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Rich

Medicare in 

Rich

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

456

# of Cities

1

# of Plans

33

Key Points

  • Medicare-eligible population of 456 seniors represents roughly one-fifth of all Rich 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 Rich County
  • The Area Agency on Aging offers free Medicare counseling and enrollment assistance to help you understand plan options
  • Multiple Medicare options available to match different healthcare needs and preferences

Demographic Information

Rich County is one of Utah's most remote and least populated counties, with a 2024 population of approximately 2,631 to 2,752 residents spread across 1,029 square miles in the northeastern corner of the state. The county seat is Randolph — possibly one of the smallest county seats in the American West, with a population of around 500 — and the largest community is Garden City, the tourism hub on the southern shore of Bear Lake. Bear Lake, a glacial lake famous for its vivid turquoise-blue color caused by suspended limestone particles, defines Rich County's summer economy. The lake straddles the Utah-Idaho border, with the southern half in Rich County. Garden City becomes dramatically busier in summer, when seasonal residents and tourists multiply the effective population many times over. The demographic profile is 91.87% White non-Hispanic, with a small Hispanic population. The median age is 38.1 years and 100% of residents are U.S. citizens — one of only a handful of counties nationally to achieve that. The poverty rate is a notably low 3.8%, the lowest of any county in this study, and median household income of $79,009 is solid for a rural community. This economic stability reflects a community of established ranching families and some tourism-sector businesses. With approximately 555 seniors (over 65) in a total adult population of 1,871, Rich County's Medicare enrollees number perhaps 400 to 600 people. The county's health score is below the state average at 64/100, largely reflecting the isolation-related access challenges rather than poor health behaviors. Life expectancy and self-reported health outcomes are reasonable given the demographics. For Medicare beneficiaries, Rich County presents a unique situation: a small, relatively affluent, aging rural community where the nearest hospital is a significant drive and plan options are limited by the small market. The seasonal influx of summer residents and vacation property owners also creates a temporary spike in the local population that can affect plan networks and provider availability in the Bear Lake corridor.

Healthcare Information

Rich County has no hospital of its own. This is the fundamental healthcare reality for its residents. Emergency medical services operate within the county, but for hospital care of any kind, residents must travel to neighboring counties. The closest and most commonly used hospitals are in Cache County to the west. Logan Regional Hospital, an Intermountain Health affiliate in Logan, is approximately 35 to 50 miles from Garden City and Randolph respectively. Logan Regional is a full-service regional hospital offering emergency care, surgery, cardiology, orthopedics, cancer care, and obstetrics. For Rich County residents, Logan Regional is effectively their hospital, and many maintain long-term relationships with Logan-based physicians. Some northern Rich County residents, particularly those in communities closer to the Idaho border, may use facilities in Bear Lake County, Idaho — the northern portion of the Bear Lake Valley. Bear Lake Memorial Hospital in Montpelier, Idaho, is a small critical access hospital that serves both the Utah and Idaho sides of the Bear Lake Valley. For more specialized or complex care, University of Utah Health and Intermountain Medical Center in the Salt Lake Valley are the most common destinations, accessible via I-15 through Cache Valley. Within Rich County, primary care is provided by small clinic operations that may be staffed part-time or through rotating provider arrangements. The Bear River Health Department provides public health services covering Box Elder, Cache, and Rich counties. Telehealth has become an essential tool for Rich County, allowing residents to have primary care follow-ups and specialist consultations without the drives that had previously been unavoidable. For Medicare beneficiaries managing chronic conditions, Intermountain Health's telehealth platform through Logan Regional gives access to cardiology, endocrinology, and other specialists via video visit — a development that has meaningfully reduced the care access gap that the county's geography creates. Rich County residents who rely on Logan Regional Hospital should ensure their Medicare plan includes Cache County providers in-network, as this is functionally their primary hospital market. For Medicare Advantage enrollees, confirming out-of-county network coverage before enrollment is an important step given how far residents routinely travel for care.

