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Daggett

Medicare in 

Daggett

County, 

Utah

Provider Density: 
High
Frontier
Last updated: 
May 21, 2026
Calm river, running through coverage of medicare, with small sandy islands in the foreground and forested mountains under a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Beneficiaries

198

# of Cities

1

# of Plans

33

Key Points

  • Medicare-eligible population of 198 seniors represents roughly one-fifth of all Daggett County residents
  • 33 Medicare Advantage plans with different coverage levels and costs available to compare side by side
  • Multiple hospital systems and medical centers throughout the county provide comprehensive healthcare services to Medicare beneficiaries
  • Over 1 physicians and healthcare providers serve 1 different communities across Daggett County
  • The Area Agency on Aging offers free Medicare counseling and enrollment assistance to help you understand plan options
  • Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs available for income-qualified beneficiaries to lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs

Demographic Information

Daggett County is the least populous county in Utah and one of the least populous in the entire United States. Tucked into the northeastern corner of Utah along the Wyoming border, it covers about 700 square miles of high mountain terrain, forested plateaus, and river canyons — including the spectacular Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The county seat, Manila, is a tiny community of a few hundred people, and the county's total population hovers around 900 to 1,100 residents. With such a tiny population, demographic statistics carry large margins of error, but some general patterns are clear. Daggett County has a disproportionately older population — roughly 18 to 22 percent of residents are 65 or older, reflecting the pattern of retirees who settle in scenic recreational areas and younger families who move away for economic opportunities. That translates to somewhere between 160 and 240 Medicare-eligible residents, one of the smallest Medicare populations of any county in the country. The county's economy is built on recreation and tourism tied to Flaming Gorge, some ranching and agriculture, and a modest service sector. Many residents work in recreation-related industries or commute to the Uintah Basin counties for work. Median household income is quite low — estimated around $45,000 to $52,000 — and poverty rates are elevated relative to Utah norms, running around 12 to 18 percent. Dual-eligible enrollment (Medicare and Medicaid together) is relatively high for the small pool of Medicare beneficiaries. This reflects the income profile of the county. Many seniors qualify for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help for drug costs but may not know how to access them given the county's isolation and limited local service infrastructure. Choosing a Medicare plan in Daggett County requires careful attention to networks and out-of-area access provisions. Original Medicare with a Medigap supplement is often the most practical choice here given the near-total absence of local specialist providers.

Healthcare Information

Daggett County's healthcare infrastructure is as sparse as its population. The county has no hospital, and residents must travel for virtually all but the most basic healthcare needs. Manila and the surrounding area have a small clinic or two that provide basic primary care on a limited basis, but there is no emergency department, no inpatient facility, and no specialist care locally. The nearest hospital to most Daggett County residents is Uintah Basin Healthcare in Roosevelt, Utah — Duchesne County's main medical facility — located roughly 60 to 70 miles southwest. Uintah Basin Healthcare is a community-owned hospital with around 30 to 40 inpatient beds that provides emergency, surgical, and some specialty services. It is the de facto regional hospital for Daggett County residents on the Utah side. Vernal, the Uintah County seat roughly 75 to 80 miles southwest, is home to Ashley Regional Medical Center, a LifePoint Health facility with about 39 beds. Ashley Regional provides emergency, surgical, and specialty services for the broader Uintah Basin area and is another important option for Daggett County residents. For complex specialty care, residents must travel to Salt Lake City — a journey of 3 to 4 hours — or to Rock Springs, Wyoming, which is much closer for Daggett County residents in the northern part of the county. Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in Rock Springs offers emergency and general hospital services. The proximity of Wyoming facilities is practically significant for residents near the Wyoming border, though Medicare plan networks may or may not include those Wyoming providers depending on the specific plan. Telehealth has become critically important in Daggett County. Residents with reliable internet access — and broadband availability is uneven in the county — can conduct primary and specialist follow-up visits virtually. This is not a perfect substitute for in-person care but represents the most realistic access model for many county residents.

Elderly man in hospice care, paid for by medicare coverage, and young boy sitting outdoors on grass with clear blue sky, sharing a peaceful moment.

Medicare Resources

Resources for Medicare beneficiaries in Daggett County are sparse on the ground but accessible through statewide and regional programs if you know where to reach them. Utah's SHIP program — the Senior Health Insurance Information Program — provides free Medicare counseling statewide and can be reached at 1-800-541-7735. For Daggett County residents, a phone or video call with a SHIP counselor is the most practical option for Medicare plan comparison help, enrollment questions, and benefits navigation. Given the county's isolation, in-person counseling would require a significant drive, but the statewide phone and remote services are genuinely useful. Daggett County falls within the Uintah Basin Area Agency on Aging, which serves Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah counties. The Uintah Basin AAA is based in the Uintah Basin and coordinates services including meal programs, transportation assistance, caregiver support, and in-home assistance for seniors. For Daggett County residents, transportation assistance can be critical — the county's isolation means getting to medical appointments often requires a long car ride, and not everyone has family available to help. Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are available through Utah Medicaid for lower-income beneficiaries. Given the county's elevated poverty rates and low incomes among seniors, MSP eligibility is worth checking for nearly every Medicare beneficiary in Daggett County. You apply through Utah's Department of Workforce Services. Extra Help for Part D prescription drug costs is available through Social Security. In a county where pharmacy access is also limited — residents may need to travel to Manila or further to pick up medications — a drug plan that includes mail-order pharmacy benefits is highly practical. The Manila area has limited senior center services, and social isolation is a real concern among older Daggett County residents. The county's recreational character — fishing, boating, off-roading — keeps some seniors active, but isolation can become a health risk especially in winter when mountain roads are difficult.

