Medicare in Idaho serves about 360,000 beneficiaries, with 35% enrolled in Medicare Advantage and the remainder on Original Medicare + Medigap. Average Medigap Plan G premium for a new 65-year-old enrollee: $133/mo. Stand-alone Part D plans average $42/mo.
Medicare Beneficiaries
360,000
Age 65+ and disabled
MA Enrollment
35%
% on Medicare Advantage
Avg Medigap Plan G
$133/mo
New enrollee, age 65
| Topic | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans available | 20+ | Varies by county; check medicare.gov plan finder |
| Top MA carriers | UnitedHealthcare, Regence BlueShield, Humana | Networks differ by county |
| Stand-alone Part D | $42/mo | Required if you have Original Medicare + Medigap |
| Annual guaranteed-issue Medigap switching | Yes — state protection applies | Idaho Birthday Rule: Medigap holders get a 63-day window starting on their birthday each year to switch plans without medical underwriting. |
Medigap premiums vary by carrier, age, and ZIP code. The 2026 Part B premium is $202.90/month and Part B deductible is $283. Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026.
Idaho is one of a small group of states with a birthday rule for Medigap switching, giving policyholders a 63-day window starting on their birthday each year to switch to any Medigap plan with equal or lesser benefits without medical underwriting. This protection meaningfully reduces the risk of being locked into a plan with rising premiums. Idaho's Medicare Advantage market is less developed than many other states — roughly 35% enrollment — partly because the state's lower population density makes network construction challenging outside Boise and the Twin Falls corridor. Regence BlueShield of Idaho is a major regional carrier and participates in both Medigap and MA markets. St. Luke's Health System and Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center (now Trinity Health) are the dominant hospital systems in the Treasure Valley.
Boise has emerged as one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, driving rapid growth in new Medicare beneficiaries who are relocating from California, Washington, and Oregon — states that also have birthday rule or strong Medigap protections. These migrants benefit from Idaho's birthday rule when they arrive. Rural Idaho, particularly in the northern panhandle and eastern Snake River Plain, can present MA network challenges, and Original Medicare with Medigap is often the more practical option for beneficiaries in smaller communities who rely on Critical Access Hospitals. Medigap Plan G at around $133/month is affordable, making the Medigap-plus-Original-Medicare model financially viable for most Idaho retirees.
In Idaho, traditional Medicare combined with a Medigap supplement (typically Plan G or N) plus a stand-alone Part D plan provides nationwide access with predictable costs. Plan G covers everything except the $283 Part B deductible.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans bundle Medicare Parts A, B, and usually D into one private plan, often with $0 premium beyond Part B. Trade-offs include network restrictions and prior authorization. 35% of Idaho beneficiaries currently choose MA.
Idaho Birthday Rule: Medigap holders get a 63-day window starting on their birthday each year to switch plans without medical underwriting.
💡 Idaho Pro Tip
Idaho beneficiaries in the Boise metro area typically have access to 20 or more Medicare Advantage plans, with UnitedHealthcare, Regence BlueShield, and Humana among the top carriers. Northern Idaho (Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint) and eastern Idaho (Pocatello, Idaho Falls) generally have 10 to 20 options, while the most rural counties may have fewer.
The average Medigap Plan G premium for a 65-year-old in Idaho is approximately $133 per month. Idaho's birthday rule makes Medigap particularly attractive because you can comparison-shop annually to find more competitive rates as carriers update their pricing.
Yes — Idaho's Birthday Rule gives Medigap policyholders a 63-day window starting on their birthday each year to switch to any plan with equal or lesser benefits without medical underwriting. This annual switching right is a significant consumer protection that allows Idaho beneficiaries to shop for lower premiums each year.
Beneficiary counts and MA enrollment percentages from CMS state-level Medicare data; premium averages from 2026 carrier rate filings for Idaho. Verify current plan costs at medicare.gov before enrolling.
Jennifer Walsh
Editorial Lead, Health & Medicare
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed May 2026
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