Ucare

What Ucare does

UCare Minnesota is an independent, nonprofit health plan founded in 1982 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company provided health coverage to approximately 587,000 Minnesotans across four primary lines of business: Individual & Family Plans sold through the MNsure state marketplace, Medical Assistance (Medicaid) programs including PMAP, MinnesotaCare, and Minnesota Senior Care Plus, Special Needs BasicCare (UCare Connect) for adults with disabilities, and Medicare Advantage plans including MSHO and Connect + Medicare dual-eligible products.

The company's operating platform combined a health insurance administration core with outsourced pharmacy benefit management handled by Navitus Health Solutions (transition effective 2024), a provider portal powered by Availity, and member-facing digital infrastructure for plan management, formulary search, and rewards redemption. UCare differentiated its product surface with community-grounded programs including a Mobile Dental Clinic operated jointly with the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, condition-specific wellness kits, fitness benefits through One Pass Select (Optum), chronic-disease care management for diabetes and heart failure, and a 24/7 nurse line. The company held NCQA Health Plan Accreditation across its full line of business and NCQA Health Equity Accreditation for Medicaid plans, reflecting its positioning with vulnerable and culturally diverse populations. GTM was sales-led across direct enrollment, the MNsure marketplace, broker distribution, and county/tribal social services partnerships.

Following record earnings in 2022, UCare experienced rapid financial deterioration through 2025, ultimately leaving approximately $900 million owed to medical providers. The Minnesota Department of Health petitioned for oversight, and UCare was placed into court-supervised Rehabilitation on December 17, 2025. Medica agreed to acquire UCare's Medicaid and Individual & Family plan contracts covering roughly 300,000 members (announced November 17, 2025; closed January 1, 2026), while Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans were closed December 31, 2025, and the company's Minneapolis headquarters was listed for sale.

Name

Ucare

Legal name

UCare Minnesota

Website

https://ucare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

UCare Minnesota is a nonprofit health plan providing Medicaid, MinnesotaCare, Medicare Advantage, and Individual & Family coverage to roughly 587,000 Minnesotans; following 2025 financial collapse and court-ordered rehabilitation, its contracts were acquired by Medica and its headquarters placed for sale.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Managed Care Health Insurance

NAICS

Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623), Home Health Care Services (62161), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Physical-Behavioral-Social Care (Whole-Person) Medicaid Plans (HLAEAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medicaid Expansion (ACA Adult) Managed Care Plans (HLAEAEAB), Aged, Blind & Disabled (ABD) Managed Care Plans (HLAEAEAC)

Keywords

• Health insurance plans
• Medicaid managed care
• Medicare Advantage plans
• Individual family coverage
• Health plan administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Health Insurance Premiums: UCare generates revenue primarily through health insurance premiums collected from members enrolled in Individual & Family Plans (through MNsure marketplace), Minnesota Health Care Programs (Medicaid), and Medicare Advantage plans. Premium revenue is received from government programs (Medicaid/Medicare) and individual subscribers.
2. Government Program Reimbursements: Revenue from government-funded healthcare programs including Medical Assistance (Medicaid), MinnesotaCare, and Medicare Advantage. These programs reimburse healthcare services provided to eligible beneficiaries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UCare is a Minnesota-based nonprofit health plan that provides health insurance coverage through Individual & Family Plans (sold via the MNsure marketplace), Medical Assistance (Medicaid) programs including PMAP, MinnesotaCare, MSC+, UCare Connect (Special Needs BasicCare), and Medicare Advantage plans (MSHO, Connect + Medicare — closed December 31, 2025). Members also receive an integrated suite of wellness benefits, including pharmacy benefits managed by Navitus, dental coverage via a Mobile Dental Clinic, One Pass Select fitness program, MOMS pregnancy program, disease management for diabetes and heart failure, care management, mental health and substance use services, transportation (Health Ride), 24/7 nurse line, and wellness kits. Operations transitioned to Medica in January 2026 following UCare's court-supervised Rehabilitation.

