Utah · Medicare · Open Enrollment · 2026
Medicare Open Enrollment in Utah: Oct 15–Dec 7, 2026 Guide
Eight weeks each fall decide what you pay for care all next year. Here's how Utah retirees use them.
The bottom line
- Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 – December 7, 2026. Changes take effect January 1, 2027, and your plan must have the request by December 7 (Medicare.gov).
- You can switch Medicare Advantage plans, switch Part D drug plans, or move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Medigap is separate and has its own rules.
- Read the Annual Notice of Change your plan mails by September 30 — that letter is where next year's premium, drug list, and network changes are disclosed.
- Utah has real choice to sort through: 24 Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage in Salt Lake and Davis counties for 2026, and 10 stand-alone Part D plans statewide (CMS CY2026 Landscape file).
- Miss December 7? People already in a Medicare Advantage plan get one more change between January 1 and March 31.
Medicare Open Enrollment — the Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP — is the one stretch of the year when almost anyone with Medicare can change their drug plan or their Medicare Advantage plan for any reason at all. It opens October 15 and closes December 7, and whatever you pick starts January 1. Nothing forces you to act; if you do nothing, your current plan usually renews. The catch is that the plan you renew into may not be the plan you signed up for, because premiums, drug lists, and networks are all allowed to change on January 1. This guide walks a Utah retiree through the window, with every figure sourced.
When is Medicare Open Enrollment in 2026?
October 15 through December 7. Those dates don't move. The useful thing is to see them alongside the other deadlines that bracket them, because the letter that arrives in September is what tells you whether you need to do anything at all.
| When | What happens | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| By September 30 | Your plan mails your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) | Anyone in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan |
| October 15 – December 7 | Open Enrollment: join, drop, or switch a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan | Anyone with Medicare |
| December 7 | Deadline — the plan must receive your enrollment request by this date | Anyone making a change |
| January 1 | Your new coverage begins | Anyone who made a change |
| January 1 – March 31 | Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: one change to a different MA plan or back to Original Medicare | People already in a Medicare Advantage plan |
Source: Medicare.gov — Open Enrollment, Annual Notice of Change mailings, and joining a plan. See the Sources list below for direct links.
What can you actually change during Open Enrollment?
Medicare.gov spells out three moves. During October 15 – December 7 you can:
- Join, drop, or switch a Medicare Advantage plan — with or without drug coverage.
- Join, drop, or switch a stand-alone Medicare drug plan if you have Original Medicare.
- Move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage in either direction.
You can make more than one change during the window; the last request the plan receives by December 7 is the one that counts. What you cannot do in this window is get a guaranteed-issue Medigap policy — more on that below.
Why review your plan if you're happy with it?
Because the plan is allowed to change even when your health and your budget don't. By September 30, your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan must send you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) — a printed booklet listing every change in coverage and cost taking effect in January (Medicare.gov). Four things in it are worth ten minutes each:
- The premium and deductible. A plan that cost $0 a month this year may not next year, and a Part D deductible can move up to the 2026 maximum of $615 (CMS).
- The drug list (formulary). A prescription you take can move to a higher cost tier, pick up a prior-authorization requirement, or drop off entirely.
- The pharmacy network. "Preferred" pharmacies change. The same drug at the same plan can cost noticeably more at a non-preferred counter.
- The provider network. In a Medicare Advantage plan, confirm your primary care doctor, specialists, and hospital are still in network for next year — this matters in Utah, where much of the Wasatch Front's care runs through a handful of large systems.
