CMS star ratings, premiums and MOOP costs show Washington's top Medicare Advantage choices. For HMO coverage, Cigna HealthCare charges no monthly premium and caps out-of-pocket costs at $4,733 with a 4-star rating. Kaiser Permanente's HMO-POS option costs $52 per month with a $4,500 out-of-pocket maximum and 4 stars. Aetna leads PPO plans with a 4.5-star rating, giving Washingtonians affordable access to quality care.
Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Washington (2026)
Updated: January 28, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
Eight insurers compete in Washington's Medicare Advantage market with 16 total plans across HMO, HMO-POS and PPO networks. Monthly costs start at $0 for four plans and reach $161 for premium coverage options.
Cigna HealthCare wins for HMO plans in Washington, while Kaiser Permanente and Aetna lead the HMO-POS and PPO categories.
Verify your doctors accept the coverage, review how your medications are handled and compare monthly premiums to yearly spending caps.
Best Medicare Advantage Companies in Washington
| HMO | Cigna HealthCare | 4.00 | $0 | $4,733 | HealthSpring Preferred (HMO) |
| HMO-POS | Kaiser Permanente | 4.00 | $52 | $4,500 | Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage Value (HMO-POS) |
| PPO | Aetna | 4.50 | $24 | $6,900 | Aetna Medicare Enhanced (PPO) |
Medicare Advantage plans cover hospital stays, doctor visits and prescription drugs in one comprehensive package. These private insurance alternatives to Original Medicare must provide the same basic coverage while adding dental, vision and hearing benefits.
- CMS Star Ratings: Plans receive ratings from 1 to 5 stars based on quality and performance measures. Higher ratings mean better customer satisfaction and care quality, with 4-star and 5-star plans delivering superior service.
- Monthly premiums: You'll pay your Part B premium plus any plan-specific premium, though many Medicare Advantage plans charge $0 in additional monthly costs. Your total premium varies based on coverage level and location.
- Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limits: These annual spending caps protect you from excessive medical bills. Once you reach your MOOP limit, your plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the year.
- Drug coverage: Most plans include prescription drug coverage with a formulary listing covered medications. Check that your medications are covered and understand any restrictions or prior authorization requirements before enrolling.
Cigna
Best HMO
MoneyGeek Rating
4.9/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Quality
3.8/5Availability
CMS Star Rating
4.0Plan Types
HMO, PPO
Kaiser Permanente
Best HMO-POS
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Quality
5/5Availability
CMS Star Rating
4Plan Types
HMO, HMO-POS
Aetna Medicare
Best PPO
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
5/5Quality
4.5/5Availability
CMS Star Rating
4.5Plan Types
PPO, HMO
Best HMO Medicare Advantage Plans in Washington
Washington's 33 HMO Medicare Advantage plans come from six providers, with 24 plans earning 4 stars or higher. CMS ratings run from 3.0 to 4.5 stars. Twenty plans charge $0 monthly premiums, keeping the median at $0. Out-of-pocket maximums range from $3,150 to $8,800, averaging $5,725 per year.
- Kaiser Permanente offers the most options with 16 plans averaging $132 monthly, $4,860 maximum out-of-pocket costs and 4.0-star ratings.
- For zero-premium coverage with the lowest MOOP, Cigna HealthCare's single 4.0-star plan features $4,733 average out-of-pocket costs.
- Three $0 premium plans from Providence Medicare Advantage Plans carry 4.0-star ratings but higher $6,750 average maximum costs.
| Cigna HealthCare | 4.00 | $0 | $4,733 | 1 | 4.88 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 4.00 | $132 | $4,860 | 16 | 4.50 |
| Providence Medicare Advantage Plans | 4.00 | $0 | $6,750 | 3 | 4.25 |
| Aetna | 3.00 | $0 | $6,750 | 2 | 3.98 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 4.00 | $34 | $6,700 | 1 | 3.93 |
| Humana | 3.20 | $33 | $5,207 | 10 | 3.89 |
WHY CHOOSE AN HMO PLAN?
