Medicare help · The Tri-Cities & Southeast Washington
Home of Kadlec Regional Medical Center, the Tri-Cities’ largest hospital and a Providence hospital since 2014, and of a large Hanford-retiree population with employer coverage to untangle.
No cost, no obligation, no pressure.
No cost, no pressure. Prefer to call? (702) 706-6564.
Medicare in Richland
Richland’s hospital is Kadlec, the largest in the Tri-Cities and part of Providence, and its Advantage contracts differ from those of Trios in Kennewick and Lourdes in Pasco. Because so many Tri-Cities residents are referred to Kadlec for cardiology, oncology and surgery, whether a plan includes it is the first question; for tertiary care the answer is Spokane or Seattle.
Richland also has a large Hanford and PNNL retiree population, many of whom reach 65 with employer or retiree coverage and a question about delaying Part B, and a steady stream of retirees from the west side who arrive with a Medigap policy and are glad to learn that in Washington they can change it any time.
Major care in the area includes:
Plan networks differ — we check that your doctors and hospital are covered before you enroll.
North Richland, Horn Rapids, Meadow Springs, Badger Mountain, Queensgate, West Richland, Benton City.
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. Already have a Medigap policy? Washington lets you change it any time of year.
Your options
All-in-one Part C plans, often $0 premium, that use a local network — so whether UW Medicine, Providence, MultiCare or Kaiser is in it matters as much as the price.
How Advantage worksMedigap pairs with Original Medicare and lets you see any provider in the country that accepts Medicare — and in Washington you can change plans any time.
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 Apple Health.
About SNPsQuestions from Richland
Benton County typically offers a moderate Medicare Advantage menu, every Medigap carrier in Washington, and the full Part D lineup. Availability is set by county and changes each plan year; we compare what is sold at your address.
It depends on whether your coverage is active-employee coverage (which usually lets you delay Part B without penalty) or retiree coverage (which usually does not). Get the answer before your coverage changes; the Part B penalty is permanent. We walk through it with your benefits paperwork.
Nothing. Independent agents are paid by the carriers when you enroll, so comparing plans and reviewing your coverage each year is free to you.
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Ready when you are
A short, friendly conversation — no pressure, no cost.
Written and reviewed by Darin Weidauer — licensed insurance agent (NPN 18580338, WA License #1010707), 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 Washington SHIBA at 800-562-6900.