UnitedHealth to cut MN Medicare Advantage counties from 72 to 27 in 2026; UCare exits; Blue Cross maintains statewide coverage via MA/Cost
UnitedHealth Group will sharply shrink its Minnesota Medicare Advantage footprint from 72 counties to 27 in 2026 (part of a national pullback from 109 counties affecting up to 180,000 members), a change that will affect roughly 20% of its Minnesota MA subscribers; UCare is exiting Medicare Advantage entirely while Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota will offer MA in 66 counties and Medicare Cost plans in the other 21, preserving Blue Cross options across all 87 counties. Beneficiaries who lose MA plans will revert to Original Medicare Parts A and B and could lose supplemental benefits and drug coverage, with guarantee-issue Medigap enrollment and stand‑alone Part D plans (with widely varying premiums) cited as immediate replacement options.
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📌 Key Facts
- UnitedHealth Group will stop offering Medicare Advantage (MA) in 109 U.S. counties in 2026, affecting up to 180,000 members nationwide.
- In Minnesota, UnitedHealth will reduce its MA footprint from 72 counties to 27 in 2026, affecting about 20% of its Minnesota MA subscribers.
- UCare will exit Medicare Advantage in Minnesota entirely in 2026; HealthPartners and Aetna have also announced changes affecting Medicare customers.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota will offer Medicare Advantage in 66 counties and Medicare Cost plans in the remaining 21 counties, ensuring Blue Cross Medicare options are available in all 87 Minnesota counties.
- Beneficiaries whose Medicare Advantage plans are terminated will revert to original Medicare (Parts A and B) and lose MA-added benefits such as prescription drug coverage and supplemental cost-sharing protections unless they obtain replacement coverage.
- People whose MA plans are terminated have guarantee-issue access to Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans and can enroll in standalone Part D prescription drug plans, though Part D premiums vary widely (examples cited from $0 up to about $101–$117).
- Tim Jopp of Legacy Health Insurance provided a step-by-step explainer and immediate next-step guidance for affected beneficiaries, urging prompt review of coverage options and enrollment where needed.
📚 Contextual Background
- Insurers named in the article that operate Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota include UnitedHealth, UCare, HealthPartners, Aetna, and Blue Cross.
📰 Sources (3)
Medicare Advantage changes in 2026: What you can expect
New information:
- UnitedHealth Group will stop offering Medicare Advantage in 109 U.S. counties in 2026, affecting up to 180,000 members nationwide.
- In Minnesota, UnitedHealth will reduce its MA footprint from 72 counties to 27 in 2026, affecting about 20% of its Minnesota MA subscribers.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota will offer MA in 66 counties and Medicare Cost plans in the remaining 21, ensuring Blue Cross Medicare options in all 87 counties.
- UCare will drop Medicare Advantage entirely in 2026; HealthPartners and Aetna have also announced changes for Medicare customers.
Medicare Advantage plans being dropped: Your questions answered
New information:
- Explainer/Q&A from Legacy Health Insurance's Tim Jopp clarifying that beneficiaries who lose their Medicare Advantage plan will revert to original Medicare A/B and lose added benefits such as prescription drug coverage and supplemental cost-sharing.
- Guarantee-issue access into Medicare supplement (Medigap) plans for people whose Medicare Advantage plans are terminated, noted as an important option.
- Concrete example ranges for standalone prescription drug plan premiums mentioned (examples cited from $0 up to about $101–$117) to show cost variability for replacement coverage.
- Direct interview context and quotes from Tim Jopp providing step-by-step options and immediate next steps for affected beneficiaries.