Washington is weird. If you’ve lived here long enough, you know we do things differently, from our coffee habits to how we handle insurance. When it comes to your healthcare, specifically Washington state Medicare supplement plans, the rules of the game are completely different than they are in Idaho, Florida, or almost anywhere else in the country.
Most people turning 65 expect to be poked, prodded, and asked a million medical questions before they can get a Medigap policy. That’s the norm in 40-something other states. But here? We have "community rating" and "year-round open enrollment." It sounds like insurance jargon, but it’s actually the most important thing you need to understand to avoid overpaying.
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make is assuming they are stuck with the plan they picked three years ago. You aren’t. You can literally wake up on a Tuesday in October, decide you're tired of your current premium, and switch to a different company for the exact same coverage. No medical exams. No "sorry, you have a heart condition." Just a straight swap.
The Washington "Secret": Year-Round Switching
In most states, if you miss your initial six-month window when you first get Medicare Part B, you’re basically locked in unless you can pass a medical background check. Insurance companies there use "underwriting" to weed out people who are actually sick. Washington state law (RCW 48.66.045) effectively shuts that down for Medigap.
Because we are a "guaranteed issue" state, companies selling Washington state Medicare supplement plans cannot deny you coverage or charge you more because of your health history, provided you already have a Medigap plan or are transitioning from certain other types of coverage.
It’s a massive win for the consumer.
Think about it this way: if you’re on Plan G with Company A and they hike your rates by 15%, you can move to Company B’s Plan G tomorrow. Since Plan G benefits are standardized by the federal government, the coverage is identical. The only difference is the logo on the card and the amount of money leaving your bank account every month.
Understanding the "Community Rated" Price Tag
You’ll notice that premiums here might look a bit higher than what your cousin in Arizona pays. There's a reason for that. Washington uses community rating. This means every person on a specific plan with a specific company pays the same monthly premium, regardless of whether they are 65 or 85.
In other states, they often use "attained-age" pricing. Those plans start out dirt cheap when you're 65, but they climb every single year like a slow-motion mountain trek. By the time you’re 80, the price is astronomical. Washington’s system creates more stability. You don’t get penalized for the crime of getting older.
However, "community rated" doesn't mean "everyone pays the same price across all companies." Far from it.
I’ve seen monthly premiums for the exact same Plan G vary by $100 or more between different insurers. Why? Because some companies are just better at managing their "risk pool" or have lower overhead. Some are legacy big-name brands that bank on you being too lazy to check the competition. Don't be that person.
Plan G vs. Plan N: The Real-World Tradeoff
If you’re looking at Washington state Medicare supplement plans right now, you’re likely staring at a chart with letters A through N. Ignore most of them. In the current market, Plan G and Plan N are the heavy hitters.
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Plan G is the "I don't want to think about it" plan. You pay your monthly premium and the annual Medicare Part B deductible. After that, you pay $0 for Medicare-covered services. No copays at the doctor. No "facility fees" at the hospital. If Medicare pays its share, Plan G pays the rest. Period.
Then there’s Plan N.
Plan N is usually $30 to $50 cheaper per month than Plan G. The catch? You have small copays. Up to $20 for a doctor visit and up to $50 for an emergency room visit that doesn't result in an inpatient stay.
Is it worth it?
Mathematically, Plan N often wins if you don't go to the doctor every other week. If you save $600 a year in premiums but only visit the doctor four times, you’ve kept $520 in your pocket. But some people hate the idea of a copay. They want the psychological peace of mind that comes with Plan G. Both are valid, but you have to know your own "annoyance threshold" for small bills.
The Plan F Ghost
You might have heard about Plan F. It was the "King of Medigap" because it even covered the Part B deductible. But here is the reality: if you weren't eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you can't buy it.
Even if you can buy it because you're "grandfathered in," you probably shouldn't.
Plan F is often significantly more expensive than Plan G. You’re essentially paying the insurance company $400 extra a year just so they can pay a $257 deductible for you. The math just doesn't work. It's a legacy product that persists mostly because people don't like change.
High-Deductible Options: The "Rainy Day" Strategy
There is a niche version of Plan G called "High Deductible Plan G" (HDG). It’s not for everyone.
With HDG, you pay a much lower premium—sometimes under $70 a month—but you have to pay the first $2,870 (the 2025 limit) of your medical costs yourself before the plan kicks in.
This is a strategic move for people who are healthy, have a solid emergency fund, and basically just want protection against a $100,000 hospital bill. It’s "catastrophic" coverage. In Washington, where standard Plan G prices can be spicy, this is a legitimate way to save thousands over a decade if you stay relatively healthy.
