Medicare 2026

Medicare in Utah for 2027: 8 Advantage Plans Leaving, 4 New, and What Else Changes

SALT LAKE CITY — Utahns on Medicare will see a somewhat smaller menu of Medicare Advantage plans in 2027, a slimmer stand-alone Part D lineup, and a higher ceiling on how much a Part D plan can protect them from drug costs in a year. The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its 2027 plan landscape files, and Medicare's Annual Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, for coverage that begins January 1, 2027.

Medicare 2026Utah

How many Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Utah for 2027?

Utah will have 51 Medicare Advantage plans available across its 29 counties in 2027, compared with 55 in 2026. Within that total, 8 plans are not returning anywhere in the state, 4 plans are new, and 14 are changing in at least one way — a different premium, a different drug deductible, a different plan type, or a different plan name. One carrier, HealthSpring, will not offer a Medicare Advantage plan anywhere in Utah for 2027.

For members, the two documents to watch for are the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which plans send in September describing what will be different in 2027, and — if the plan is leaving — a separate non-renewal letter. A non-renewal does not end Medicare itself; Parts A and B continue. It does mean the member needs to pick a new Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare, and in that case CMS grants a Special Enrollment Period that runs through the end of February 2027 to make the switch.

Because Medicare Advantage is sold county by county, a plan counted in the statewide total may not actually be offered in a given reader's county. The Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov shows the exact list for each ZIP code.

Which Utah counties have the most Medicare Advantage changes for 2027?

Five counties stand out in the 2027 Utah landscape files. In Davis County, 6 plans are leaving and 13 are changing. In Morgan County, 13 plans are leaving and 6 are changing. In Salt Lake County, 6 plans are leaving and 13 are changing. In Iron County, 12 plans are leaving and 6 are changing. In Utah County, 5 plans are leaving and 12 are changing.

"Changing" can mean a different premium, a different drug deductible, a different plan type (for example, HMO versus PPO), or simply a new plan name. None of those changes are automatic reasons to switch — but they are reasons to open the ANOC and compare the 2027 version of the plan to what is on the shelf for 2027.

How many stand-alone Part D drug plans will Utah have in 2027?

Utah will have 8 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in 2027, offered by 4 insurers, down from 10 plans in 2026. Stand-alone Part D is the drug coverage people pair with Original Medicare (or with a Medicare Advantage plan that does not include drug coverage).

Two national Part D rules matter for everyone in 2027: the out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs rises to $2,400 (from $2,100 in 2026), and no Part D plan may charge a deductible higher than $700. The Part D base beneficiary premium used in the late-enrollment penalty formula is $41.33 for 2027; actual plan premiums are set plan by plan and listed in the Plan Finder.

How many Medigap insurers are listed for Utah in 2027?

Medicare.gov lists 23 Medigap (Medicare Supplement) insurers for a Utah ZIP code. Medigap works only with Original Medicare, not with Medicare Advantage. The strongest consumer protections for buying Medigap generally apply during a person's one-time Medigap Open Enrollment Period that begins when they are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B; outside that window, medical underwriting rules can apply. Those rules are explained on Medicare.gov.

What are the 2027 national Medicare numbers Utahns should know?

Three numbers are confirmed nationally for 2027: the Part D annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,400, the maximum Part D deductible any plan may charge is $700, and the Part D base beneficiary premium (used for the late-enrollment penalty) is $41.33. The Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026, a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment for benefits payable beginning in January 2027.

Two important figures are not yet announced and should not be assumed: the 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income-related brackets and surcharges. CMS typically publishes both in the fall, usually November. The current figures stay in force until the new ones are posted at Medicare.gov.

What should a Utahn on Medicare check before December 7, 2026?

A short checklist for Annual Enrollment 2027:

• Read the Annual Notice of Change from the current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan; it describes what is different for 2027.
• Watch the mail for a non-renewal letter; if the 2026 plan is one of the 8 Utah Advantage plans leaving, the Special Enrollment Period runs into February 2027.
• Confirm that current prescriptions, pharmacies, and (for Advantage) doctors are still covered under the 2027 version of the plan, using the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov.
• Note the dates: Annual Enrollment runs October 15 – December 7, 2026, and any choice made takes effect January 1, 2027.

Where can Utahns get free, unbiased Medicare help?

Two free, official resources are available year-round. The Medicare Plan Finder and plan details live at Medicare.gov, and 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Both can show the exact Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap options available for a specific Utah ZIP code in 2027.