News · October 15, 2026 · Utah and Western Colorado
What to Do Now That Medicare Open Enrollment Is Open in Utah
The 2027 window opened this morning for Moab, Monticello, Grand Junction and the rest of Utah. Some readers have a plan that is ending. Most have a plan that is only changing. This week's job is different for each group.
MOAB, October 15, 2026. Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period opened today and closes December 7. Anything you choose in it starts January 1, 2027. A few weeks ago we wrote about when open enrollment starts. It has started now, so this post is about what to do with it.
This fall is busier than most in Utah. CMS's own fact sheet counts 55 Medicare Advantage plans in Utah for 2026 and 51 for 2027. Behind that small net change, 6 general plans that people across the state carried this year have no listing anywhere in the 2027 file. In Mesa County, 10 plans that Grand Junction residents carried are ending. If you live in Moab, the news is quieter: Grand County has the same 12 general plans it had this year.
Opening day, in five lines
- The window is open: October 15 to December 7, 2026. Choices start January 1, 2027.
- You can change your mind until December 7. The last choice the plan receives is the one that counts.
- A letter dated October 2 means your plan ends December 31. If you do nothing, you are in Original Medicare on January 1 with no drug coverage.
- A plan that continues still changes. Read the Annual Notice of Change before you assume nothing moved.
- Medigap is not part of open enrollment. Its no-health-questions window for people whose plan is ending runs November 1, 2026 to March 4, 2027.
Is your plan on this year's list?
Start with your card. If its plan name and number match a row below, the plan is being discontinued and your letter dated October 2 says so. Each name links to the post where we covered that plan in detail.
| Utah plan ending December 31, 2026 | Type | Utah counties | Members, Sept 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humana Value Choice H5216-456 Humana · H5216-456 | PPO | 12 | 22,989 |
| Select Health Medicare + Kroger Select Health · H1994-022 | HMO | 9 | 19,997 |
| HealthSpring Premier HealthSpring · H0439-024 | HMO-POS | 6 | 1,123 |
| HealthSpring True Choice HealthSpring · H7849-029 | PPO | 7 | 851 |
| Regence Valiance Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah · H4605-001 | PPO | 12 | 357 |
| Aetna Medicare Enhanced Aetna Medicare · H5521-656 | PPO | 9 | 107 |
Source: CMS CY2026 and CY2027 landscape files, compared by contract and plan ID; enrollment from the CMS September 2026 county file, which suppresses counts under 11. Plans that left only some counties, such as Aetna's and Regence's other plans, are covered county by county in is my Medicare Advantage plan discontinued in Utah?
A caution about Humana: a new plan named Humana Value Choice, H5216-471, arrives for 2027 in several of the same counties. Because the name matches, people assume their plan is continuing. Check the number on your letter, not the name. We explain how in is Humana Value Choice ending in Utah?
| Mesa County, CO plan ending December 31, 2026 | Type | Mesa County members, Sept 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna Medicare Signature Aetna Medicare · H3931-154 | HMO-POS | 1,064 |
| Select Health Medicare + Kroger Select Health · H1994-034 | HMO | 404 |
| Select Health Medicare Flex Select Health · H1994-031 | HMO | 320 |
| Aetna Medicare Signature Aetna Medicare · H4711-008 | HMO-POS | 223 |
| HealthSpring Preferred HealthSpring · H0672-024 | HMO | 184 |
| HumanaChoice H5216-437 Humana · H5216-437 | PPO | 157 |
| Humana Full Access H5216-333 Humana · H5216-333 | PPO | 127 |
| Aetna Medicare Eagle Aetna Medicare · H4711-010 | HMO-POS | 63 |
| Select Health Medicare Active Select Health · H1994-035 | HMO | 44 |
| Humana Value Plus H5216-195 Humana · H5216-195 | PPO | 32 |
Same sources. The full Grand Junction shelf for 2027 is in 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in Grand Junction, and Delta and Montrose are in the Montrose and Delta post. Aetna's statewide picture is in is Aetna leaving Medicare Advantage in Colorado?
