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In what order should I enroll in the different parts of Medicare?

In what order should I enroll in the different parts of Medicare?

Enrollment
Last updated: 
April 10, 2026
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The short answer

Most people enroll in Parts A and B first, then choose either a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) or a standalone drug plan (Part D) to go alongside Original Medicare. You cannot add the other pieces without Parts A and B as your foundation.

The full explanation

Think of it like building a house. Parts A and B are the foundation. You need those first before anything else can be added on top. Part A covers hospital stays and Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care. Together they are called Original Medicare.Once you have Parts A and B, you have a choice to make. You can stay with Original Medicare and add a standalone Part D plan for prescription drugs, and if you want, a Medigap (supplemental) policy to help cover out-of-pocket costs. Or you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, which is Part C. Advantage plans bundle hospital, medical, and usually drug coverage all in one plan, so you often do not need a separate Part D.The order matters because Medicare Advantage and Part D plans require you to already be enrolled in both Part A and Part B. If you try to sign up for one of those before getting your base coverage in place, it will not work.For most people, the cleanest path is: sign up for Parts A and B during your Initial Enrollment Period, then compare and choose a Part D or Advantage plan before your coverage start date. A licensed agent can help you figure out which combination fits your situation.

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In 

Utah

 specifically

Utah offers plans from carriers like SelectHealth, Regence BlueCross, Humana, and others. The options available to you depend on where you live. Residents in rural counties like Garfield or Kane may have fewer plan choices than those in Salt Lake or Utah County. Comparing what is actually available in your ZIP code matters.

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What this means for you

For you, this means getting Parts A and B set up first is the move that opens every other door, so do not skip that step while shopping for drug or Advantage plans.

Related Questions

How do I enroll in Medicare?

Do I need Original Medicare first before I can choose a plan?

What am I supposed to do first, second, and third with Medicare?

Do I apply for Medicare online, by phone, or in person?

What documents do I need to enroll in Medicare?

Still have questions about Medicare?

Book a review with a licensed Medicare advisor.

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Medicare Advantage Plans in 

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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