Ucare Minnesota
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UCARE WILL IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR MEMBERS THROUGH INNOVATIVE SERVICES AND PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $7.1 billion
- Spending
- $7.5 billion
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 1,818
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $1.4 million, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 90% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
0 of 251 of 1 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $7.3 billion spent. UCARE ORGANIZED AND OPERATED A HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION (HMO) PROVIDING COORDINATED HEALTH CARE AND COVERAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 500,000 INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COMMUNITY ENROLLED IN STATE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, FEDERAL MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAMS, DUALLY ELIGIBLE MEDICARE, AND MEDICAID PROGRAMS, AND MNSURE MARKETPLACE PLANS. UCARE'S PROGRAMS PROVIDE SERVICES TO SENIORS, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, THOSE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE CHALLENGES ACCESSING HEALTH CARE. UCARE IS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES AND MAKES QUALITY HEALTH CARE AVAILABLE ON AN ECONOMICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS, PREPAID BASIS TO THAT COMMUNITY. OUR SERVICES ARE GUIDED BY UCARE'S MISSION WHICH IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR MEMBERS THROUGH INNOVATIVE SERVICES AND PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS COMMUNITIES. THROUGHOUT EACH AREA, UCARE IMPLEMENTED INTERVENTIONS THAT MET THE NEEDS OF OUR CULTURALLY AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP THAT INCLUDED: - STRUCTURAL INTERVENTIONS INCLUDING ACCESSIBILITY AND AVAILABILITY OF PRIMARY CARE, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, AND SPECIALTY CARE PROVIDERS; VALUE-BASED CONTRACTING; AND MEDICAL RECORD STANDARDS AND ADVANCE DIRECTIVE AUDITS. - COMMUNITY RESOURCES INCLUDING MEMBER WELLNESS AND SAFETY INITIATIVES; COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, SOCIAL SERVICES REFERRALS. - TAILORED INTERVENTIONS TO SUPPORT NCQA, HEDIS, STAR RATINGS, QUALITY RATING SYSTEM, CAHPS, HOS, MEMBER EXPERIENCE, MEMBER SAFETY, FOCUSED STUDIES, DISEASE MANAGEMENT AND CARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. THE QUALITY MONITORING, PROGRAM INITIATIVES AND SERVICES DEMONSTRATED MANY SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES. MANY PERCENTAGES OF MEASURE ELEMENTS MET OR EXCEEDED THE NATIONAL NCQA 75TH PERCENTILE FOR UCARE'S PRODUCTS MEDICARE STAR RATINGS PROGRAM: CMS CONTINUES TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT MEASUREMENT CHANGES THAT MAKE IT HARDER FOR PLANS TO MAINTAIN AND ACHIEVE HIGH RATINGS. THE NATIONAL AVERAGE STAR PERFORMANCE DECLINED FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, WITH ONLY SEVEN 5-STAR PLANS REMAINING FOR THE 2025 PLAN YEAR - NONE IN MINNESOTA. UCARE PLANS EXPERIENCED STAR LOSSES BUT RETAINED HIGH RATINGS FOR OUR UCARE MEDICARE AND ESSENTIACARE PLANS. UCARE MEDICARE RECEIVED A 4 STAR AND ESSENTIACARE RECEIVED A 4.5 STAR. MSHO AND CONNECT + MEDICARE DECREASED BY A HALF STAR FOR THE 2025 PLAN YEAR, DROPPING TO A 3.5 STAR AND 3 STAR RESPECTIVELY. OVERALL, SPECIAL NEEDS PLANS (SNP) OFFERED IN MINNESOTA DROPPED IN STAR RATINGS FOR THE 2025 PLAN YEAR. THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT UCARE YOUR CHOICE QUALIFIED FOR AN INDIVIDUAL STAR RATING AND EARNED 3.5 OUT OF 5 STARS. UCARE CONTINUOUSLY STRIVES TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF MEMBERS. UCARE IDENTIFIED KEY FOCUS AREAS THAT SUPPORT QUALITY MEASURE PERFORMANCE ACROSS ALL