What Medicare costs in 2026 — the baseline before any plan
Before comparing plans it helps to know the numbers that apply no matter which plan you pick. These are the 2026 figures from CMS.
| 2026 figure | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Part B standard monthly premium | $202.90 | Up from $185.00 in 2025 |
| Part B annual deductible | $283 | Up from $257 in 2025 |
| Part A inpatient hospital deductible | $1,736 | Per benefit period; up from $1,676 |
| Skilled nursing coinsurance, days 21–100 | $217/day | Up from $209.50 in 2025 |
| Part D maximum annual deductible | $615 | A plan may set a lower one |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | You pay nothing more for covered drugs after this |
Sources: CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles; CMS — Final CY2026 Part D Redesign Program Instructions. Higher-income households pay an IRMAA surcharge on top of the Part B and Part D premiums.
How many Medicare plans can a Utah retiree choose from?
More than most people expect, and the number depends on your county. The figures below count Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage (MA-PD) offered in each county for contract year 2026, taken from the CMS Medicare Advantage / Part D Landscape source file — the same public file the Plan Finder is built on.
Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD) offered by county, contract year 2026. Source: CMS CY2026 Medicare Advantage / Part D Landscape source file. Counts exclude Special Needs Plans and Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage.
Stand-alone drug coverage works differently. Part D is sold by region rather than by county, and Utah shares a region with Idaho. For 2026 that region has 10 stand-alone Part D plans, with monthly premiums running from $0.00 to $132.60 and annual deductibles from $0 to the $615 maximum. A $0-premium plan is not free coverage — you still pay the Part B premium, plus the plan's deductible and copays, and a low premium often comes with a higher deductible or a narrower drug list. Premium alone is the wrong way to choose; total yearly cost for your prescriptions is the right way.
A six-step Open Enrollment review
- Find the September letter. Pull the Annual Notice of Change out of the pile and check the premium, deductible, and copays for January.
- List your prescriptions. Drug name, dose, and how often — this is what drives the real cost difference between plans.
- List your doctors and your pharmacy. Include specialists and the hospital you'd want to use.
- Run the numbers at Medicare.gov. The Plan Finder shows estimated annual cost, star ratings, and whether each drug is covered.
- Check the network twice. A plan can be cheaper on paper and still cost more if your cardiologist is out of network.
- Decide by early December. Don't wait for the 7th — leave room for a phone call if something looks wrong.
We'll walk through your Annual Notice of Change and your prescription list with you, in plain English, with no pressure. We do not offer every plan available in your area.
Talk to a planner →What if you miss the December 7 deadline?
Usually your current plan simply renews and you have it for all of 2027. But there is a second window, and it's narrower. From January 1 through March 31, anyone already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan gets the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: one change, either to a different Medicare Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare with the option to add a stand-alone drug plan. New coverage starts the first day of the month after the plan receives the request (Medicare.gov).
Two limits worth knowing. It's one change, not unlimited shopping. And it's only for people who are already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1 — if you're in Original Medicare with a stand-alone drug plan, this window isn't yours. Outside these periods you'd need a Special Enrollment Period, which requires a qualifying event such as moving out of your plan's service area, losing other coverage, or your plan leaving the county. That last one matters in rural Utah, where a single carrier exit can change the whole local landscape.
Does Open Enrollment apply to Medigap?
No — and this is the single most common misunderstanding of the fall. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy is not part of the October 15 – December 7 window. Your guaranteed right to buy any Medigap plan sold in Utah regardless of health comes from a separate, one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period that starts when you're 65 and enrolled in Part B. After that window closes, an insurer can in most situations medically underwrite your application — meaning charge more or decline it.
So you can leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare during Open Enrollment, but that move does not guarantee you a Medigap policy to go with it. Utah's birthday rule, effective May 7, 2025, helps existing Medigap policyholders move to an equal-or-lesser plan at their current insurer each year — it does not create a guaranteed path from Medicare Advantage into Medigap. We cover this trade-off in detail in our Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap guide for Utah.
