Your situation · Dual eligible
Medicare and Utah Medicaid: the savings programs that pay your premiums
If you qualify for both Medicare and Utah Medicaid — or just for a Medicare Savings Program — you may pay far less. Here is how it works in Utah, and where to apply.
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Talk it through with Darin
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Some Utahns qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid — often called being “dual eligible.” When that happens, Medicare pays first, and Utah Medicaid may help with costs Medicare leaves behind, like premiums, deductibles and coinsurance, plus services Medicare does not cover at all, such as long-term care at home through the Aging Waiver or in a nursing facility.
How Medicaid works for seniors in Utah
Utah Medicaid is administered by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, and eligibility is determined by the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) — not by an insurance agency. For adults 65 and over, eligibility is based on income and resources under the aged rules. You apply online at jobs.utah.gov/mycase, by phone at 1-866-435-7414, or at a DWS employment center; county aging offices and Utah SHIP counselors can help with the paperwork.
Programs that can lower your costs
- Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) — QMB, SLMB and QI — pay the Part B premium ($202.90 in 2026) and, for QMB, Medicare’s deductibles, copays and coinsurance as well. Utah uses the federal income and resource limits, which change each year. You apply through DWS, and you do not have to be on full Medicaid to qualify.
- Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy) lowers what you pay for Part D premiums, deductibles and copays. If you qualify for an MSP or Medicaid you get Extra Help automatically; otherwise apply through Social Security.
- Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans designed for people with both Medicare and Medicaid; they coordinate the two programs, usually at $0 plan premium, and often add extras while keeping your Medicaid benefits intact. Availability varies by Utah county.
- The Aging Waiver pays for in-home services for people 65 and over who would otherwise need a nursing facility; ask your local Area Agency on Aging.
Free, unbiased state counseling on all of this is available from Utah SHIP — the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, run by the Division of Aging and Adult Services — at 800-541-7735. When you are ready to talk through the Medicare side, we are here at (702) 706-6564.
How we help
We help you understand whether a D-SNP is available and a good fit where you live, how a Medicare Savings Program and Extra Help could reduce your costs, and how to keep your Medicaid benefits working alongside Medicare. Eligibility decisions rest with DWS, the state and CMS; our job is to make the Medicare side clear.
ECOS Medicare Solutions is a private insurance agency and is not connected with or endorsed by Utah Medicaid, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Workforce Services, or the federal Medicare program.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Who counts as dual eligible in Utah?
People who qualify for both Medicare and Utah Medicaid. There are full and partial categories; eligibility is determined by the Department of Workforce Services and CMS, based on income and resources.
Can Utah Medicaid pay my Part B premium?
Possibly. The Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB and QI) pay the Part B premium for people who qualify, and QMB also covers Medicare’s deductibles and copays. Apply through DWS at jobs.utah.gov/mycase; Utah SHIP (800-541-7735) can help.
Where do I apply for Medicaid if I am over 65?
Through the Department of Workforce Services: online at jobs.utah.gov/mycase, by phone at 1-866-435-7414, or at a DWS employment center.
What is a D-SNP?
A Dual Special Needs Plan is a Medicare Advantage plan built for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. It coordinates both programs, usually at $0 plan premium, and often adds extra benefits while you keep your Medicaid coverage.
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Sources we used on this page
- Utah Medicaid (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Utah Department of Workforce Services: apply for Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs (myCase)
- Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services: SHIP Medicare counseling (800-541-7735)
- CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (Nov 14, 2025)
Figures are checked against the source at the review date in the byline below. If a source has changed since, the source wins.
Written and reviewed by Darin Weidauer — licensed insurance agent (NPN 18580338), Gerontologist (USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology), MBA, Registered Social Security Analyst, and 22-year U.S. Air Force veteran.Last reviewed September 4, 2026. Plan availability, benefits and costs change every plan year — verify current details at Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or Utah SHIP at 800-541-7735.