Daggett

 County 

Medicare Advantage Plans 

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Medicare Questions 

for 

Daggett

 County 

Residents

Which Utah Medicare Advantage plans have PPO options?

What red flags should I watch for when someone is selling Medicare plans?

What is the difference between Utah SHIP and a Medicare agent?

Do Medicare Advantage plans limit which doctors I can see?

What is the safest way to choose when I feel unsure?

Utah

 has 

33

Medicare Advantage plans 

Compare Top Plans
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Older man on fixed income and good medicare coverage, and young boy sitting outdoors with a clear blue sky background.

Medicare Trends and Insights

Daggett County was established in 1917, carved out of Uintah County to recognize the distinct character of the Flaming Gorge basin and the communities that had grown up there. The area was first explored by John Wesley Powell during his 1869 Colorado River expedition, which passed through the Green River canyons that define the county's western edge. The county's history has been shaped by three main forces: ranching and grazing, which dominated the early settlement era; the construction of Flaming Gorge Dam, completed in 1964, which created the reservoir and transformed the county into a recreation destination; and the ongoing challenge of maintaining viable communities in an extremely remote high-altitude environment. Healthcare has always been a challenge here. The nearest hospital has changed over the decades as facilities in the Uintah Basin have been built, closed, and rebuilt. Residents have long understood that serious medical emergencies require helicopter transport or a long ambulance ride — a reality that shapes how people think about their health and their insurance. Telehealth's expansion during and after COVID-19 was perhaps the most significant healthcare development in Daggett County in decades. Even with limited broadband access, the expansion of satellite-based internet (including Starlink) has opened up virtual care options that simply didn't exist before. Residents who previously had to drive hours for follow-up appointments with specialists can now conduct many of those visits from home. Provider recruitment is essentially nonexistent as a formal process — the county is too small to support any kind of hospital or specialty program. The focus is on maintaining access to clinics in Manila and supporting residents in getting to facilities in Roosevelt, Vernal, or Salt Lake when needed. Current challenges include road maintenance in a county with limited tax base, broadband expansion to reach the most remote properties, and ensuring that an aging population can safely remain in their homes as long as possible.

Adjacent to  

Daggett

 County 

Daggett County's geography places it at the intersection of Utah, Wyoming, and — indirectly — Colorado's high country, and its border situation is fundamental to understanding how residents access healthcare. To the west, Daggett County borders Uintah County, home to Vernal and Ashley Regional Medical Center. Vernal, about 75 to 80 miles from Manila, is the nearest city with meaningful hospital services on the Utah side. Ashley Regional is a LifePoint Health facility with emergency services, surgery, and some specialty care. Many Daggett County residents have longstanding relationships with providers in Vernal and think of it as their go-to for most acute needs. Duchesne County lies to the southwest, with Roosevelt and Duchesne as its main communities. Uintah Basin Healthcare in Roosevelt is another important regional hospital at roughly 60 to 70 miles from Manila. Some Daggett County residents may find Roosevelt more convenient depending on their location within the county. To the north and east, Daggett County shares a long border with Wyoming. Sweetwater County, Wyoming — home to Rock Springs — is the most significant Wyoming neighbor. Rock Springs is actually closer to the northern parts of Daggett County than Salt Lake City is, and Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in Rock Springs provides emergency and general hospital services. For Medicare beneficiaries with plans that have out-of-state emergency coverage (which standard Medicare always does for emergency care), Rock Springs can be a practical option. Carbon County in Utah lies to the south and southwest. While not immediately adjacent for most Daggett County residents, the Price area and Castleview Hospital represent another regional option for those making their way through the Tavaputs Plateau. The combination of long distances to any healthcare facility in every direction means that air transport — medical helicopter service — is not a luxury but a genuine emergency necessity for Daggett County residents with time-sensitive conditions.

