Statewide service
Idaho Medicare & Health Insurance — Statewide by Phone
Licensed across the entire state, we bring the same kitchen-table comparison to every Idaho area code. From Coeur d'Alene to Pocatello to Twin Falls, your options are one phone call away — and the call is free.
Idaho at a Glance
Idaho is one of the fastest-growing states in the country — and its retiree population is growing even faster than the rest. Here's the statewide picture that shapes every comparison we run:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Population | About 2 million, and among the nation's fastest-growing states (U.S. Census Bureau estimates) |
| Counties | 44 — and Medicare Advantage & Part D lineups are set county by county |
| Residents 65+ | Roughly 17% of the state — and climbing every year (approximate, U.S. Census Bureau estimates) |
| ACA exchange | Your Health Idaho — Idaho's own state-based exchange, not HealthCare.gov |
| Free Medicare counseling | SHIBA (Idaho's SHIP program), 1-800-247-4422 — neutral and unaffiliated with us |
| Our licensing | Licensed in Idaho, statewide — NPN #14562508 |
Which Idaho Regions Do We Serve by Phone?
All of them. A phone appointment works the same from a Sandpoint kitchen or a Pocatello porch. What changes region to region is the provider landscape — each corner of Idaho leans on its own major hospital systems, and we build your comparison around the ones you actually use.
| Region | Hub cities | Major hospital systems in the area |
|---|---|---|
| North Idaho / Panhandle | Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, Lewiston | Kootenai Health, among others |
| Southwest / Treasure Valley | Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell | St. Luke's, Saint Alphonsus, Treasure Valley Medical |
| Magic Valley | Twin Falls, Jerome, Burley | St. Luke's Magic Valley, among others |
| East Idaho | Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Rexburg | Portneuf Medical Center, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC), among others |
| Central Idaho | McCall, Salmon, Sun Valley area | Regional and critical-access hospitals; many residents also travel to larger systems |
Hospital systems listed for general orientation only — network participation varies plan by plan and year by year, which is exactly what we verify before you enroll.
How Does Statewide Phone Service Work?
Simply. You call, Patricia gathers the basics — your county, your doctors, your medications — and books a phone appointment. Your agent pulls the plans actually offered in your county (Medicare Advantage and Part D lineups change county by county across Idaho's 44 counties), then walks you through CarrieAnne's 6-area comparison. You hear the trade-offs in plain English, pick a direction, and get a full presentation of that plan before enrolling. Whether you're in Lewiston, McCall, Idaho Falls, or Sandpoint, it's the same process our Ada County neighbors get — minus the drive.
And because we're independent, we compare nine carriers side by side. The only side we're on is yours. No pressure, no obligation — ever. If you'd rather do some reading before you call, start with the turning-65 checklist — it's the same roadmap we walk through on the phone.
Why Is Idaho's 65+ Population the Story Behind the Story?
Idaho's retiree population has roughly doubled in a generation — a mix of Idahoans aging in place and newcomers choosing Idaho for retirement. More people on Medicare means more plans, more mailers, and more confusion every fall. It's also why an honest, local comparison matters more each year.
Idaho residents age 65+, by decade (approximate)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau counts and estimates, rounded; 2030 is an illustrative projection based on published growth trends. Figures approximate.
What Should Every Idahoan Know About Idaho's Insurance Rules?
Idaho does a few things its own way, and knowing them can save you real money:
- Your Health Idaho, not HealthCare.gov. Idaho runs its own state-based exchange. If you're under 65 and buying ACA marketplace coverage, Your Health Idaho is where you enroll and where premium tax credits get applied — statewide.
- The Idaho Medigap birthday rule. Since March 2022, Idaho lets Medicare Supplement policyholders switch annually — during a roughly 63-day window around their birthday — to a plan with equal or lesser benefits, with no medical underwriting. Translation: every year, your birthday is a chance to shop your Medigap rate without health questions.
- SHIBA is your free, neutral resource. Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors — Idaho's SHIP program, run through the Idaho Department of Insurance — offers unbiased Medicare counseling and sells nothing. Call SHIBA at 1-800-247-4422. We're genuinely happy to point you there for a second opinion; confident comparisons don't fear homework.
- County lines matter. Plan availability, premiums, and benefits differ county to county, so we always start from your county's actual lineup for the current plan year — then verify your exact doctors and pharmacy against the plans that survive the first cut.
