Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage tallies in Bellevue for 2027

For 2027, Bellevue is looking at 59 Medicare Advantage plans: 18 new, 27 gone since 2026, and 31 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 10 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in King County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

BELLEVUE, Wash. — If you're turning 65 soon, helping a parent sort through the mail, or just trying to figure out what changes next year, here's a plain-language look at how many Medicare choices are actually available in your area for 2027.

Medicare in Bellevue: Here's What's on the Table for 2027

Bellevue sits in King County, and that's the number that matters for plan availability. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), King County residents have 68 Medicare Advantage plans to consider for 2026, offered by 10 different carriers.

That's a lot of options — which is why understanding how to compare them matters more than the raw count.

Why Plan Counts Are County-Based, Not City-Based

Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are approved and priced at the county level. So while we talk about "Medicare in Bellevue," the official availability data comes from King County as a whole. A neighbor in Redmond, Kirkland, or Seattle is generally looking at the same lineup of plans you are.

With more than 320,000 people age 65 and older in King County, it's one of the largest Medicare markets in Washington state. That size is part of why carriers offer so many plan variations here.

What the 68 Number Actually Includes

The 68 figure refers to Medicare Advantage plans — the private plans (sometimes called Part C) that bundle hospital, medical, and usually drug coverage into one package. Most include prescription drug coverage; these are called MA-PD plans.

A few quick clarifications:

• Stand-alone Part D drug plans are counted separately by CMS and aren't part of the 68.
• Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans are also separate — they work alongside Original Medicare and are regulated by Washington state.
• Not every one of the 68 plans will fit your doctors, medications, or budget. The count is a starting point, not a shopping list.

What's Changing at the Program Level in 2027

Regardless of which route you take, a few Medicare rules are shifting in 2027. These apply nationwide, not just in King County:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 ($2,400 in 2027) for the year. Once you hit that, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027).
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: an optional program that lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges (extra premiums for higher earners) kick in above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Star Ratings: A Tool, Not a Verdict

CMS publishes Star Ratings (1 to 5) for Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts each fall. They measure things like customer service, member complaints, and how well plans manage chronic conditions.

The Star Ratings that apply to 2027 plans are released by CMS in the fall. Ratings shift year to year, methodology changes have affected many carriers nationally, and a rating is just one data point among many. Use it as part of your research, not the whole answer.

Key Dates to Circle

• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7, 2026. This is when most people compare and switch plans for 2027.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, this window gives you one chance to switch to a different MA plan or return to Original Medicare.

Missing these windows usually means waiting a full year, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.