PRODUCTS WITH A CONTINUED FOCUS ON IMPROVING AT OR ABOVE THE NATIONAL 75TH PERCENTILE AND MAINTAINING OR ACHIEVING HIGH PERFORMANCE IN OUR STAR RATINGS PROGRAM FOR MEDICARE AND INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY PLANS. UCARE PROVIDED MANY HEALTH PROMOTION, DISEASE MANAGEMENT, CARE MANAGEMENT AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS. THESE EFFORTS NOT ONLY BENEFIT THE HEALTH OF ENROLLEES, BUT POSITIVELY AFFECT THEIR FAMILIES AND LARGER COMMUNITIES. EXAMPLES INCLUDE: DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOR ASTHMA, DIABETES, CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE, AND CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE; FALLS PREVENTION PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE SAFETY OF SENIORS; MANAGEMENT OF MATERNITY SERVICES (MOMS) PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE RESOURCES TO ENROLLEES AND PROVIDERS TO IMPROVE PREGNANCY AND POST-PARTUM HEALTH, CAR SEAT DISTRIBUTION, EDUCATION TO PREGNANT WOMEN AND CHILDREN; TOBACCO CESSATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO HELP MEMBERS LIVE NICOTINE FREE, AND DISTRIBUTION OF FREE MATERIALS ON HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROPER USE OF URGENT AND EMERGENCY FACILITIES AT COMMUNITY FORUMS. IN ADDITION, UCARE SUPPORTS MEMBER HEALTH WITH ACCESS TO MANY DIFFERENT FITNESS OPTIONS AS WELL AS DISCOUNTS ON SERVICES THAT ARE HEALTH AND WELLNESS RELATED BUT MAY NOT BE COVERED BY THE MEMBER'S BASIC BENEFIT PLAN, INCLUDING HEALTHY FOOD DISCOUNTS, ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION CLASSES AND OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION ALLOWANCE. UCARE CONDUCTED A VARIETY OF HEALTH-RELATED EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS, TOOLS AND MATERIALS FOR MEMBERS, PROVIDERS, AND THE PUBLIC. IN 2024, UCARE CONDUCTED 244 MEDICARE EDUCATION CLASSES WHICH WERE ATTENDED BY 750 INDIVIDUALS. UCARE PARTNERED WITH WELLSHARE INTERNATIONAL TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSE POPULATIONS AND WITH THE SOMALI COMMUNITY TO CONDUCT CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE HEALTH EDUCATION CLASSES FOR COMMUNITY FAMILIES, ELDERS AND IMAMS REGARDING PREVENTATIVE CARE AND CHRONIC CONDITION MANAGEMENT. UCARE ALSO PRODUCED NUMEROUS NEWSLETTER ARTICLES EDUCATING BOTH MEMBERS AND PROVIDERS ABOUT VARIOUS TOPICS, INCLUDING DENTAL BENEFITS, CHRONIC CONDITION MANAGEMENT, NEW PROVIDER SEARCH TOOL, MEDICARE COVERAGE UPDATES AND CAREGIVING SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES. IN A TYPICAL YEAR, UCARE PROVIDES HEALTH RELATED SCREENINGS AND SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AT NO OR LOW COST TO MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC. UCARE SUPPORTS PROVIDING FREE HEALTH RELATED SCREENINGS, FLU AND COVID SHOTS, AND HEALTH EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC VIA THE UCARE HEALTHMOBILE (A 37-FOOT RV THAT PROVIDES FREE BASIC HEALTH SCREENINGS INCLUDING BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS, GLUCOSE AND CHOLESTEROL READINGS AND BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) ASSESSMENTS) AT VARIOUS COMMUNITY EVENTS. UCARE'S MOBILE DENTAL CLINIC (MDC), OPERATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY, OFFERS QUALITY ORAL HEALTH CARE TO UCARE MEMBERS WITH DENTAL ACCESS ISSUES. IN 2024, THE MDC STAFF PERFORMED MORE THAN 3,654 PREVENTIVE AND RESTORATIVE PROCEDURES AT SITES ACROSS MINNESOTA. UCARE TARGETED AREAS OF THE STATE WITH LIMITED DENTAL ACCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS ON STATE PUBLIC PROGRAMS. UCARE HEALTH PLAN EMPLOYEES ALSO DEVOTED TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY RELATED COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUPPORT EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE QUALITY AND RESEARCH INITIATIVES, ADVANCE PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE ACCESS, AND REDUCE HE
