Medicare by region · Honolulu, Waikiki, Kaimuki & Hawaii Kai
Downtown to Hawaii Kai — the deepest plan menu in the state, Queen’s and Straub a few blocks apart, Kaiser’s Moanalua Medical Center, and the Matsunaga VA on the Tripler campus.
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Medicare in the region
Honolulu has the widest Medicare choice in Hawaii: every Advantage carrier selling in the state, every Medigap company licensed here, and the full Part D lineup. It is also where the state’s two big systems sit side by side. Queen’s Punchbowl and Straub Benioff are minutes apart downtown; Kaiser’s Moanalua Medical Center serves Kaiser members from across Oahu; and the Matsunaga VA Medical Center shares the Tripler campus with the Army’s largest Pacific hospital.
That makes the first question in town not “which plan is cheapest” but “which system do you use.” Kaiser members who want to keep their doctors need Kaiser Senior Advantage. Everyone else compares HMSA and the national carriers against Original Medicare with a Medigap policy, which covers Queen’s, Straub and any mainland referral without a network question.
Local plans to know: Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage is built on Kaiser’s own clinics and Moanalua Medical Center; HMSA Akamai Advantage (Complete and Complete Plus on Oahu) contracts with Queen’s, Hawaii Pacific Health and independent physicians. Which of those two worlds your doctors live in decides the shortlist before premiums do.
Counties: Honolulu (City and County of Honolulu: urban Honolulu from Kalihi and Moanalua through downtown, Waikiki, Kaimuki, Kahala and Hawaii Kai).
Each contracts differently with each plan; we check your doctors first.
Turning 65? Your Initial Enrollment Period is the 7 months around your birthday. Already on Medicare? The Annual Election Period is Oct 15–Dec 7, and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs Jan 1–Mar 31. Moving to another island or losing a plan opens a Special Enrollment Period.
Your options
All-in-one Part C plans, often $0 premium, that use a local network — in Hawaii that usually means choosing between Kaiser, HMSA and a few national carriers, island by island.
How Advantage worksMedigap pairs with Original Medicare and lets you see any provider that accepts Medicare — Queen’s, Straub, Hilo Benioff, or a specialist on the mainland.
How Medigap worksStandalone drug coverage chosen around your medications and pharmacy. 2026 out-of-pocket cap: $2,100.
How Part D worksAdvantage plans built for a chronic condition, for nursing-facility care, or for people with both Medicare and Med-QUEST.
About SNPsQuestions from Honolulu
Honolulu County typically has the widest choice in Hawaii: Medicare Advantage plans from Kaiser Permanente, HMSA and national carriers, every Medigap company licensed in the state, and all standalone Part D plans. Availability is set by county and changes each plan year; we compare what is sold at your address.
Only through Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage, Kaiser’s own Medicare Advantage plan. Kaiser is an integrated system, so a Medigap policy does not pay for care inside it. Its service area is Honolulu County, most of Hawaii County and the island of Maui; we confirm your ZIP code is inside it before you enroll.
Nothing. Independent agents are paid by the carriers when you enroll, so comparing plans and reviewing your coverage each year is free to you.
Ready when you are
A short, friendly conversation — no pressure, no cost.
Written and reviewed by Darin Weidauer — licensed insurance agent (NPN 18580338, HI License #18580338), Gerontologist (USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology), MBA, Registered Social Security Analyst, and 22-year U.S. Air Force veteran.Last reviewed September 13, 2026. Plan availability, benefits and costs change every plan year — verify current details at Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or Hawaii SHIP at 1-888-875-9229.