Medicare Advantage

Unbiased Medicare help in Spokane: SHIP and local agencies

People in Spokane can choose from 47 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 59 this year. 21 of this year’s plans are gone, 9 are new to Spokane County, and 28 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 10 of them under a new name.

SPOKANE, Wash. — Medicare can feel like a maze, especially when the mail starts piling up each fall. The good news for Spokane residents: you don't have to figure it out alone, and you don't have to pay for honest guidance.

Spokane Has Real Help — and Most of It Is Free

Spokane is in Spokane County, home to roughly 95,527 people age 65 and older. That's a large community navigating the same questions you are — about Part A, Part B, Part D drug coverage, Medicare Advantage, and Medigap. Here's where to turn locally.

Start With SHIP — Washington's Free, Unbiased Counselors

Washington's State Health Insurance Assistance Program is called SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors). It's run through the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, and its counselors are trained volunteers who don't sell anything.

You can reach SHIBA at 1-800-562-6900, or find a local Spokane counselor at insurance.wa.gov/shiba. They can help you:

• Compare coverage options side by side
• Understand your Medicare Summary Notice or an appeal
• Check whether you qualify for programs that help with premiums or drug costs
• Sort out enrollment timing and avoid late penalties

Because SHIBA counselors are not paid on commission, they have no reason to steer you toward one product over another.

Licensed Agents and Brokers: Another Option

Some Spokane residents prefer working with a licensed insurance agent or broker. Agents are paid by insurance companies when they help enroll someone in a plan, so their guidance is legitimate — but it's worth knowing how they're compensated.

A few tips when working with an agent:

• Ask whether they represent multiple carriers or just one.
• Confirm they are licensed in Washington.
• You should never feel pressured or rushed into a decision.
• Ask them to walk you through your specific doctors, prescriptions, and pharmacies.

For reference, Spokane County has 37 Medicare Advantage plans available for 2027 and 11 carriers offering Medicare Advantage with drug coverage. Stand-alone Part D plan counts vary year to year, so ask your counselor or agent about current options during enrollment season.

Know the 2027 Rules Before You Sit Down With Anyone

Whether you meet with SHIBA or an agent, walking in with a few key facts helps:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug costs hit that number, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• The "donut hole" is gone as of 2025 — Part D now has three simpler phases.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: an optional program that spreads your drug costs across the year in monthly bills instead of large hits at the pharmacy.
• IRMAA (higher-income surcharges) begin above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

Mark These Dates on Your Calendar

• October 15 – December 7: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to change plans or return to Original Medicare.

Missing these windows can mean waiting a full year — or paying a lifetime late-enrollment penalty on Part D or Part B.

What About Star Ratings?

Medicare rates plan contracts each year on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, looking at things like customer service, member complaints, and chronic-condition care. Currently, no contracts serving the Spokane area carry a 4-star or higher rating in the most recent CMS data. Stars are one data point — not a verdict — and they can shift year to year. A SHIBA counselor can help you interpret them alongside your own priorities.