.
Key dates for 2027 coverage
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 15, 2026 | Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 begins |
| December 7, 2026 | Open Enrollment ends; the plan must receive your enrollment by this date |
| January 1, 2027 | New 2027 coverage and plan changes take effect |
| January 1 to March 31, 2027 | Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: people in a Medicare Advantage plan can switch to another one, or to Original Medicare with a drug plan |
Where to get free help in Minnesota
- Minnesota Aging Pathways (formerly the Senior LinkAge Line): 1-800-333-2433, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They offer free, unbiased Medicare counseling.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day.
- Medicare.gov Plan Finder, to compare 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D plans by ZIP code. Medigap policies aren’t sold through the Plan Finder; contact insurers or a broker directly.
- UCare member questions about Medicaid or MinnesotaCare: use the customer service number on the back of your UCare member ID card, as UCare instructs.
The UCare Medicare sales line printed in older articles is no longer listed on UCare’s site for Medicare enrollment, because UCare no longer sells Medicare plans.
Frequently asked questions
Does UCare offer Medicare Advantage plans in 2027?
No. UCare ended all of its Medicare Advantage plans on December 31, 2025, and offers no Medicare plans in 2026 or 2027.
Did Medica take over UCare Medicare plans?
No. UCare says its Medicare Advantage plans closed and were not part of its agreement with Medica. Medica took over UCare’s Medicaid and Individual and Family plans. To get a Medica Medicare plan, you would enroll in it like any other new plan.
Is UCare Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) still available?
No. UCare’s MSHO and Connect + Medicare plans ended December 31, 2025. DHS moved UCare MSHO members to UCare MSC+ on January 1, 2026. MSHO plans from other health plans may be available in your county.
Do former UCare members still have a special enrollment period?
Not for the UCare closure. That special enrollment period ended February 28, 2026. For 2027, use Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7, 2026), or another special enrollment period you qualify for, such as one for Medicaid or Extra Help.
Can I still buy a Medigap plan without health questions after leaving UCare?
Not under the UCare closure. That guaranteed-issue deadline was March 4, 2026. You’ll get a new guaranteed-issue right only if another qualifying event happens, such as your current Medicare Advantage plan leaving Medicare. Otherwise, insurers can use medical underwriting.
What is the UCare Medicare phone number?
UCare no longer lists a Medicare sales number. It tells members to call the number on the back of their UCare ID card. For help choosing a 2027 Medicare plan, call Minnesota Aging Pathways at 1-800-333-2433 or 1-800-MEDICARE.
This article is general information. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by UCare, Medica, the Minnesota Department of Human Services, CMS or any U.S. government agency.
Sources
- UCare: Plan closure FAQ
- UCare: Medicare plan closures and key dates
- UCare: Medicare Supplement plan closures
- UCare: MSHO and Connect + Medicare plan closures
- UCare: Provider FAQ on the Medica agreement
- UCare: Homepage notices on 2026 plans and rehabilitation
- Minnesota DHS: Medica acquiring UCare clarifications
- MNsure: UCare updates for 2027 coverage
- Medicare.gov: Special Enrollment Periods
- Medicare.gov: When can I buy a Medigap policy?
- Medicare.gov: Remember key Medicare dates (fact sheet)
- Minnesota Aging Pathways: Medicare Open Enrollment
- Minnesota Department of Commerce: Medigap plans