Where Utah retirees can get free help
You don't have to do this alone or pay for help. Utah's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free, one-on-one Medicare counseling in every county through the Utah Division of Aging & Adult Services and the local Area Agencies on Aging — from Salt Lake and Ogden to Logan, Provo, St. George, and rural counties. Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE can show you every plan available where you live. And a licensed independent agent can compare the plans they're appointed with and explain the trade-offs. If you'd rather talk it through with us, call (435) 260-5156 or use the contact form — by calling or texting you consent to be contacted about coverage; message and data rates may apply, and you can opt out at any time.
Frequently asked questions
When is Medicare Open Enrollment in 2026?
Medicare Open Enrollment — often called the Annual Enrollment Period or AEP — runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. Any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027, and your plan has to receive the enrollment request by December 7 (Medicare.gov). The dates are the same every year and they are not extended for most people.
What can I actually change during Open Enrollment?
Three things, per Medicare.gov. You can join, drop, or switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan, with or without drug coverage. You can join, drop, or switch a stand-alone Medicare drug plan if you're in Original Medicare. And you can move from Original Medicare into a Medicare Advantage plan, or from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare. Buying or switching a Medigap policy is a separate process with its own rules.
Why review my plan if I'm happy with it?
Because the plan can change even when you don't. By September 30 your plan mails an Annual Notice of Change listing next year's premium, deductible, copays, drug list, and network (Medicare.gov). A drug you take can move to a higher tier, a pharmacy can leave the preferred network, or a doctor can leave the plan. Reading that letter is the cheapest hour of the year.
How many Medicare plans can a Utah retiree choose from?
It depends on your county. For contract year 2026 the CMS Landscape file lists 24 Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage in Salt Lake County and in Davis County, 21 in Utah County, 19 in Weber County, 13 in Cache County, and 12 in Washington County. Utah also shares a stand-alone Part D region with Idaho that has 10 drug plans, with 2026 monthly premiums ranging from $0.00 to $132.60. We do not offer every plan available in your area.
What happens if I miss the December 7 deadline?
Your current plan generally rolls into next year and you keep it for 2027. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get a second, narrower window: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment from January 1 through March 31 lets you make one change — to a different Medicare Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare with a drug plan (Medicare.gov). Outside those windows you need a Special Enrollment Period, which requires a qualifying event such as a move or a plan leaving your area.
Where can a Utahn get free, unbiased help?
Utah's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free one-on-one Medicare counseling in every Utah county through the Division of Aging & Adult Services and the local Area Agencies on Aging. You can also compare every plan yourself with the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. This article is education, not a plan recommendation.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Open Enrollment (October 15 – December 7; changes effective January 1): medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/open-enrollment
- Medicare.gov — Plan Annual Notice of Change (printed copy by September 30): medicare.gov/basics/forms-publications-mailings/mailings/costs-and-coverage/upcoming-plan-changes
- Medicare.gov — Joining a plan (Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, January 1 – March 31): medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles ($202.90 Part B premium; $283 Part B deductible; $1,736 Part A deductible; $217/day skilled nursing coinsurance): cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles
- CMS — Final CY2026 Part D Redesign Program Instructions ($615 maximum deductible; $2,100 out-of-pocket cap): cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/final-cy-2026-part-d-redesign-program-instructions
- CMS — CY2026 Medicare Advantage / Part D Landscape source file (Utah county plan counts and Part D premiums): cms.gov/medicare/coverage/prescription-drug-coverage
- Utah State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — free Medicare counseling: shiphelp.org/ships/utah
- Utah Division of Aging & Adult Services — local Area Agencies on Aging: daas.utah.gov/seniors
About this article. Written by the Utah Retirement Income Data Desk and reviewed by Brian Penner, Retirement income & long-term care planner. Educational only — not financial, tax, legal, or medical advice, and not a plan recommendation. Utah Retirement Income is a licensed independent insurance agency (NPN 16493717). We do not offer every plan available in your area; any information we provide is limited to the plans we do offer. We are not connected with or endorsed by any government agency or the federal Medicare program. Plan availability, premiums, drug lists, and networks change each year and vary by county — confirm your own options with Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) before enrolling.