HMO plans use smaller provider networks and require you to select a primary care doctor who coordinates your healthcare and provides referrals for specialist visits. They're best for people who want lower monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs compared to other Medicare Advantage options. This approach works well if you're comfortable having one doctor manage your care and don't mind the referral process.
Best HMO-POS Medicare Advantage Plans in Washington
Washington's HMO-POS Medicare Advantage plans earn high quality ratings, with three receiving 4 stars and none rated at 3 stars. Two providers offer 11 coverage options, and six don't charge monthly premiums. Maximum out-of-pocket costs hit $5,418, spanning from $3,500 to $6,700.
- Both providers score a perfect 5.0 with MoneyGeek, though Kaiser Permanente charges $52 monthly while UnitedHealthcare averages $30 per month. Kaiser Permanente's three plans rate 4.0 stars with a $4,500 maximum out-of-pocket cost.
- UnitedHealthcare's eight coverage options earn 3.5 stars with a higher $5,865 MOOP despite lower monthly premiums.
| Kaiser Permanente | 4.00 | $52 | $4,500 | 3 | 5.00 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 3.50 | $30 | $5,865 | 8 | 5.00 |
WHY CHOOSE AN HMO-POS PLAN?
If you want lower monthly costs than PPO plans but more flexibility than standard HMOs, HMO-POS plans might be a good choice. You'll get an HMO structure with the ability to see out-of-network providers when you need specialized care that's not available in your network, though you'll pay higher costs for those visits.
Best PPO Medicare Advantage Plans in Washington
Washington residents can choose from 22 PPO Medicare Advantage plans, paying anywhere from nothing to $354 each month. Half the plans cost around $32. PPO plans let you see any doctor without referrals, though this convenience increases costs compared to HMO coverage.
Maximum out-of-pocket costs span $3,000 to $9,250, landing around $6,851. Quality varies across the market. Eight plans achieved 4.5 stars, matching the total number scoring 4 stars or above. Another seven plans earned 3.5 stars, while six received 3 stars.
- Two plans through Aetna cost $24 monthly on average and limit out-of-pocket spending to $6,900. Both earned 4.5 CMS stars and helped Aetna reach a 4.7 MoneyGeek score.
- Premiums average $53 across UnitedHealthcare's eight plans, with out-of-pocket maximums around $6,601. Plans average 4.21 CMS stars, and the insurer scored 4.6 from MoneyGeek.
- Expect to pay $64 monthly for Humana's five plans, which cap expenses at $6,719. The insurer earned a 4.44 MoneyGeek score despite lower 3.97 CMS stars.
| Aetna | 4.50 | $24 | $6,900 | 2 | 4.69 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 4.21 | $53 | $6,601 | 8 | 4.59 |
| Humana | 3.97 | $64 | $6,719 | 5 | 4.44 |
| Cigna HealthCare | 3.00 | $0 | $6,800 | 1 | 4.26 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 3.00 | $150 | $6,238 | 3 | 3.87 |
| Wellcare | 2.67 | $10 | $8,875 | 3 | 3.71 |
WHY CHOOSE A PPO PLAN?
PPO plans come with higher monthly premiums, but you have complete freedom to choose health care providers. Washington residents can see any doctor or specialist without referrals and access out-of-network providers when needed, though staying in-network saves money.
How to Choose the Best Washington Medicare Advantage Plan
Washington offers dozens of Medicare Advantage plans with different costs, networks and benefits. Choosing the right one depends on how you use healthcare.
- 1Confirm Your Doctors and Hospitals Are In-Network
Your current providers might not accept every plan available in Washington. Get specific plan names from insurers you're considering and call each doctor's office to verify participation
- 2Compare Total Costs, Not Just Premiums
Calculate what you spend yearly instead. Multiply your typical specialist visits by each plan's copay amount. Add annual prescription costs based on formulary pricing. Include expected procedures or tests. A $40 monthly premium with $15 copays beats a $0 premium charging $55 per visit when you see doctors frequently.
