How many Medicare beneficiaries are in Washington?

Washington has approximately 1.5M Medicare beneficiaries. Roughly 53% are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, with the balance on Original Medicare — often paired with a Medigap plan and a standalone Part D drug plan.

When is Washington Medicare enrollment?

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7 each year, with changes effective January 1. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs January 1 through March 31. New-to-Medicare beneficiaries use their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday.

Is Medigap available in Washington?

Yes. Washington has all federal Medigap letter plans (A, B, D, G, K, L, M, N, and high-deductible G and F for those eligible) available from multiple carriers. Medical underwriting typically applies outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window, so timing matters.

Washington · Medicare · 2026 plan year

Washington Medicare plans for 2026.

Q: What are the top Medicare Advantage carriers in Washington?

Leading Medicare Advantage carriers in Washington include Premera Blue Cross, Regence BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Aetna. Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

Washington has approximately 1.5M Medicare beneficiaries — about 53% on Medicare Advantage, the rest on Original Medicare. We compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D options from Premera Blue Cross, Regence BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Aetna.

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1.5M

Washington Medicare beneficiaries

~53%

on Medicare Advantage in WA

All 39

Washington counties served

Carriers pay us — never you

Want to enroll yourself? Compare Washington Medicare plans online.

Same Medicare Advantage, Supplement, and Part D plans we'd quote you. SilverEdge stays your broker on file — call us anytime.

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The core decision

Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap in Washington

For most Washingtonians, the choice between Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Original Medicare plus a Medigap (Supplement) plan is the biggest decision you'll make.

Medicare Advantage in Washington

Bundles Part A, Part B, and usually Part D into a private plan. Most Washington metros offer competitive $0-premium plans with dental, vision, hearing, OTC, and transportation benefits.

Most Washington MA plans are HMOs with local networks including UW Medicine, Swedish Medical Center, Providence, Virginia Mason Franciscan, Overlake, MultiCare. We verify your doctors before enrolling.

Medigap in Washington

Pairs with Original Medicare and covers the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays Medicare doesn't pay. Any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare accepts Medigap — no networks.

Washington Medigap premiums vary by ZIP and age, and carriers may medically underwrite outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window.

Carriers

Top Medicare carriers in Washington

Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

Premera Blue Cross & Regence BlueShield

Washington has two Blue Cross plans by region — Premera covers most of the state, Regence covers SW Washington and the Spokane area.

Kaiser Permanente Washington

Kaiser's Washington region (formerly Group Health Cooperative). Vertically-integrated HMO with Kaiser doctors and facilities concentrated in Puget Sound metro.

Humana & UnitedHealthcare

Both national carriers offer competitive Medicare Advantage and Part D plans across Washington. UnitedHealthcare's AARP-branded Medigap is the most-held Medigap in WA.

Aetna & Wellcare

Aetna competitive in Western Washington metros. Wellcare strong in standalone Part D and D-SNP segments.

Part D

Part D prescription coverage in Washington

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, 2026 Part D caps out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,100 per year and eliminates the old "donut hole."

Every Washington Medicare beneficiary needs prescription drug coverage (or creditable alternative coverage) to avoid the Part D late enrollment penalty. Washington has dozens of standalone Part D plans plus drug coverage bundled into most MA-PD plans.

Formulary check: The same medication can land in very different tiers across plans. We run your drug list against every Part D plan in your ZIP.
Preferred pharmacy: Many Washington Part D plans offer lower copays at preferred pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Bartell, Safeway, Walmart, Costco, Fred Meyer). Which pharmacy you prefer can change which plan is cheapest.
Extra Help / LIS: Washington beneficiaries with limited income may qualify for the Low Income Subsidy that significantly reduces drug costs.

Timing

Medicare enrollment dates for Washington

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7. Change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans; changes effective January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP): January 1 – March 31. One plan change allowed for members already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): 7 months around your 65th birthday — 3 months before, your birthday month, and 3 months after.
Medigap Open Enrollment: 6 months from your Part B effective date — the one-time window when Washington Medigap carriers cannot deny you or charge more for health reasons.
Special Enrollment Periods: Moving into Washington, losing employer coverage, qualifying for Extra Help, or moving into or out of a nursing facility may each trigger a SEP.

Common questions

Washington Medicare FAQ

Are there Washington-specific Medicare rules?

Medicare is federal, so core rules match nationwide. What varies in Washington is plan availability, network depth, Medigap pricing, and carrier mix.

Can I switch from Advantage to Medigap later?

Sometimes. Outside your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment window, Washington Medigap carriers can medically underwrite — which means they can decline you or charge more for health conditions. We walk through your specific options carefully.

What if my doctor is at a different network?

We verify every doctor and hospital you want to keep against each plan's network before recommending anything. Networks like UW Medicine, Swedish Medical Center, Providence, Virginia Mason Franciscan, Overlake, MultiCare are common in Washington — but specifics vary plan by plan.

What does SilverEdge cost?

Nothing. Medicare carriers pay us a commission when you enroll. We earn the same regardless of which carrier you pick — our job is to find your best Washington fit.

Coverage

Washington counties we cover

All 39 Washington counties. A few of the counties where we have the most active members:

King (Seattle) Pierce (Tacoma) Snohomish (Everett) Spokane Clark (Vancouver) Thurston (Olympia) Kitsap (Bremerton) Yakima Whatcom (Bellingham) Benton Skagit Cowlitz Lewis Grant Franklin + 24 more

★★★★★

$1,560 / yr saved

on Medicare Advantage · Seattle, WA

"I'm an avid traveler — wanted PPO so I could see doctors anywhere. SilverEdge found me a Premera PPO with strong national coverage AND included $1,000/yr OTC card. Painless switch."

Alan P.

PPO switch · Seattle, WA

Ready to compare Washington Medicare plans?

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