Medicare help · Seattle & King County
From Ballard to Rainier Valley, Seattle has the deepest Medicare menu in Washington — and the most ways to pick a plan that leaves your UW, Swedish or Virginia Mason doctor out. The comparison here starts with your hospital system.
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No cost, no pressure. Prefer to call? (702) 706-6564.
Medicare in Seattle
King County offers many Medicare Advantage plans, every Medigap carrier licensed in Washington and the full Part D lineup. The catch is that Seattle’s care is organized into large systems that contract separately: UW Medicine (Harborview, UW Medical Center), Providence Swedish, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and Kaiser Permanente Washington. Kaiser’s Advantage plans cover Kaiser medical centers and little else; other plans include Swedish but not UW, or the reverse, and UW Medicine has said it will not be contracted with Humana, PacificSource or Wellpoint for 2026.
Fred Hutch and UW Medicine accept Original Medicare and contract selectively with Advantage plans, which is why so many Seattleites with a cancer history keep a Medigap policy — and in Washington, once you hold one you can change it any time. We compare what is actually offered at your ZIP code, confirm your doctors and pharmacy, and set Advantage beside a supplement so you can see the trade-off plainly.
Major care in the area includes:
Plan networks differ — we check that your doctors and hospital are covered before you enroll.
Ballard, Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, West Seattle, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, Northgate, Lake City, Magnolia, Wallingford, Shoreline, Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac.
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 Seattle
King County typically has the widest choice in Washington: many Medicare Advantage plans, every Medigap carrier in the state, and all standalone Part D plans. Availability is set by ZIP code and changes each plan year; we compare what is offered at your address.
It depends on the specific plan’s network, and the contracts change every year; for 2026 UW Medicine has said it will not be contracted with Humana, PacificSource or Wellpoint. Before you enroll we confirm your providers at UW, Swedish, Virginia Mason or Kaiser are in-network and your prescriptions are on the formulary, so there are no surprises in January.
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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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.