Medicare Supplement plans sold in Washington

How to choose a letter

Start with how much risk you want to carry, then look at price.

Most people new to Medicare pick between Plan G and Plan N. Plan G leaves you paying only the Part B deductible each year. Plan N costs less each month but adds small copays at the doctor and the ER and doesn't cover Part B excess charges. Our Plan G vs Plan N guide runs the numbers with Washington premiums.

If you rarely see a doctor and could cover a bad year from savings, high-deductible Plan G costs a fraction of regular Plan G. You pay Medicare-covered costs up to the yearly deductible yourself, then the plan pays in full.

If you want a cap on what you can lose rather than full coverage, Plan K and Plan L pay a share of most costs and then 100% once you reach a yearly out-of-pocket limit.

Plans C and F pay the Part B deductible too, but only people first eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020 can buy them. If that's you and you already have F, compare the premium against Plan G: the difference is often more than the $283 Part B deductible.

Plan A is the bare minimum. In Washington it matters for one more reason: Plan A can only be switched to another Plan A under the state's no-health-questions switching rule.

Why the same letter costs different amounts

Each insurer sets its own premium, files it with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, and charges it to every policyholder. Washington doesn't let insurers price by age, so the differences come from each insurer's own claims experience, expenses and the age mix of its customers. A low premium today doesn't promise low increases later, which is why we show each insurer's rate effective date and keep the history.

Plans not sold in Washington right now

Plan M is a legal Medigap design, but no insurer has a Washington premium for it on the current state chart. Medicare SELECT versions exist only from UnitedHealthcare (AARP), for Plans G and N.