Know your numbers
2026 Medicare Quick Numbers
The same CMS baseline applies in every one of Idaho's 44 counties. Keep these handy for the 2026 plan year:
| Item | 2026 figure |
|---|---|
| Part B standard monthly premium | $202.90 |
| Part B annual deductible | $283 |
| Part A hospital deductible (per benefit period) | $1,736 |
| Part D annual out-of-pocket drug cap | $2,100 |
| Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) | October 15 – December 7 |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | January 1 – March 31 |
Figures set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the 2026 plan year. Higher-income households may pay more for Parts B and D (IRMAA).
When Can Idahoans Enroll or Switch?
Wherever you live in Idaho, these are the windows to circle on the calendar — and our enrollment periods guide walks each one in depth:
- Initial Enrollment Period: seven months around your 65th birthday month — three before, your birthday month, three after.
- Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7): join, drop, or switch Medicare Advantage and Part D plans for the coming year.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 – March 31): one switch if your current Advantage plan isn't working out.
- Idaho Medigap birthday window: roughly 63 days around your birthday, every year, to switch Medigap plans to equal-or-lesser benefits without underwriting.
- Your Health Idaho open enrollment: set each fall by the exchange for January 1 coverage; qualifying life events open special windows year-round.
- Special Enrollment Periods: moving counties, losing employer coverage, and other life events — common for Idaho's many new arrivals.
How We Help Across Idaho
- Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D comparisons from your county's actual lineup
- Birthday-rule Medigap reviews before your window opens — see our Plan G vs. Plan N comparison
- Your Health Idaho enrollment with premium tax credit estimates for early retirees and the self-employed
- Life insurance and long-term care planning statewide
- Doctor, clinic, and pharmacy verification in your region — Kootenai Health country or EIRMC country alike
- A growing library of free guides on our Medicare resources page and blog
Closer to our home turf? See our Ada County, Canyon County, and Boise County pages — Boise County even gets an Idaho City office and house calls.
Anywhere in Idaho, Same Phone Number
One call gets you a real comparison of what's available in your county — free, and at your pace.
Call 208-350-9933Good questions
Statewide Idaho FAQs
Can you help me if I don't live near Boise?
Yes. We're licensed across the entire state of Idaho and work statewide by phone — Coeur d'Alene, Lewiston, McCall, Twin Falls, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Sandpoint, and every town between. A phone appointment gives you the same full comparison our Treasure Valley clients get.
How does a statewide phone appointment actually work?
You call 208-350-9933, Patricia gathers the basics — your county, your doctors, your medications — and books a time. Your agent pulls the plans actually offered in your county, walks you through the 6-area comparison in plain English, and if you pick a plan, handles the enrollment with you on the same call or a follow-up. No travel, no paperwork chase, no cost.
What is Idaho's Medigap birthday rule?
Since March 2022, Idaho gives Medigap policyholders an annual window of roughly 63 days around their birthday to switch to another Medicare Supplement plan with equal or lesser benefits — without medical underwriting. It's a genuinely useful Idaho-specific perk: if a comparable plan is cheaper, your birthday is your chance to move. We'll run the comparison before your window opens.
Do Idahoans use HealthCare.gov for ACA coverage?
No — Idaho runs its own state-based exchange called Your Health Idaho. That's where Idahoans shop ACA marketplace plans and apply premium tax credits, no matter which county they live in. We help clients statewide compare plans and enroll through Your Health Idaho.
Are Medicare plan options the same everywhere in Idaho?
No. Medicare Advantage and Part D availability, premiums, and benefits are set county by county, so the lineup in Kootenai County differs from Bannock or Twin Falls County. We check your county's actual plan list for the current year and verify your exact doctors before comparing. We do not offer every plan available in your area; contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or SHIBA (Idaho's SHIP) for information on all your options.
What is SHIBA, and how is it different from working with you?
SHIBA — Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors — is Idaho's State Health Insurance Assistance Program, run through the Idaho Department of Insurance. It offers free, neutral Medicare counseling and doesn't sell anything; you can reach SHIBA at 1-800-247-4422. We're happy to point people there for a second opinion. The difference: we can also compare specific carrier plans and handle your enrollment start to finish, at no cost to you.
What will Medicare cost in Idaho in 2026?
For the 2026 plan year, CMS set the standard Part B premium at $202.90 per month, the Part B deductible at $283, the Part A hospital deductible at $1,736 per benefit period, and the Part D out-of-pocket drug cap at $2,100. Those figures are the same in every Idaho county — what varies is the plan you add on top, and that's the comparison we run for your county.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 5 organizations which offer 300 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
From the Panhandle to the Snake River Plain — Let's Talk
Every Idaho county has its own plan lineup. One free phone call shows you yours. Serving Idaho since 2005.