UnitedHealth, UCare scale back Medicare Advantage in Minnesota; beneficiaries face Jan. 1 changes
UnitedHealth and UCare are scaling back Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota, leaving some beneficiaries facing changes effective Jan. 1 that will revert them to original Medicare Parts A and B and strip away extra benefits like prescription drug coverage and supplemental cost-sharing. Experts such as Tim Jopp say affected enrollees should immediately explore options — guarantee‑issue Medigap for those whose MA plans are terminated or standalone Part D plans, whose premiums can vary widely (examples cited from $0 up to about $101–$117).
Health
Business & Economy
📌 Key Facts
- FOX 9 published an explainer/Q&A with Tim Jopp clarifying that beneficiaries who lose their Medicare Advantage plans will revert to Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and will lose added benefits such as prescription drug coverage and supplemental cost-sharing.
- The explainer notes that people whose Medicare Advantage plans are terminated have guarantee-issue access to Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans, and presents this as an important option for replacement coverage.
- FOX 9 provided concrete example ranges for standalone prescription drug (Part D) plan premiums, citing examples from $0 up to about $101–$117 to illustrate cost variability for replacement coverage.
- Tim Jopp gave direct interview context and quotes, offering a step-by-step list of options and immediate next steps for beneficiaries affected by terminated Medicare Advantage plans.
- The Q&A is framed to answer common questions and to emphasize the need for affected beneficiaries to evaluate replacement coverage (drug plans, Medigap, or other options) promptly.
📚 Contextual Background
- Insurers named in the article that operate Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota include UnitedHealth, UCare, HealthPartners, Aetna, and Blue Cross.
📰 Sources (2)
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.