Product overview

UCare was a nonprofit health insurance company providing a comprehensive portfolio of health coverage products and wellness services across Minnesota. The core offerings included Individual & Family Plans (tiered Bronze/Silver/Gold/Core plans with HSA options), Medical Assistance (Medicaid) programs (PMAP, MinnesotaCare, MSC+), and special needs plans (UCare Connect, MSHO, Connect + Medicare). These were supported by an extensive suite of member wellness programs including the Healthy Benefits+ Visa card, MOMS pregnancy program, diabetes and heart failure management, dental connection services with a mobile dental clinic, fitness programs through One Pass Select, 24/7 nurse line, care management, mental health services, and pharmacy benefits managed through Navitus. Note: UCare entered court-supervised rehabilitation in December 2025, with operations transitioning to Medica in January 2026. Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans closed December 31, 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UCare Individual & Family Plans Health insurance plans for individuals and families purchasing coverage through the MNsure marketplace or directly, including tiered metal options and HSA-compatible plans. Targets Minnesotans without employer-sponsored coverage, self-employed individuals, and subsidy-eligible households.
• UCare Medical Assistance Plans (Medicaid) Government-sponsored Medicaid health coverage including PMAP (Prepaid Medical Assistance Program), MinnesotaCare, and MSC+ (Minnesota Senior Care Plus) for income-eligible Minnesotans.
• UCare Connect (Special Needs BasicCare) Special needs health plan for Minnesota adults with disabilities (Special Needs BasicCare) providing coordinated Medicaid coverage with additional support services and care management.
• Pharmacy Benefits Prescription drug coverage including formulary management, in-network pharmacy finder, mail order pharmacy through Costco, and Medication Therapy Management. Available across all UCare health plans with pharmacy coverage.
• Healthy Benefits+ Visa Card Prepaid Visa card that loads member rewards, incentives, and eligible allowance programs, allowing members to redeem earned wellness dollars at participating retailers.
• MOMS Program Management of Maternity Services program offering pregnancy education, resources, rewards, and care coordination to support prenatal and postpartum care for eligible members.
• SEATS Program Seats, Education and Travel Safety program distributing free car seats and providing safety education to eligible pregnant members and families with children age 9 or younger.
• Diabetes Disease Management Program Disease management program providing health coaching, education, monitoring tools, and care coordination to help members manage diabetes.
• Heart Failure Program Chronic condition management program providing support, education, and health coaching to members living with heart failure.
• 24/7 Nurse Line 24/7 telephone nurse line providing health advice, guidance on symptoms, and direction on whether to seek urgent or emergency care for all UCare members.
• UCare Dental Connection One-call dental care coordination service helping members find providers, schedule appointments, arrange transportation, and coordinate interpreter services.
• Mobile Dental Clinic 43-foot wheelchair-accessible mobile dental clinic offering check-ups, cleanings, and basic restorative care in underserved Minnesota communities. Operated with the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry; dental students supervised by faculty deliver care.
• One Pass Select Fitness Program Fitness and well-being membership providing access to up to 20,000 fitness locations nationwide, on-demand and live-streaming fitness classes, and member savings on fuel and grocery delivery through partners including ExxonMobil, Walmart, and Shipt.
• Care Management Program Whole-person care coordination providing physical and mental health support, substance use services, and social needs assistance including housing and food access.
• Mental Health and Substance Use Services Comprehensive mental health and substance use support including case management, counseling, individual and group therapy, and community resources.
• Wellness Kits Curated wellness kits including the ADHD/Autism Support Kit, Connect to Wellness Kit, LivingWell Kids Kit, and Strong & Stable Kit for fall prevention, distributed to eligible UCare members.
• UCare Health Ride (Transportation) Non-emergency medical transportation service helping UCare members travel to medical appointments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-star rating for Minnesota Senior Health Options (2026)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MedicacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2025Medica and UCare announced a definitive agreement for Medica to acquire certain contracts and assets of UCare, providing continued health coverage to UCare's members in Minnesota. The transaction closed in early 2026, expanding Medica's service offerings and ensuring seamless care for UCare's approximately 300,000 members in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
• University of Minnesota School of DentistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCare partners with the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry to operate the Mobile Dental Clinic, the first Minnesota health plan to own and operate such a facility. Dental, dental hygiene, and dental therapy students supervised by faculty provide care aboard the 43-foot mobile clinic.
• Navitus Health SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationNavitus Health Solutions serves as UCare's pharmacy benefit manager starting 2024, handling formulary management, drug pricing, and pharmacy network coordination. Members access Navitus through their online member account for real-time benefit tools.
• Minnesota Counties and Tribal NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCare works with counties and Tribes to identify and respond to the health needs of members. UCare regularly meets with representatives to discuss UCare updates, concerns, questions, and opportunities to serve the community. Partnerships include county social services for Medical Assistance enrollment.
• Tareen DermatologyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTareen Dermatology was an in-network provider for UCare Medicare Advantage plans before UCare exited the Medicare Advantage market on January 1, 2026.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Medica: Minnesota-based nonprofit health plan that acquired UCare's Medicaid and Individual & Family contracts in early 2026. Most directly comparable peer — same nonprofit structure, same Minnesota market, overlapping government-program focus, and now successor to UCare's member book.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota: Dominant Minnesota health insurer offering Individual & Family, Medicare, and Medicaid products through state programs. Directly competes with UCare on MNsure marketplace and Medical Assistance enrollment with greater market scale and capital strength.
• HealthPartners: Minnesota-based nonprofit health plan and integrated care system offering commercial, Medicare, and Medical Assistance coverage. Comparable nonprofit structure and Minnesota-only focus, competing head-to-head for Medicaid and Individual & Family members.
• PrimeWest Health: Minnesota county-based purchasing organization operating as a Minnesota Health Care Programs health plan serving 13 rural counties. Directly competes for Medical Assistance enrollees in Minnesota with overlapping PMAP and MinnesotaCare offerings.
• South Country Health Alliance: Minnesota county-based purchasing health plan offering Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, and Medicare Advantage products to 12 southern Minnesota counties. Comparable county-partnership model and Medicaid-focused portfolio.
• Itasca Medical Care: Minnesota county-based purchasing health plan serving Itasca County with Medical Assistance and Medicare Advantage products. Small but directly comparable Minnesota-focused public-program plan.

Broad incumbents

• UnitedHealthcare: Largest U.S. health insurer with significant Medicaid and Medicare Advantage presence in Minnesota. Operates broadly across all 50 states and competes across UCare's full product portfolio as a major broad-line incumbent.
• Humana: National leader in Medicare Advantage plans competing directly in Minnesota's MA market that UCare exited. Broader incumbent offering MA, Part D, and Medicaid products with greater financial scale.
• Centene: Largest U.S. Medicaid managed care insurer with significant Minnesota Medicaid presence through its subsidiaries. Broad incumbent operating across government-sponsored health programs nationally.
• Molina Healthcare: Medicaid-focused national health plan serving lower-income populations across multiple states. Comparable Medicaid-centric portfolio though smaller Minnesota presence than UCare had prior to collapse.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ucarehealthplan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ucare
• Instagraminstagram.com/ucarehealthplan
• Xx.com/ucaremn

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ucare