Turning 65 in Washington: getting Medigap right the first time
By Vadim Marusin, licensed Medicare insurance agent in Washington (WAOIC #1365574). Insurer data checked against the state chart current as of October 8, 2026.
Your six-month Medigap open enrollment window is the one time every insurer must accept you. In Washington the window matters a little less than elsewhere, but it still matters.
The order of steps
- Enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. You need both to buy Medigap. If you're getting Social Security, you're usually enrolled automatically.
- Pick a Medigap plan letter. Most people compare Plan G, Plan N and high-deductible Plan G.
- Compare insurers in your county. Same letter, different price. See your county page.
- Choose a Part D drug plan separately. Medigap doesn't cover prescriptions.
- Apply. You can apply up to six months before your Part B start date with many insurers, so coverage can begin the day Medicare does.
Your Medigap open enrollment
It lasts six months, starting the first month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During it, any Washington Medigap insurer must sell you any plan it offers, at its standard premium, with no health questions.
If you're still working and covered by an employer plan, you can delay Part B. Your Medigap window then starts when Part B starts.
Why Washington is more forgiving
Once you have any Plan B through N, Washington lets you switch to any other Plan B through N at any time with no health questions. So the decision you make at 65 isn't permanent. The one choice that's hard to reverse is not buying Medigap at all: if you skip it and later want it, insurers can ask health questions unless you have a guaranteed-issue right.
Don't start with Plan A
Plan A only switches to Plan A under Washington's rule. Starting on Plan B through N keeps every option open.
Insurers selling Medicare Supplement Plan G in Washington
- Asuris
- Bankers Reserve Life
- First Health Life & Health
- GPM Health & Life
- HumanaDental
- Insurance Company of North America
- Medco Containment Life
- Premera
- Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
- Regence BlueShield
- State Farm (sold through State Farm agents)
- USAA (USAA eligibility required)
- United American
- United World Life (Mutual of Omaha)
- UnitedHealthcare (AARP) (AARP membership required)
- WA Health Care Authority Premera Plan G (state-sponsored group plan)
- Washington National