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

Rich County residents seeking Medicare counseling can access Utah's Benefits Information Program (SHIP) through phone appointments. In-person counseling is typically available in Logan or other Cache County locations that Rich County residents can reach. These counselors provide free, unbiased help comparing Medicare Advantage and Medigap supplement options, reviewing Part D drug plans, and screening for financial assistance programs. The Bear River Association of Governments serves as the Area Agency on Aging for Rich County, coordinating senior services including a senior center in Garden City that is particularly active during the summer tourism season. Meals on Wheels delivery, transportation coordination, and care coordination services are available through this agency. Transportation is a genuine challenge. The distance from Randolph to Logan (about 40 miles) is manageable, but in winter, mountain roads can make it hazardous. Medical transportation resources are limited, and the county's small population means volunteer driver programs have fewer drivers than larger communities. Medicare-covered transportation through certain Medicare Advantage plans can help, making plan selection particularly important. Medicare Savings Programs are relevant for some Rich County seniors, even with the county's low overall poverty rate. Low-income seniors whose fixed incomes include modest Social Security and limited pensions may qualify for QMB or SLMB coverage of Part B premiums. Applications are processed through Utah Department of Workforce Services, accessible via Logan. Extra Help for Part D is another important program for lower-income Medicare enrollees managing multiple medications. Given the isolation factor — getting to a pharmacy in winter Rich County can be difficult — mail-order pharmacy options covered under many Medicare drug plans are particularly valuable here. Rich County seniors with seasonal or vacation property relationships in Idaho should also confirm that their Medicare plan's network covers providers in Bear Lake County, Idaho, since some residents regularly use Montana or Idaho facilities during certain parts of the year. Rich County seniors are encouraged to review their Medicare plan each fall during Open Enrollment, as plan networks and drug formularies can change, and the small plan market in this rural area means a new plan entering or exiting can meaningfully shift available options.

Rich

 County 

Medicare Advantage Plans 

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Medicare Questions 

for 

Rich

 County 

Residents

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Utah

 has 

33

Medicare Advantage plans 

Compare Top Plans
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Medicare Trends and Insights

Rich County's history is inseparable from Bear Lake and the fur trade era. When mountain man Joseph Miller reportedly discovered the Bear River in 1811 and Jim Bridger and other trappers held the first annual rendezvous on Bear Lake's south shore in 1827, they established a pattern of human activity around this remarkable lake that continues today — though the currency has shifted from beaver pelts to vacation cabins and summer recreation. The county was originally called Richland County when created on January 16, 1864, by the Utah Territorial Legislature. It was renamed Rich on January 29, 1868, in honor of LDS Apostle Charles C. Rich, who led the colonization of the Bear Lake Valley beginning in the early 1860s. Brigham Young called members to settle the area after the Homestead Act of 1862 opened the region — he feared an influx of non-Mormon settlers and wanted to establish LDS communities quickly. The first permanent settlement within the current county boundary was at Round Valley in 1863, and Randolph was settled in 1870. The original county boundary was enormous, extending into what is now Idaho and Wyoming. The creation of Wyoming Territory in 1868 and subsequent Idaho boundary adjustments reduced Rich County to its current footprint by 1875 when Idaho Territory took the northern Bear Lake Valley communities. For most of Rich County's history, healthcare meant whatever physician Randolph or Garden City could attract, supplemented by travel to Logan. That pattern has been essentially constant for 150 years. The seasonal character of Bear Lake — from a quiet winter ranching community to a bustling summer recreation destination — creates an unusual demand pattern where the summer urgent care needs dwarf the year-round infrastructure. COVID-19 had relatively modest direct health impact on Rich County's small, dispersed population, but the pandemic accelerated telehealth adoption in ways that have been lasting benefits. Current challenges include managing rising property values driven by Bear Lake recreational demand and maintaining any reliable primary care presence.

