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Medicare in Washington State: switch Medigap plans any time, and compare Advantage honestly.
Washington is one of the few states where a Medicare Supplement holder can change plans any month of the year with no health questions, and where Medigap prices do not climb with age. See your 6-month window, then compare Medigap and Medicare Advantage for your county.
When is your Medigap window?
Enter your birthday. Nothing is saved or sent until you choose to request quotes.
Appointed with Mutual of Omaha, Aetna, HealthSpring, UnitedHealthcare and many others. When we quote a Medicare Supplement, we show each company’s past rate increases, not just today’s price.
Medigap or Medicare Advantage in Washington?
The right choice depends on your doctors, where you spend the year, and how you want to pay for care. Here is how the trade-off plays out in Washington.
Washington’s switch-any-time Medigap rule
Most states lock you into your Medigap plan unless you pass health questions or catch a narrow window. Washington does not.
Sources: Revised Code of Washington 48.66.045; Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Compare every state in our Medigap rules by state tracker.
- Switch any timeIf you have a Medigap plan, you can move to another plan in the same group any month of the year, with no health questions: Plan A to Plan A, or any plan from B through N to another plan from B through N.
- Moving up from Plan AWhether you can move from Plan A into the B through N group without underwriting is not settled in the statute. Ask the Insurance Commissioner or us before you count on it.
- Prices by area, not ageWashington Medigap rates for people 65 and older are community-rated, so your premium does not rise just because you have a birthday.
- Pre-existing conditionsWhen you replace a policy that has been in force at least 3 months, the new company must credit that time toward any pre-existing condition wait.
- If you do not have Medigap yetYour 6-month open enrollment at 65, and the federal guaranteed-issue situations, are your no-health-questions doors in. Switching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap.
On Medicare before 65 in Washington
Washington’s Medigap protections are strong at 65 and weak before it.
Source: Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
- No required offerWashington does not require Medigap companies to sell to people under 65 who have Medicare because of a disability, ESRD or ALS, so companies can underwrite or decline.
- If a company does offerPremiums can be higher than the age-65 rate until you turn 65.
- At 65You get the full 6-month open enrollment at 65 with Part B, and community-rated prices from then on.
Price is today. Rate history is the next ten years.
Every Plan G pays the same benefits, so companies compete on price. But many Medigap policies are priced by your current age, so the premium rises as you get older, on top of any rate increases the company files with Washington regulators. Two companies can quote nearly the same price today and be far apart in five years.
Winters in Arizona or California?
Many Washington retirees leave the rain behind for part of the year. That changes which plan works best.
Source: Medicare.gov rules on moving, special enrollment periods and Medigap coverage.
- Medicare AdvantagePlans tied to one Washington health system usually cover only emergencies and urgent care out of state, and a plan can end your enrollment after 6 months in a row out of its area.
- MedigapWorks with any provider that accepts Medicare in Washington and wherever you spend the winter, and in Washington you can adjust your plan any time within your group.
- Part DCheck that your drug plan has network or mail-order pharmacies that work in both places. How to choose a 2027 Part D plan.
- Trips abroadPlans G and N include foreign travel emergency coverage: 80 percent after a $250 deductible, for care in the first 60 days of a trip, up to $50,000 in your lifetime.
Help paying Medicare costs in Washington
If your income and savings are limited, Washington’s Medicare Savings Programs can pay your Part B premium and, for some people, your deductibles and coinsurance. You apply through the Department of Social and Health Services at Washington Connection. Qualifying can also lower your drug costs and open special enrollment periods, so tell us if you have applied.
The Washington Medicare year
With no birthday rule, these dates are the ones that matter.
Your 6-month Medigap window starts once you are 65 and on Part B. The best time to buy any Medigap plan.
Annual Enrollment: change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans for January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: one change if you are already in an Advantage plan.
You can apply for Medigap, but outside your window a company can ask health questions.
Federal windows: Medicare.gov. Turning 65 soon? Use our enrollment checklist.
Go deeper
Guides that go deeper on the questions Washington clients ask most.
- Part DChoosing a 2027 Part D plan and why premiums are rising
- This fallWhat to do during the 2027 Annual Enrollment Period
- Leaving AdvantageWhy people are leaving Medicare Advantage plans
Questions Washington clients ask
Can I change my Medigap plan any time in Washington?
Yes, if you already have one. Washington lets Medigap holders switch to another plan in the same group, Plan A to Plan A or any plan from B through N to another, any time of year with no health questions.
Do Medigap premiums go up with age in Washington?
Not because of age. Washington Medigap rates for people 65 and older are community-rated, so everyone in an area pays the same rate for the same plan, though companies can still raise rates overall.
What is the best Medicare Advantage plan in Washington State?
It depends on your county and your doctors. Many Washington plans are HMOs tied to one health system, so the best plan is usually the one your doctors and hospital belong to. We compare the plans in your ZIP code.
Can I get a Medigap plan in Washington if I am under 65?
Washington does not require companies to sell to people under 65, so they can ask health questions or decline. At 65 you get a full 6-month open enrollment.
Does it cost anything to work with you?
No. Insurance carriers pay agents a commission, and your premium is the same whether you enroll through us or directly with the company.
¿Pueden ayudarme en español?
Sí. Podemos ayudarle en español por teléfono o video. Envíe el formulario o mándenos un mensaje de texto al (773) 657-9140.
Know your window. Compare both paths. Then decide.
Send your details and a licensed advisor will compare Medigap and Medicare Advantage options for your Washington ZIP code, including each company’s rate history, at no cost.