Medicare Utah provides coverage to people over age 65, as well as to adults with certain health conditions. You can choose from among dozens of carriers and hundreds of Medicare Advantage plans to find Medicare coverage in Utah that’s tailored to your healthcare needs.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported the following information on Medicare trends in Utah for the 2024 plan year:

  • A total of 446,784 residents of Utah are enrolled in Medicare.
  • The average Medicare Advantage monthly premium decreased in Utah compared to last year — from $14.24 in 2023 to $13.05 in 2024.
  • There are 47 Medicare Advantage plans available in Utah for 2024, compared to 54 plans in 2023.
  • All Utah residents with Medicare have access to buy a Medicare Advantage plan, including plans with $0 premiums.

Medicare is a government-sponsored insurance coverage system for people over age 65 and for those with certain health conditions. It is composed of various parts that cover different aspects of healthcare, such as hospitalization, outpatient care, prescription drugs, and long-term care.

Let’s look at each part of Medicare to better understand the options available.

Original Medicare

Original Medicare is made up of Medicare parts A and B. These are the most common parts that people enroll in for Medicare coverage.

Medicare Part A provides coverage for hospital services, while Medicare Part B covers other medical services.

Medicare Advantage in Utah

Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans provide more extensive coverage, and this insurance is delivered by private health insurance carriers.

If you decide to go with a Medicare Advantage plan, you can choose from among several providers offering plans in Utah.

These are the main providers of Medicare Advantage plans in Utah:

These private Medicare Advantage plan carriers offer a range of plans to suit different healthcare needs and budget requirements. You’ll find a variety of premiums and coverage options that can be tailored to your health and wellness needs.

Providers and plans vary by county, so make sure the plan you’re considering is offered in your county.

Medicare supplement plans in Utah

Medicare supplement (Medigap) is a Medicare program designed to help cover costs like copays and coinsurance. Medigap is sold by private insurance companies.

In 2023, you can choose from plans offered by these companies:

You need to meet only a few criteria to be eligible for Medicare plans in Utah. In fact, most people over age 65 are automatically enrolled in original Medicare. To be eligible for Medicare Advantage plans in Utah, you must:

If you’re eligible for original Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans in Utah, the next step is to enroll in Medicare Utah.

How can I enroll in Medicare plans in Utah?

When you’re nearing age 65, you automatically qualify for the initial enrollment period. During this time, you can enroll in original Medicare Utah or an Advantage plan. This period begins 3 months before your birth month and ends 3 months after your birth month, so you’ll have a 7-month period to enroll in your Medicare plan.

Other Medicare enrollment periods include:

  • Medigap enrollment. During the 6 months following your 65th birthday, you may enroll in a supplemental Medigap policy.
  • General enrollment period (January 1–March 31). Each year during this time, you may enroll in a Medicare plan or Medicare Advantage plan if you didn’t sign up when you were first eligible.
  • Part D enrollment/Medicare add-ons (April 1–June 30). During this period, you may enroll in a Medicare Part D plan if you didn’t sign up when you were first eligible.
  • Open enrollment period (October 15–December 7). This is the enrollment period when you can enroll in, drop out of, or change your Medicare Part C or Part D plan.
  • Special enrollment. Under certain circumstances, you may qualify for a special enrollment period of 8 months following a change in your life circumstances, such as a move or loss of employer-sponsored benefits, or if your Advantage plan was dropped.

Tips for enrolling in Medicare in Utah

As you prepare to enroll in Medicare for the first time or think about switching plans, consider the following:

  • What are your healthcare needs? Think about all the health services you accessed in the past 12 months, as well as the services you’d like to access. Knowing your healthcare needs and the services you access every year will help you find a plan that will provide the coverage that’s best for you.
  • Which prescriptions do you take regularly? Make a list of all your medications, and find a plan that will cover them. Medicare Part D may cover most of your prescriptions, while an Advantage plan may lower your out-of-pocket costs.
  • Which plans does your pharmacy accept? Not all pharmacies will accept coverage from all private insurance carriers, so call your pharmacy to find out which plans are accepted there. You may also consider switching pharmacies to get more complete drug coverage.
  • Which network does your doctor belong to? Most Medicare plans in Utah will only cover doctor’s visits to network-approved doctors. When enrolling in Medicare Utah, call your doctor’s offices to find out which insurance providers they work with.
  • What is the Medicare star rating of the plans you’re considering? With so many Medicare plans in Utah to consider, checking the ratings will help you in your search. This 1 to 5 rating shows how well the plan performed in the last year and how satisfied people were with their coverage. If possible, avoid plans with low ratings and choose a plan with 4 or 5 stars.

Get more information about Medicare by visiting the Medicare website. You can also access any of these additional resources for assistance with Medicare plans in Utah:

  • On the Medicare website, you can find tips on how to get started and can explore your coverage options. You can also call Medicare at 800-633-4227.
  • Through the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP), you can get more information about SHIP assistance in Utah, the Senior Medicare Patrol, and the Senior Community Service Employment Program. You can call SHIP at 800-541-7735.
  • You can contact the Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS), which can assist with local programs, nutrition programs, transportation needs, in-home care, and information about SHIP counseling. You may call DAAS at 877-424-4640 or 801-538-3910.
  • If you’re a veteran, find out about your health coverage options by calling 800-318-2596.
  • More than 400,000 Utah residents are enrolled in Medicare.
  • There are several private insurance companies offering various types of Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans in Utah.
  • Overall, monthly premium costs have decreased for 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D plans in Utah.
  • There are also several Medigap plan options if you live in Utah and are looking for additional coverage.