WINONA, Minn. — Two major regional healthcare insurance carriers, Ucare and Quartz, aren’t renewing coverage in Winona and some neighboring counties. Policy-holders have been informed their coverage will cease in January. This leaves Winonans and others on their own to find replacement coverage. U-Care and Quartz explained their retreat from areas where claims exceeded their corporate expectations. Also cited were rising prescription costs and uncertainties created by President Trump’s draconian cuts in Medicare to cover expenses of seniors, children and impoverished people.
Insurer profiles
Dropping coverage in targeted areas including Winona County:
> Quartz. Headquarters in LaCrosse and Madison. Owned by Advocate Aurora Health of Milwaukee and Chicago, Gundersen Health of La Crosse, UnityPoint Health of Des Monses, and UW Health of Madison. The company focuses on the Medicare and Medicaid sector, as well as commercial plans.
> UCare. Headquarters in Minneapolis. A. non-profit company. Originally created by the University of Minnesota. Helps with deductibles for Medicare-eligible individuals and families on the state’s Health Care Exchange. Also for individuals enrolled in Minnesota Health Care programs like MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance.
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