Medicare 2026

Medicare in Washington for 2027: 44 Advantage Plans Leaving, 33 New, and What Else Changes

OLYMPIA — Washington's Medicare picture shifts noticeably for 2027. The state will have 115 Medicare Advantage plans available across its 39 counties, down from 126 in 2026, with 44 plans not returning anywhere in the state, 33 new plans arriving, and 41 continuing plans changing something about the plan — a different premium, drug deductible, plan type or plan name. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any choice made during it takes effect January 1, 2027.

What is changing with Medicare Advantage in Washington for 2027?

Washington will have 115 Medicare Advantage plans in 2027, compared with 126 in 2026. Of those, 44 plans are leaving the state entirely, 33 are new, and 41 continuing plans are changing a premium, a drug deductible, a plan type or a plan name. Providence Medicare Advantage Plans will not offer a Medicare Advantage plan in Washington for 2027. MultiCare Health Plan Medicare Advantage Evergreen Plans is new to the Washington market for 2027.

Two documents tell you where you stand. The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) from your current plan, mailed in the fall, lists what is changing for 2027. A separate non-renewal letter arrives only if your plan is leaving. If your plan is not returning, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period that runs through February 2027 to pick a new Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan. During Annual Enrollment, from October 15 through December 7, 2026, anyone with Medicare can switch for a January 1, 2027 start.

Because Medicare Advantage plans are sold county by county, a plan that is counted statewide may not be offered where you live. Confirm what is available at your address using the Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov.

Which Washington counties are seeing the most Medicare Advantage change for 2027?

Five counties account for most of the churn in Washington for 2027. Snohomish County has 31 plans leaving and 20 changing. Clark County has 30 leaving and 24 changing. King County has 27 leaving and 21 changing. Pierce County has 26 leaving and 25 changing. Thurston County has 26 leaving and 22 changing.

If you live in one of these counties, read your ANOC closely even if you intend to keep your current plan, because "changing" can mean a different premium, drug deductible, plan type or plan name. A plan with the same brand name in 2027 may not be the same plan you had in 2026.

How many stand-alone Part D plans will Washington have in 2027?

Washington will have 8 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in 2027, down from 10 in 2026, offered by 4 insurers. Stand-alone Part D is the drug coverage people pair with Original Medicare or with a Medicare Advantage plan that does not include drug coverage.

Two national Part D rules matter in 2027. The out-of-pocket cap for covered drugs rises to $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026. The maximum deductible a Part D plan may charge is $700. Each plan sets its own premium, deductible (up to that cap), and drug list, so the only reliable way to compare is to enter your medications in the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov.

What about Medigap in Washington for 2027?

Medicare.gov lists 14 Medigap (Medicare Supplement) insurers for a Washington ZIP code. Medigap works only with Original Medicare, not with Medicare Advantage, and it helps pay out-of-pocket costs like coinsurance and deductibles.

Medigap is regulated differently from Medicare Advantage and Part D. Your strongest consumer protections apply during your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment Period when you first have Part B at age 65 or older. Outside that window, acceptance and pricing rules vary. For how Medigap works and which plans are available at your address, start at Medicare.gov.

What are the 2027 national Medicare numbers and the Social Security COLA?

Three national figures are confirmed for 2027. The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400. The maximum Part D deductible any plan may charge is $700. The Part D base beneficiary premium, used to calculate the late-enrollment penalty, is $41.33 (plan premiums themselves are set plan by plan). Social Security benefits payable beginning January 2027 include a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment, announced by the Social Security Administration on October 14, 2026.

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income-related surcharges, have not yet been announced. CMS typically releases those figures in the fall, usually in November. Watch Medicare.gov for the official numbers.

What should Washington Medicare members do before December 7, 2026?

Use this short checklist during Annual Enrollment 2027:

• Open your ANOC and look for changes to premium, drug deductible, plan type or plan name for 2027.
• If you got a non-renewal letter, note that your Special Enrollment Period runs through February 2027.
• Make a current list of your doctors, pharmacies and prescriptions.
• Compare plans at your ZIP code on the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Confirm any plan details — networks, drug lists, costs — with the plan's own documents before you enroll.

Where can Washington residents get free Medicare help?

Free, unbiased help is available at Medicare.gov and by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Representatives can walk you through the Plan Finder, explain enrollment periods, and send plan materials in writing.