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The Medicare Advantage "Trapdoor"
We need to talk about the difference between a supplement and Medicare Advantage. In Washington, Advantage plans (Part C) are very popular, especially in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. They usually have $0 premiums and include dental and vision.
Sounds great, right?
The trade-off is the network. With Washington state Medicare supplement plans, you can see any doctor in the country who accepts Medicare. No referrals. No "prior authorizations" where an insurance company clerk decides if you really need that MRI.
With Advantage, you are generally locked into a local network. If you want to see a specialist at UW Medicine or Fred Hutch, you better make sure they are in that specific plan's network. Also, if you want to leave Medicare Advantage and move back to a Supplement plan in Washington, you can do it—thanks to our unique state rules—but it requires timing it correctly during the Annual Enrollment Period or a Special Enrollment Period.
Realities of the Washington Market
Our State Insurance Commissioner, Mike Kreidler’s office, keeps a very close eye on these plans. They actually publish a massive chart every year showing every company and every price. It’s public info. You don't need a secret agent to find it.
What the chart won't tell you is the "rate stability" history of these companies.
Some companies enter the Washington market with a "teaser rate." They come in low, grab 5,000 seniors, and then two years later, they realize they are losing money and jack the rates up by 20%. Other companies have a track record of 3% or 4% increases like clockwork.
Experience matters here. Picking a company that has been in the Washington market for 20 years is usually safer than picking a new "disruptor" that might not understand the cost of healthcare in Seattle or Spokane.
Why Your Zip Code Doesn't Usually Matter (But Sometimes Does)
In many states, your premium changes based on your zip code. Living in a high-cost city means higher insurance.
In Washington, most Medigap insurers use a single "statewide" rate. Whether you are in downtown Vancouver or a cabin in Okanogan, your Plan G price is the same. There are a few outliers that might have slight variations, but for the most part, we are all in the same bucket.
This is a huge advantage for people living in the high-cost Puget Sound area. You aren't being penalized for the higher cost of living in your neighborhood.
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Common Misconceptions About Medigap in WA
One thing people get wrong constantly: "I need to wait for the fall Open Enrollment to change my Supplement plan."
No.
The fall Open Enrollment (Oct 15 – Dec 7) is primarily for Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. Since Washington allows year-round switching for Medigap, you can change your supplement in March, July, or on your birthday.
Another one: "Medigap covers my prescriptions."
It doesn't. None of the modern Washington state Medicare supplement plans cover retail drugs. You need a separate Part D plan for that. If you try to roll without a Part D plan, Medicare will hit you with a late enrollment penalty that lasts the rest of your life.
Actionable Steps for Washington Residents
If you are currently enrolled in a plan or looking to join one, stop looking at the glossy brochures and do the following:
Audit Your Current Rate
Look at your bank statement. If you are paying more than $230 a month for a Plan G as a 68-year-old in Washington, you are almost certainly overpaying. There are reputable, A-rated companies charging significantly less for the exact same federal benefits.
Verify Your "Guaranteed Issue" Status
If you are moving from an employer plan to Medicare, or from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare, ensure you have your "Notice of Creditable Coverage" or "Loss of Coverage" letter. This is your golden ticket to skip medical underwriting. In Washington, even without this, you can often switch between Medigap plans, but having your paperwork makes the transition seamless.
Check the "Household Discount"
Many insurers in Washington offer a discount (anywhere from 5% to 12%) if you live with another adult. Some companies require that person to also have a policy with them; others just require that you've lived together for a year. It’s free money. Ask for it.
Compare the "Big Three"
In Washington, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Premera, and Mutual of Omaha often dominate the market share. However, don't ignore smaller players like Cigna or Blue Cross. Use the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) website to see the "Medicare Supplement Search" tool. It is updated regularly and shows the current approved rates for every company in the state.
Consider the "Plan N" Switch
If you are on Plan G and healthy, get a quote for Plan N. If the premium difference is more than $40 a month, and you go to the doctor fewer than five times a year, the math is overwhelmingly in your favor to switch.
Washington’s unique laws are designed to protect you from being "locked in" to a bad deal. If you haven't shopped your rate in the last 24 months, you are likely subsidizing the cheaper rates of the new people joining your insurance company today. Take advantage of the state's consumer-friendly rules and don't treat your Medicare supplement like a "set it and forget it" bill. It’s a commodity—buy it where it’s cheapest from a company you trust.