UCare is looking to suspend its Medicare Advantage offerings, the insurer announced Thursday.

UCare, a Minneapolis-based health insurance nonprofit, made a request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services “to mutually terminate its Medicare Advantage product offerings for 2026,” according to a news release from the insurer.

“This decision was not made lightly,” said Hilary Marden-Resnik, UCare president and CEO, in the release. “UCare remains deeply committed to the health of Minnesotans and to supporting members through upcoming transitions.”

UCare currently has 158,000 Medicare Advantage members and is the second-largest Medicare Advantage carrier in the market with 26% market share, according to the release.

The nonprofit cites the cost of health care and increasing challenges of the overall market in its decision. “To maintain financial stability and continue providing quality, affordable coverage, UCare is aiming to focus its resources on programs where it can have the most impact,” the release states.

Pending approval of the request, impacted members would need to select new coverage during the upcoming annual enrollment period. Medical Assistance (Medicaid), MinnesotaCare, Special Needs Plans, individual and family plans and Medicare Supplement will still be offered.

The change will affect 9% of UCare’s workforce, per the release.

Thursday’s announcement comes just two months after the insurer announced its plans to withdraw from non-senior Medicaid coverage in Ramsey County and 11 others, affecting 88,000 members.

Founded in 1984 by physicians from the University of Minnesota, today UCare serves more than 600,000 members throughout Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin.

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As the Vikings continued their prep for the Chicago Bears on Monday night at Soldier Field, they continue to do so without safety Harrison Smith and left tackle Christian Darrisaw.

Though both players have been around their teammates as they work their way back into the mix, neither Smith (illness) nor Darrisaw (knee) participated in practice on Thursday afternoon at TCO Performance Center.

Will either of them play for the Vikings on Monday Night Football? The answer to that question is very unclear at this point.

A source told the Pioneer Press that Smith has been dealing with a “personal health issue” since the middle of training camp. Even if it causes him to miss some time for the Vikings, it’s not expected to keep him out long term.

As for Darrisaw, he’s nearing the final stages of the recovery process, and the Vikings are seemingly being cautious with him 10 months removed from him tearing the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

“We’re going to give him every opportunity to practice and see how he feels,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said earlier this week. “Ultimately, in regards to his availability, we will make that decision as this week progresses.”

The rest of the injury report for the Vikings included running back Zavier Scott (ankle) and defensive tackle Elijah Williams (hamstring) listed as non participants, and receiver Jalen Nailor (hand) and edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) listed as full participants.

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By MATTHEW LEE

HOUSTON (AP) — The Trump administration already has denied visas for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and his large delegation to attend a high-level U.N. meeting this month and is now considering ramping up restrictions on several other delegations that would severely limit their ability to travel outside New York City.

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Potential travel and other restrictions could soon be imposed on the delegations from Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe and, perhaps surprisingly, Brazil, which has held a traditional place of honor during the high-level leaders gathering at the U.N. General Assembly that begins Sept. 22, according to an internal State Department memo seen by The Associated Press.

While the potential restrictions are still under consideration and the circumstances could change, the proposals would be another step in the Trump administration’s crackdown on visas, including a wide-ranging review of those already holding legal permissions to come to the U.S. and those seeking entry to head to the U.N. meeting.

The movements of Iranian diplomats are severely limited in New York, but one proposal being floated would bar them from shopping at big, members-only wholesale stores like Costco and Sam’s Club without first receiving the express permission of the State Department.

Such stores have been a favorite of Iranian diplomats posted to and visiting New York because they are able to buy large quantities of products not available in economically isolated Iran for relatively cheap prices and send them home.

It was not immediately clear if or when the proposed shopping ban for Iran would take effect, but the memo said the State Department also was looking at drafting rules that would allow it to impose terms and conditions on memberships in wholesale clubs by all foreign diplomats in the U.S.

For Brazil, it was not clear if any potential visa restrictions affect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva or lower-level members of the country’s delegation to the high-level U.N. gathering.

Brazil’s president is traditionally the first world leader to speak before the gathered leaders on the opening day of the session. The U.S. president is by precedent the second speaker.

Lula has been a target of U.S. President Donald Trump, who objects to his government’s prosecution of his friend, former President Jair Bolsonaro, on allegations of leading an attempted coup.

One country that will see fewer restrictions is Syria, whose delegation members have received a waiver for limitations that have been put on their U.N. travel for more than a decade.

That waiver was issued last week, according to the memo, and comes as the Trump administration seeks to build ties following the ouster last year of Syria’s president, Bashar Assad, and integrate the once-pariah nation into the Middle East.

Though named as possible targets, the memo did not specify what restrictions might be imposed on the Sudanese and Zimbabwean delegations.

The State Department did not immediately provide comment.

Here are a few of the best games across the East Metro on Friday, and who we think will win.

St. Croix Lutheran (1-0) vs. Johnson (1-0) at Harding, 6 p.m.

Points, points, points? Two explosive offenses take the field in Week 2 after the Crusaders scored 49 in a season-opening win over Faribault and all seven of the Governors’ touchdowns came from 28-plus yards out in their win over St. Agnes, including three 70-plus yard scores. First team to get a stop wins?

Our pick: Johnson 45, St. Croix Lutheran 40

Two Rivers (0-1) at Simley (0-1), 6 p.m.

Two teams with potentially potent passing games that weren’t able to flash their skill positions in Week 1 because they couldn’t win up front.

After a week likely spent trying to shore up the trenches, which program will show the most progress at the line of scrimmage?

Our pick: Two Rivers 27, Simley 20

Moorhead (1-0) at Woodbury (1-0), 6 p.m.

Moorhead beat Rogers last week in its first Class 6A bout — but both of those programs were in Class 5A last fall. So, this trip to the metro marks the Spuds’ first true “welcome to the biggest class” bout.

And yet, with Division-I recruits in junior quarterback Jett Feeney and junior receiver David Mack, the Spuds truly need no introduction. It’s an excellent test for a Woodbury defense that shut out Roseville a week ago.

Our pick: Moorhead 31, Woodbury 23

Waconia (1-0) at Apple Valley (1-0), 6 p.m.

Apple Valley’s Quieris Barnslater is one to watch this fall. The North Dakota State commit certainly won’t play quarterback at the next level, but he’s putting on a show as a senior signal caller.

In a season-opening win over Rochester John Marshall, Barnslater threw for two scores, and rushed for 75 yards and another touchdown.

If the Eagles win again Friday, it could establish them as legitimate contenders in their section.

Our pick: Apple Valley 33, Waconia 27

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