Moab, Monticello and Grand Junction are having different years
Moab (Grand County). The CMS file lists the same 12 general Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 as for 2026, with none discontinued. That does not mean nothing changed. Premiums, out-of-pocket caps and drug deductibles move every year, and they show up in the Annual Notice of Change, not in the plan count. Our Utah premiums post shows how they moved statewide.
Monticello and Blanding (San Juan County). The county goes from 8 general plans to 11. None left, and 3 new UnitedHealthcare plans arrived. More choice means more to compare, but it also means a plan with a lower cap or a different network may now be available to you.
Grand Junction (Mesa County). The county goes from 21 general plans to 13. The 10 plans in the table above held 2,618 Mesa County members in September. If one of them is yours, start with what to do when your Grand Junction plan is discontinued.
Salt Lake and the Wasatch Front. Salt Lake County goes from 31 general plans to 28. HealthSpring has no plan in the county for 2027. The Cigna-to-HealthSpring story is in is Cigna leaving Medicare Advantage in Utah?
Got a letter you're not sure how to read?
Brian Penner has worked with Medicare clients for more than 22 years. Bring the letter, your plan card, your doctor list and your prescriptions. We will tell you whether your plan is ending or only changing, then compare it with the plans we offer in your county. It costs nothing and there is no pressure. We do not offer every plan available in your area.
Book an appointment →This week, depending on your letter
If you got a non-renewal letter (dated October 2): pick a new plan or route in the next few weeks, not in December. Anything you choose now starts January 1, the day after your plan ends, and you can still change it until December 7. Your three routes are another Medicare Advantage plan, Original Medicare with a Medigap policy and a drug plan, or Original Medicare with a drug plan only. The deadlines for each route are in how long do I have if my Medicare Advantage plan ends in Utah?
If you got only an Annual Notice of Change: check three numbers and two lists. The numbers are the premium, the in-network out-of-pocket cap and the drug deductible. The lists are your doctors and your prescriptions. If all five still work, doing nothing is a fine choice; your plan renews on its own. If one does not, compare.
If you have a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy: open enrollment does not apply to you. Your Medigap policy renews on its own. The one thing to review this fall is your stand-alone drug plan, which can change. In Utah, switching between Medigap policies is governed by the birthday rule, not by this window.
If you are turning 65: your own Initial Enrollment Period, built around your birthday month, is what matters for you, not this window. Start at Turning 65.
Five things to do before Friday
- Find both letters. One is the Annual Notice of Change (by September 30); the other is a non-renewal letter (dated October 2), if you got one. Put them next to your plan card.
- Write your list. Every doctor by name, including specialists. Every prescription with its dose. Your pharmacy. In Moab that may mean Moab Regional; in Grand Junction, St. Mary's or Community Hospital. Write the hospital down as well.
- Run the 2027 Plan Finder. On Medicare's Plan Finder, enter your ZIP code, set the year to 2027 and enter your drugs. The Star Ratings CMS published on October 8 show up there too. Our posts on Utah's 2027 ratings and Grand Junction's explain how to read them.
- Call your doctors' offices. Ask one question: "Which Medicare Advantage plans will you be in network with on January 1, 2027?" Ask about next year, not this year.
- Decide this month if your plan is ending. Enrolling in late October or early November means your confirmation arrives well before December 7, and you can still change your choice if something new comes up.
The rest of the calendar
- November 1, 2026: for people whose plan is ending, the federal Medigap guaranteed-issue window opens (Plans A, B, D, G, K, L), per Medicare.gov.
- December 7, 2026: open enrollment closes.
- December 8, 2026 to February 28, 2027: the Special Enrollment Period for people whose plan was discontinued, under 42 CFR § 422.62(b)(1). December requests start January 1, January requests start February 1, and February requests start March 1, per CMS's 2027 guidance.
- December 31, 2026: the last day of coverage for every plan in the tables above.
