Utah's Medicare market is one of the most competitive in the West. SelectHealth, Regence, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare all offer Medicare Advantage plans across the Wasatch Front and St. George — with plan structures that change every year. A licensed Utah Medicare broker helps you compare every option at no cost.
Free, no-obligation — a licensed Utah agent will reach out within one business day.
A licensed Utah broker will contact you within one business day. Your information is never sold. No cost, no obligation.
Medicare Basics
Medicare is divided into distinct parts, each covering different services. Understanding how they work together is the foundation of a solid Medicare strategy.
Covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health services. Most people pay $0 premium for Part A (if you worked 40+ quarters). Deductible is $1,676 per benefit period in 2026.
Covers outpatient care, doctor visits, preventive services, durable medical equipment, and some home health. Standard Part B premium is $185/month in 2026. IRMAA surcharges apply for higher-income beneficiaries.
Medicare Advantage plans bundle Parts A, B, and usually D into a single plan offered by a private insurer. Many include dental, vision, hearing, and fitness benefits not available in Original Medicare. Often $0 premium.
Covers prescription drugs. Available as standalone plans (with Original Medicare) or bundled into Medicare Advantage. The 2026 Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,000 — a significant protection against catastrophic drug costs.
Medicare Advantage
Utah — especially the Salt Lake and St. George markets — has some of the most competitive Medicare Advantage options in the Western United States.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are offered by private insurance companies and must cover everything Original Medicare covers — often with additional benefits. In Utah's competitive markets, many plans include $0 premiums, dental, vision, hearing, fitness memberships, and over-the-counter allowances.
SelectHealth Medicare Advantage plans dominate the Wasatch Front market and offer strong integration with Intermountain Health's network. Their HMO-based plans are tightly coordinated but require referrals for specialists.
Regence MedAdvantage offers PPO-style flexibility with more out-of-network coverage — a meaningful advantage for Utahns who travel frequently or split time between multiple states.
Humana and UnitedHealthcare both offer competitive plans in Salt Lake, Utah, and Washington counties, often with robust pharmacy benefits and national networks.
The St. George / Washington County market has seen significant Medicare Advantage competition in recent years, with multiple carriers competing for the area's large retiree population — often driving down premiums and improving benefits.
Most Utah Medicare Advantage plans are HMOs, which typically offer $0 premiums and strong care coordination but require you to use in-network providers and get referrals for specialists. PPO plans cost slightly more but let you see any Medicare-accepting provider — important if you have out-of-state providers or travel frequently.
Medicare Advantage plans in Utah change every year — premiums, copays, drug formularies, and included benefits all reset on January 1. Plan changes are announced each October during the Annual Notice of Change period. A broker reviews your current plan against all available options during Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15 – Dec 7) to ensure you're in the best plan for the coming year.
The Inflation Reduction Act's $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap on Part D drug costs took full effect in 2026. This is a significant benefit for Utahns on expensive specialty medications. A broker helps you find the plan with the right formulary for your specific prescriptions.
Medigap / Medicare Supplement
If you choose Original Medicare (Parts A & B) rather than Medicare Advantage, a Medigap supplement plan covers the out-of-pocket costs Medicare leaves behind.
Original Medicare covers approximately 80% of approved medical costs. The remaining 20% — plus deductibles, coinsurance, and other gaps — can be significant. Medigap plans, sold by private insurers, cover some or all of these remaining costs.
In Utah, the most popular Medigap plans are Plan G and Plan N. Plan G covers all gaps except the Part B deductible ($257 in 2026) — giving you highly predictable out-of-pocket costs for a fixed monthly premium. Plan N costs less than Plan G but includes some cost-sharing (copays up to $20 for office visits).
Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government — a Plan G from SelectHealth provides the same benefits as a Plan G from any other carrier. The only difference is premium. A broker compares Medigap premiums across all Utah carriers to find the lowest rate for equivalent coverage.
Important: Medigap plans work with Original Medicare only — they cannot be used alongside Medicare Advantage. The choice between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare + Medigap is one of the most important decisions a Medicare broker helps you navigate.
When you turn 65 and enroll in Part B, you have a 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window during which insurers must sell you any Medigap plan at standard rates regardless of your health history. After this window closes, insurers can use medical underwriting and may decline or surcharge you. Enrolling during guaranteed issue is critical.
Enrollment Timelines
A 7-month window surrounding your 65th birthday — 3 months before, the month of, and 3 months after. Enroll in Parts A and B during this window to avoid late enrollment penalties. Delaying enrollment (without creditable coverage) results in permanent premium surcharges.
October 15 – December 7 each year. During AEP, you can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change your Medicare Advantage plan, or change your Part D drug plan. Changes take effect January 1. This is the most important window for an annual broker review.
Available if you delay Medicare enrollment because you have creditable employer coverage. You get 8 months from when that coverage ends to enroll in Part B without penalty. Retiring Utahns should time this carefully — a broker helps you avoid gaps and penalties.
FAQ
A licensed Utah Medicare broker will compare every plan available in your county — Advantage, Medigap, and Part D — at no cost to you.
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