Let's set the stage. Of the south valley cities we cover, Sandy has the highest share of older residents. About 14,151 residents are 65 or older, 14.9% of the city's 94,723 people, per the Census Bureau's 2019 to 2023 American Community Survey. That is a higher share than Salt Lake County as a whole (11.6%).
Medicare plans are approved by county, so Sandy residents use Salt Lake County's 2027 plan data from the CMS landscape file, shown below.
Sandy 2027 Medicare plan snapshot (Salt Lake County data)
| 2027 measure (Salt Lake County) | Number |
|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans, not counting special needs plans | 28 |
| Of those, plans that include Part D drug coverage | 22 |
| $0 monthly premium plans with drug coverage | 15 |
| Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage | 6 |
| Special needs plans (D-SNP, C-SNP, I-SNP) | 18 |
| Stand-alone Part D plans (statewide) | 8 |
| Medicare Advantage carriers | 6 |
| Highest combined monthly premium (non-SNP plan with drugs) | $158 |
| In-network out-of-pocket maximum range | $4,700 to $9,850 |
| Plan drug deductible range (non-SNP plans with drugs) | $215 to $700 |
Carriers with standard Medicare Advantage plans in Salt Lake County for 2027: Aetna Medicare, Devoted Health, Humana, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, Select Health, UnitedHealthcare. Plan types: 4 HMO, 20 PPO, 4 HMO-POS.
The Sandy question we hear most: Supplement or Advantage?
Many Sandy retirees have been on Medicare for years and are asking whether to stay on a Medicare Supplement or move to a Medicare Advantage plan with a lower premium. Here's the thing. Moving from a Supplement to Advantage is easy. Moving back is not always easy. Outside of a few federal guaranteed issue situations, a Medicare Supplement company in Utah can ask health questions and decline you.
| If you value | Usually points toward |
|---|---|
| Seeing any doctor in the country that takes Medicare | Medicare Supplement plus Part D |
| Predictable costs with few bills | Medicare Supplement (Plan G or N) plus Part D |
| Lowest monthly premium | Medicare Advantage |
| Extra benefits like dental or vision in one plan | Medicare Advantage (benefits vary by plan) |
Read how switching between Medicare Advantage and Medigap works in Utah before you make a move.
About the $0 premium plans in Sandy
15 of the 22 non special needs plans with drug coverage in Sandy have a $0 monthly plan premium for 2027. Their in-network out-of-pocket maximums run from $4,700 to $9,850. Let's be real about what $0 means. It means no extra premium to the insurance company. You still pay your Medicare Part B premium (CMS has not announced the 2027 Part B premium yet), and you still pay copays and coinsurance when you use care, up to the plan's out-of-pocket maximum.
Some plans with "Giveback" in the name reduce the amount you pay for Part B. The CMS landscape file we use does not list the giveback dollar amount, so we confirm it from the plan's own documents before we quote it to you.
What 2027 Part D changes mean for Sandy
Two federal numbers apply to every Part D plan in Sandy, whether it is built into a Medicare Advantage plan or sold on its own. CMS set the 2027 standard Part D deductible at $700 (up from $615 in 2026) and the yearly out-of-pocket limit on covered drugs at $2,400 (up from $2,100), in its CY 2027 Rate Announcement. Once your own spending on covered Part D drugs reaches $2,400 in 2027, you pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of the year.
Plans can set a lower drug deductible than the standard one. In Sandy, the non special needs Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage carry drug deductibles from $215 to $700. A lower deductible matters most if you fill brand name drugs early in the year.
Here's the thing about drug coverage: the plan that looks cheapest on premium is not always cheapest once your prescriptions are priced. CMS has not published 2027 plan formularies (the lists of which drugs each plan covers and at what tier) in our data yet, so we price your list against each plan when the 2027 formulary data is available, and we tell you which year's data we are using.
How we compare plans with you
- List your doctors and hospitals. Network is the first filter. An HMO, a PPO and an HMO-POS plan treat out of network care very differently.
- List your prescriptions with dose and how often you fill them. We price them against the plans that fit your doctors.
- Plan for a bad year, not just a good one. Compare the out-of-pocket maximum and drug costs, not just the premium.
- Decide between Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement. A Supplement (Medigap) plus a Part D plan works anywhere that accepts Medicare. We quote Plan G and Plan N from the carriers we represent in Sandy.
- Enroll by December 7, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1, 2027, during the October 15 to December 7 Open Enrollment Period.
See the full county view on our Salt Lake County Medicare plans page, or the statewide table on Medicare in Utah.
Plan counts come from the CMS CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Landscape (September 2026 release). 2027 star ratings were not in this file.
Frequently asked questions
How many Medicare Advantage plans can Sandy, Utah residents choose from in 2027?
Sandy uses Salt Lake County plan data. For 2027 the CMS landscape lists 28 Medicare Advantage plans that are not special needs plans, 18 special needs plans and 8 stand-alone Part D plans. 15 of the plans with drug coverage have a $0 monthly premium.
How many people 65 and older live in Sandy, Utah?
About 14,151, or 14.9% of Sandy's 94,723 residents, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 five year estimates.
When can Sandy residents change Medicare plans for 2027?
During Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. People already in a Medicare Advantage plan also get a one time switch from January 1 to March 31, 2027, and certain life events such as a move trigger Special Enrollment Periods.
Is there a Medicare agent near Sandy?
Everything Senior Insurance is at 61 W 13490 S Suite 201 in Draper and helps Sandy residents in person or by phone at 801-255-5340, Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5pm Mountain.
Sources
- CMS: Prescription drug coverage and CY2027 plan landscape files
- US Census Bureau ACS 5-year Data Profile, 2019-2023
- CMS: Announcement of CY 2027 MA Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (April 6, 2026)
- Medicare.gov: Joining a health or drug plan (enrollment periods)
- Medicare.gov: Special Enrollment Periods
Updated October 26, 2026 by the Everything Senior Insurance Data Desk.