- IN ADDITION TO UCARE'S BUSINESS OF PROVIDING PUBLIC HEALTH CARE PROGRAM PLANS THAT SEEK TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES, UCARE'S COMMUNITY BENEFIT EFFORTS GO BEYOND OUR EVERYDAY COMMITMENT TO MEMBERS. THROUGH UCARE'S COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAM, WE REACH OUT TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY BY: - ADDRESSING SOCIAL RISK FACTORS THAT MAY UNDERMINE THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. - STRENGTHENING THE PROVIDERS THAT SERVE POPULATIONS WITH CHALLENGES ACCESSING CARE. - ENCOURAGING THE WELLNESS OF FAMILIES AND SENIORS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. - SUPPORTING RESEARCH, PROGRAMS, AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT BENEFIT HEALTH CARE QUALITY AND DELIVERY. - SUPPORTING MEDICAL EDUCATION RELATED TO IMPROVING ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE. IN SEPTEMBER 2023, THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND UCARE EXECUTED A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT TO RESOLVE A GOVERNANCE DISPUTE. UCARE IS TO CONTRIBUTE $100 MILLION IN $25 MILLION INCREMENTS, WITH THE LAST CONTRIBUTION MADE IN DECEMBER 2025. SINCE EXECUTION OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, THE $100 MILLION WAS HELD IN A UCARE FOUNDATION RESTRICTED MONEY MARKET ACCOUNT WITH THE BALANCE CONTINUING TO ACCRUE INTEREST. UCARE'S CONTRIBUTIONS WERE USED TO FUND PROJECTS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE MISSIONS OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS IN FOUR HEALTH CARE PRIORITY AREAS: HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCESS; RURAL HEALTH AND OUTREACH; MENTAL HEALTH AND AGING; AND DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY MEDICINE PRIORITY PROGRAMS. UCARE PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE UCARE FOUNDATION, A COMMUNITY-DIRECTED INITIATIVE OF UCARE. THE FOUNDATION'S GRANTMAKING FOCUSES ON PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN THE TWIN CITIES AND THROUGHOUT GREATER MINNESOTA WITH INNOVATIVE SERVICES, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND RESEARCH. UCARE SUPPORTS A MOBILE GROCERY STORE THAT INCREASES ACCESS TO HEALTHY, AFFORDABLE FOOD IN UNDER-RESOURCED AREA AND PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE VARIOUS SUPPORTS TO AGING SENIORS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY AND EXPERIENCING SOCIAL ISOLATION. DURING 2025, UCARE ALSO HELPED MANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDERS DELIVERING SERVICES, RESEARCH, AND PROGRAMS THAT REACH BEYOND UCARE'S MEMBERSHIP, INCLUDING EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET FOR AT-RISK FAMILIES AND SENIORS AND ADVANCE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ISSUES RELATED TO SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. UCARE PROVIDED SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING TO IMPROVE DENTAL ACCESS IN RURAL AREAS OF MINNESOTA. FINALLY, UCARE ALSO ENCOURAGED EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO VOLUNTEER TIME AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. UCARE PROVIDES ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICES TO EDUCATION, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS THAT BUILD CAPACITY IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF AT-RISK FAMILIES AND SENIORS. EXAMPLES OF EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS INCLUDE SUPPORT FOR THE FOLLOWING: ADOPT-A-FAMILY GIFT DRIVE, FOOD DRIVE, SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE, MEALS ON WHEELS, FALL RAKE UP AND ANNUAL COMMUNITY GIVING CAMPAIGN.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.