- 3Check Prescription Drug Coverage
Every medication sits in a cost tier on each plan's formulary. Tier 1 drugs cost least at pickup. Tier 4 medications run highest. Find your current prescriptions on potential plans' drug lists before enrolling. Some medications need authorization approval, which delays your first refill while the plan reviews medical necessity.
- 4Compare Different Plan Types
HMO coverage keeps costs down through coordinated care requiring primary doctor referrals before specialists. HMO-POS adds out-of-network flexibility for higher fees when needed while PPO plans cost more monthly but eliminate referral requirements. Explore these health insurance plan structures to understand which access level matches your medical routine.
- 5Review Star Ratings and Quality Metrics
Washington plans earn 1 to 5 stars from Medicare based on performance data. Higher ratings indicate faster claim processing and better customer service response times. Plans rated 4 or 5 stars score higher on member surveys and health outcome measures.
- 6Compare Extra Benefits
Benefit packages extend beyond basic Medicare coverage. Some emphasize dental work, including fillings and crowns. Others focus on vision benefits covering exams, frames and lenses completely. Fitness memberships, hearing aid coverage and monthly allowances for over-the-counter purchases appear selectively.
- 7Check Out-of-Pocket Maximums
Maximum spending limits protect you when major health events strike. After reaching your out-of-pocket maximum, Washington Medicare Advantage plans cover all additional costs through year-end. Lower limits mean better protection but raise monthly premiums, whereas higher limits reduce premiums but expose you to larger bills during hospitalizations or surgeries.
How Much Does Medicare Advantage Cost in Washington?
In Washington state, Medicare Advantage costs depend heavily on your plan choice. HMO plans offer the most affordable premiums with a $0 median and $37 average monthly cost, though they carry $5,725 average out-of-pocket maximums. HMO-POS plans cost slightly less at $27 monthly average with better $5,418 MOOP limits. PPO plans top the expense chart at $32 median and $56 average monthly premiums, plus $6,851 average out-of-pocket maximums that nearly double HMO amounts—but you'll get unrestricted specialist access and out-of-network provider flexibility.
| HMO | $0 | $37 | $5,725 |
| HMO-POS | $0 | $27 | $5,418 |
| PPO | $32 | $56 | $6,851 |
Best Washington Medicare Advantage: FAQ
Find answers to questions about how to enroll, what's covered and enrollment timing for Medicare Advantage across the state.
How do you get a Medicare Advantage plan in Washington?
You need to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B first. Compare plans on Medicare.gov during Annual Enrollment (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7) or during other qualifying periods.
What does Medicare Advantage cover?
Medicare Advantage plans cover everything Original Medicare does, including hospital stays and doctor visits, plus most include prescription drugs and extras like dental and vision.
What's the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement?
Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with bundled coverage from private insurers, while Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare to cover deductibles and copays.
When is open enrollment for Medicare Advantage in Washington?
In Washington, Medicare Advantage open enrollment runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 annually. Current enrollees also have a secondary enrollment window from Jan. 1 to March 31.
Our Methodology: How We Ranked Washington's Best Medicare Advantage Plans
Our analysis of Medicare Advantage plans uses a scoring methodology and three key factors:
- Affordability (50%): Cost comprises half of our overall score because it affects your budget. We evaluated monthly premiums for Part C and Part D coverage combined (30% weight) and in-network maximum out-of-pocket limits (20% weight). Plans with lower premiums and MOOP amounts score higher since they reduce your total annual health care spending.
- Star Ratings (40%): CMS star ratings measure plan quality across categories like care effectiveness, customer service and member satisfaction. The Overall Star Rating combines both Part C (medical coverage) and Part D (prescription drug) ratings on a scale from 1 to 5 stars. Plans with higher ratings earn better scores in our analysis.
- Availability (10%): We score providers based on how many states they operate in, including Washington, D.C. Providers with broader geographic availability score higher because they're more likely to maintain coverage if you move and often have more resources for customer support and plan improvements.
This scoring system helps you compare plans objectively while accounting for what matters most: what you'll pay and the quality of care you'll receive.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.