Noteworthy People

Daggett County's tiny population makes a traditional list of famous natives very short, but the county has connections to some remarkable stories in exploration, outdoor adventure, and Western American history. John Wesley Powell (1834–1902) is perhaps the most historically significant figure connected to what is now Daggett County. Powell — geologist, Civil War veteran who lost his right arm at Shiloh, and explorer extraordinaire — led two expeditions down the Green River through the canyons of what is now Daggett County in 1869 and 1871. His accounts of the journey through Flaming Gorge and the canyon country downstream are American exploration classics. Powell went on to lead the U.S. Geological Survey and powerfully shaped federal land and water policy for the American West. Flaming Gorge Dam, completed 95 years after his first expedition, sits near the area his boats passed through. Fred Vining Fisher (1887–1969), a pioneering photographer of the American West, documented life in the Green River basin and adjacent Wyoming country in the early 20th century. His photographs preserve a visual record of the ranching and rural life that defined communities like those in Daggett County. The Jarvie family, particularly John Jarvie (1844–1909), were prominent early settlers in what is now Daggett County. Jarvie operated a ferry crossing and trading post on the Green River at Brown's Park — a remote meeting point for ranchers, trappers, and at least a few outlaws during the Wild West era. Brown's Park (or Brown's Hole) was a wintering ground used by Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch, giving the county a small but genuine piece of outlaw mythology. The county's connection to Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area means it is frequented by prominent outdoor recreationists, fishermen, and environmentalists, though most famous visitors rather than native sons and daughters. The tiny size of Daggett County means its contribution to national fame is measured more in landscape and story than in individual celebrities, but the Flaming Gorge country's wild beauty and isolation have drawn artists, fly fishermen, and wilderness advocates whose work celebrating the region has shaped how Americans understand the value of remote public lands.

Key Takeaways

In Daggett County, you have real Medicare choices to make. Medicare Advantage plans are increasingly popular here, particularly the zero-premium options that include dental, vision, and hearing coverage—benefits that Original Medicare does not provide. If your income is limited, investigate assistance programs that can meaningfully reduce your monthly costs.

During Open Enrollment, spend time comparing plan costs, which doctors and hospitals you can access, and how your prescription medications are covered. Free Medicare counselors available locally can walk you through all plan details without cost. Choose a plan that covers your doctors and fits your budget—that choice is what matters most.

Decision area Tool What it answers
Enrollment Initial Enrollment Period Calculator When your 7-month Medicare eligibility window begins and ends based on your 65th birthday
Enrollment When Should I Sign Up for Medicare? The best time to enroll based on your work status, other coverage, and age
Enrollment Special Enrollment Period Checker Whether a life event qualifies you for enrollment outside the standard windows
Enrollment Late Enrollment Penalty Checker How much extra you'll pay monthly if you missed your enrollment window
Enrollment Part B Penalty Calculator The exact 10%-per-year premium increase for delayed Part B enrollment
Enrollment Part D Penalty Calculator The 1%-per-month premium increase for gaps in creditable drug coverage
Costs Cost Scenario Planner Estimated annual spending across plan types at different health utilization levels
Costs Advantage vs. Medigap Cost Comparison True cost difference between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with Medigap
Costs IRMAA Calculator Whether your income triggers higher Part B and Part D premiums
Costs Part A Premium Estimator Your monthly Part A premium based on work history and quarters of coverage
Costs M3P Calculator How the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan smooths your drug costs into monthly payments
Coverage Doctor & Drug Assessment Whether your providers and prescriptions are covered by a specific plan
Coverage Part D Shopping Tool Which Part D plan has the lowest total annual cost for your specific medications
Coverage Travel & Network Risk Assessment How your coverage works outside your home area and which plan types travel best
Employer/COBRA COBRA vs. Medicare Why COBRA can trigger permanent Medicare penalties and how costs compare
Employer/COBRA Employer Coverage vs. Medicare Whether your employer plan or Medicare is primary and when to transition
Employer/COBRA HSA & Medicare Compatibility How Medicare enrollment affects HSA eligibility and what to do before enrolling
Planning Caregiver Readiness Checklist Whether you have everything in place to help a loved one with Medicare decisions
Planning Document Gatherer Which documents you need to have ready before enrolling or changing plans
Planning Medigap Fit Assessment Whether Medigap or Medicare Advantage is the better fit for how you use healthcare
Planning Medigap Open Enrollment Window Whether you're inside your one-time guaranteed issue window for Medigap
Planning Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Whether your income qualifies you for help paying Medicare premiums and cost-sharing

‍CMS TPMO Compliance Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available 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.

Participating sales agencies represent Medicare Advantage [HMO, PPO, PFFS, and PDP] organizations that are contracted with Medicare. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal.

Not Government Affiliated: Resting Sycamore Advisors is a licensed Medicare insurance agency. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

‍Data & Methodology for Research Articles: All provider, facility, quality star ratings, and enrollment data is sourced from primary CMS records (cms.gov), including the December 2025 CPSC Enrollment files and the January 2026 Provider Data Catalog. Calculations for patient-to-provider ratios are performed using indexed clinician and facility data. Everything on restingsycamore.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute an endorsement of any specific plan or provider.

Non-CMS Data Sources: Some  specific data was obtained from https://opendata.gov