Adjacent to  

Rich

 County 

Rich County shares borders with eight jurisdictions including counties in Idaho and Wyoming, giving it one of the most complex multi-state border situations of any Utah county. This matters practically for Medicare beneficiaries because plan networks may or may not cover providers across state lines. Cache County lies to the west and is the most important healthcare neighbor. Logan Regional Hospital, an Intermountain Health affiliate in Logan, is the primary healthcare resource for Rich County — effectively serving as its hospital. Cache County's medical infrastructure also includes specialist practices, primary care clinics, and the full benefit of being part of the Intermountain Health network. The drive from Garden City to Logan is approximately 35 miles; from Randolph, about 40-45 miles. Weber County borders Rich County to the south. Weber County's Ogden-area hospitals — McKay-Dee Hospital and Ogden Regional Medical Center — are accessible for some southern Rich County residents, particularly those in Woodruff, who are closer to I-84 through Morgan County. Morgan County shares a small border with Rich County to the southwest through mountainous terrain. Morgan County itself has no hospital, so this border relationship is not a healthcare resource. Summit County borders Rich to the southwest. Summit County has Park City Hospital, but the routing makes Logan the more practical destination for most Rich County residents. To the north, Rich County shares a state border with Bear Lake County, Idaho and Franklin County, Idaho. Bear Lake Memorial Hospital in Montpelier, Idaho is a small critical access hospital in Bear Lake County that serves both sides of the Bear Lake Valley. For northernmost Rich County residents, Montpelier may be closer than Logan. This creates a Medicare network issue — most Utah-based Medicare Advantage plans may not cover Idaho providers in-network, making Original Medicare more practical for these border-area residents. To the east, Rich County shares Wyoming state borders with Lincoln County and Uinta County, Wyoming. Evanston Regional Hospital in Evanston, Uinta County Wyoming is accessible for the far eastern areas of Rich County. Again, this cross-state access is better accommodated under Original Medicare than most regional Medicare Advantage plans.

Noteworthy People

Rich County's sparse population and relatively brief settlement history mean its notable figures are drawn from the pioneer era, regional politics, and the cultural history of the Bear Lake Valley. Charles C. Rich (1809-1883), for whom the county is named, was an early LDS Apostle who led the colonization of the Bear Lake Valley beginning in the 1860s. He organized the settlements that became Randolph, Garden City, and Laketown, and his leadership in this remote region established the community character that persists today. His descendants remain a significant presence in Rich County's social fabric. George Q. Cannon (1827-1901), a prominent LDS leader and territorial delegate to Congress, was associated with the Bear Lake settlement movement and advocated for the early LDS communities of Rich County in territorial and federal affairs. The Parker family established themselves in the Rich County-Cache County corridor in the late 19th century, producing multiple generations of community leaders who shaped both counties' civic life. Their agricultural holdings in the Bear River Valley were among the most significant in the region. Jim Bridger (1804-1881), the legendary mountain man and explorer, made the first annual trappers' rendezvous at Bear Lake in 1827 and was one of the first non-Native Americans to extensively explore and describe the Bear Lake region. Though not a Rich County resident, his historical connection to the lake that defines the county is fundamental to its identity. Frank Gunnell, a longtime Garden City businessman who developed the Bear Lake marinas and recreational infrastructure in the mid-20th century, helped transform the county from a purely agricultural community into a tourism destination, fundamentally reshaping its economy and demographic future. Mariner Eccles (1890-1977), the influential Federal Reserve chairman and Utah banking pioneer, had family connections to Cache and Rich county ranching families, representing the broader network of prominent Utah figures whose roots extend into the Bear Lake Valley's pioneer settler community. The small scale of Rich County means that locally prominent figures — ranchers, civic leaders, and community builders — often have more day-to-day impact on county life than any nationally known name, and the deep-rooted families of the Bear Lake Valley represent this tradition of sustained local leadership.

Key Takeaways

In Rich 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