- January 1 to March 31, 2027: the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, one switch for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- March 4, 2027: the Medigap guaranteed-issue window closes for plans that ended December 31.
How we know all this: the Medicare On Main Data Desk frames every article with public data. For this post that means the CMS CY2026 and CY2027 Medicare Advantage landscape files compared by contract and plan ID, the CMS September 2026 enrollment file by contract, plan and county, the CMS 2027 Utah fact sheet, 42 CFR § 422.62, the CMS CY 2027 Enrollment and Disenrollment Guidance, and Medicare.gov's Joining a plan and When can I buy a Medigap policy? pages. Carrier and plan names are factual reporting, not endorsement. The plans are being discontinued, and no member is losing Medicare. This is education, not advice; confirm your own dates with your plan, a licensed agent or Medicare.gov. We take no payment from any carrier to feature a plan.
Frequently asked questions
When does Medicare open enrollment start and end in Utah?
The same days as everywhere else: it opened October 15, 2026 and closes December 7, 2026. A Medicare Advantage or Part D plan you choose in that window starts January 1, 2027. Utah has no separate state calendar for Medicare Advantage or drug plans. Utah's birthday rule is a different thing; it applies only to switching between Medicare Supplement policies.
What should I do first during Medicare open enrollment?
Open the two letters your plan mailed this fall. The Annual Notice of Change, which arrives by September 30, lists what is changing in a plan that continues. A non-renewal letter, dated October 2, means the plan ends on December 31. If you got a non-renewal letter, your job this season is to pick a new plan. If you got only the Annual Notice of Change, your job is to check that your doctors and drugs still fit.
Can I change my plan more than once during open enrollment?
Yes. You can change your choice as many times as you like until December 7. CMS's enrollment guidance says the last enrollment choice the plan receives is the one that takes effect on January 1. Enrolling early does not lock you in.
Which Medicare Advantage plans are ending in Utah for 2027?
Six general plans have no listing anywhere in the CMS 2027 file: Humana Value Choice H5216-456, Select Health Medicare + Kroger, HealthSpring Premier, HealthSpring True Choice, Regence Valiance and Aetna Medicare Enhanced. Other plans left some counties while continuing in others. Grand County, home to Moab, keeps the same 12 general plans it had in 2026, and San Juan County gains three.
What happens if I miss Medicare open enrollment?
If your plan continues, you keep it for 2027 with whatever changes the Annual Notice of Change listed. If your plan is ending, you move to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027, with no drug coverage and no out-of-pocket cap. A Special Enrollment Period runs to February 28, but a January choice starts February 1 and a February choice starts March 1. From January 1 to March 31, people already in a Medicare Advantage plan get one more switch.
Does Medicare On Main offer every plan in Utah and Grand Junction?
No. Medicare On Main is a licensed independent insurance agency with offices in Moab, Monticello and Grand Junction. We do not offer every plan available in your area; any information we provide is limited to the plans we do offer in your area. For all of your options, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Sources
- CMS — CY2026 Medicare Advantage / Part D Landscape file (zip) and CMS — CY2027 Medicare Advantage / Part D Landscape file (zip): plans discontinued and county counts for Utah and Mesa County.
- CMS — Monthly Enrollment by Contract/Plan/State/County, September 2026 (zip): September 2026 members in each ending plan.
- Medicare.gov — Joining a plan (Open Enrollment Period October 15 – December 7; coverage starts January 1).
- Medicare.gov — Medicare Plan Finder (2027 plans, drug and pharmacy lookup).
- CMS — CY 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Enrollment and Disenrollment Guidance (PDF; last choice by receipt date; § 30.6.10.A non-renewal SEP).
- 42 CFR § 422.62(b)(1) — Special Enrollment Period when a plan is discontinued in your area (Cornell LII).
- Medicare.gov — When can I buy a Medigap policy? (60 days before to 63 days after your Medicare Advantage plan ends).
- Medicare Plan Compare (Medicare.gov).
