Medicare 2026

Before AEP ends Dec. 7, know who's unbiased

In SeaTac, sorting through Medicare choices can feel like a full-time job. With 68 Medicare Advantage plans available in King County and a stack of mail arriving every fall, many people just want one thing: a straight answer from someone who is not trying to sell them anything. The good news is that free, unbiased help exists — and so do licensed agents, if you want a guided walk through your options.

What "unbiased" really means

Unbiased help comes from someone who does not earn a commission based on which plan you pick. That usually means a trained counselor or a public program. Licensed agents can also be helpful and knowledgeable, but they are paid by carriers, and most only represent a subset of plans. Both types of help have a place — the trick is knowing which one you are talking to.

SHIBA: Washington's free Medicare counseling program

Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). In Washington, it is called SHIBA — the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors program, run by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. SHIBA counselors are volunteers trained to explain your Medicare options without selling anything.

SeaTac residents can reach SHIBA by calling 1-800-562-6900 or visiting insurance.wa.gov/shiba. Counselors can help you:

• Compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D options side by side
• Understand what Original Medicare does and does not cover
• Check whether you qualify for Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program
• Review a plan's Annual Notice of Change letter
• Sort out a billing or coverage problem

Appointments are free and confidential. Some are handled by phone, some in person at libraries and senior centers around King County.

Licensed agents and brokers

If you prefer working with an insurance professional, a licensed agent can walk you through the plans they are appointed to sell. A few things to keep in mind:

• Ask which carriers the agent represents. An independent broker who works with several carriers can give you a broader look than a captive agent who only sells one.
• Agents cannot legally cold-call you or show up at your door uninvited. If that happens, walk away.
• You will not pay the agent directly — they are paid by the insurance company whose plan you choose.

A good agent will explain the trade-offs, not push a decision.

Official Medicare tools you can use yourself

You do not have to talk to anyone to start comparing plans. Two official resources are free and neutral:

• Medicare.gov Plan Finder lets you enter your ZIP code and prescriptions to see every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan available in King County.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is staffed 24/7 by federal representatives who can answer questions and help with enrollment.

These are the same sources SHIBA counselors and agents use.

Deadlines and figures worth knowing for 2027

A few Medicare basics apply no matter who helps you:

• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7 — the main window to join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31 — if you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch or return to Original Medicare.
• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615.
• The old coverage gap (the "donut hole") was eliminated in 2025; Part D now has three phases.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D premiums begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

A word on Star Ratings

You may see plans labeled with Star Ratings from 1 to 5. Medicare uses these to measure plan quality on things like customer service and preventive care. They can be one useful data point, but they change year to year and do not tell you whether a specific plan fits your doctors, prescriptions, or budget. Use them as a starting question, not a final answer.