Tacoma is a reasonably large city that houses one of the largest ports in America. There are nearly 142,000 Medicare beneficiaries that reside in Tacoma, Washington.
Medicare plans in Tacoma, Washington
The figures in the charts below will be based on a male aged 65. This article will discuss the most affordable Medicare Advantage plans and the cheapest Medicare Supplement options.
After that, we’ll cover the average cost of the prescription drug plans and what special needs plans are available. Finally, we’ll look at frequently asked questions and how to get a supplemental plan to enhance your Tacoma, Washington Original Medicare.
Medicare Advantage plans
Medicare Advantage plans continue to grow in popularity. They combine your Medicare benefits into a convenient all-in-one plan option that gives additional coverage not offered by Traditional Medicare.
In Tacoma, over 56,000 Medicare members are enrolled in Medicare Part C options. That comes out to about 40% of beneficiaries on Medicare. There are 53 Medicare Advantage plans to choose from in Pierce county.
Several insurance carriers provide Medicare Advantage plans in Tacoma, Washington, and we’ve listed some of the most affordable options in the chart.
Regarding Medicare and your options, you’d be hard-pressed to find a conversation that didn’t include . They are the largest provider of Medicare plans nationwide., one of the most well-known senior advocacy groups, also endorsed them.
A star rating system rates Medicare plans. Kaiser Permanente has a very small network of providers but focuses on VIP-style care. This has earned them a 5-star rating on their HMO in Tacoma.
Regence BlueShield is the division of BCBS that operates in Tacoma. Blue Cross has been one of the most trusted names in the insurance industry for some time. While BCBS primarily focuses on group plans, they also offer some significant Medicare options.
The average cost of Medicare Advantage plans in Tacoma, Washington
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | Plan Type | Star Rating |
| Aetna | $0 | $6,500 | HMO-POS | 3 |
| Regence BlueShield | $0 | $5,900 | HMO | 4 |
| Amerigroup | $0 | $5,900 | HMO | 3 |
| $0 | $5,500 | LOCAL PPO | N/A | |
| Kaiser Permanente | $0 | $6,600 | HMO | 5 |
Medicare Supplement plans
While many Medicare beneficiaries choose the path of Medicare Advantage plans, there is another way to get comprehensive coverage with Medicare.
Medicare Supplement plans in Tacoma, Washington, provide gap coverage for Original Medicare. These plans work together with Traditional Medicare to help cover your responsible costs.
Since Medigap plans work with Medicare, you don’t need a referral to see a specialist. Letter names distinguish these plans. Next, we’ll talk about the top three plans.
Plan F
Plan F is the most comprehensive plan you can buy. Once Medicare pays its portion, Plan F pays your costs. Medicare Plan F is usually the most expensive plan because it offers the most coverage.
Plan G
Plan G is the most popular plan for new Medicare beneficiaries. Its coverage level is precisely the same as Plan F, with one exception. You’re responsible for the small, annual Part B deductible. Once that’s paid, the coverage is the same. Like the F, Plan G has a high deductible option called the HDG.
Plan N
Plan N is a top-rated plan for money-conscious seniors. This plan has excellent coverage similar to Plan G. The difference in coverage between plans G and N are as follows.
Once the Part B deductible is met, you’ll pay a copay of up to $20 for doctor visits and up to $50 for an emergency room visit. Other than that, being responsible for excess charges is the only difference between the two plans.
The average cost of Medicare Supplement plans in Tacoma, Washington
| LETTER PLAN | LOWEST PREMIUM | HIGHEST PREMIUM |
| PLAN A | $132.00 | $334.52 |
| PLAN B | $199.11 | $372.83 |
| PLAN C | $234.68 | $461.14 |
| PLAN D | $206.46 | $398.06 |
| PLAN F | $235.84 | $465.99 |
| PLAN HDF | $44.00 | $73.17 |
| PLAN G | $99.35 | $279.16 |
| PLAN HDG | $44.00 | $66.22 |
| PLAN K | $61.24 | $121.00 |
| PLAN L | $136.80 | $147.25 |
| PLAN M | N/A | N/A |
| PLAN N | $139.78 | $210.00 |
Medicare Part D prescription drug plans
Regarding prescription drugs you get from the pharmacy, you have two options with Medicare. If you choose the Medicare Advantage route in Tacoma, Washington, you can get drug coverage built into the Part C plan. If you decide to stay on Original Medicare or add a supplement, you’ll want to enroll in a stand-alone Part D Plan.
Medicare Prescription plans have to be as good or better than the Medicare-approved standard model. The approved model includes four phases of coverage.
Remember that the premium isn’t the biggest deal with prescription drug plans. Reviewing your drugs against the plans is considerably more important to ensure you have the best plan for your needs.
SilverScript by Aetna is one of the leading part D plan sponsors. They consequently have the lowest premium Tacoma, Washington, Part D plan. If you’re not currently taking prescriptions, this is definitely the plan to roll with.
Next up is Wellcare. They have the second-lowest premium. They are one of the premier Medicare providers in the United States.
Clear Spring is a newer carrier that has only been in business for a few years. Despite a low star rating, we see their plans come up at the top quite often when we review prescription options for our clients.
The average cost of Medicare Part D plans in Tacoma, Washington
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING |
| Aetna | $7.70 | $480 | 3 |
| Wellcare | $11.60 | $480 | 3 |
| Clear Spring | $16.20 | $480 | 2 |
| Elixir | $20.30 | $480 | 3 |
| Humana | $22.70 | $480 | 4 |
Special Needs plans
Medicare Part C in Tacoma, Washington also has options that are built explicitly for beneficiaries with specific situations. These plans are referred to as Special Needs Plans. To qualify to enroll in an SNP, you must have the special needs that the plan is set up to assist with.
SNP plans are divided into three categories; dual, chronic, and institutionalized.
Dual SNPs are designed to help beneficiaries that have both Medicare and Medicaid. They will usually offer a plethora of services and benefits that specifically help low-income individuals.
Chronic SNPs are put together to assist those with certain chronic health conditions. The most common are plans that help individuals with diabetes, COPD, or heart conditions.
Institutional SNPs are formulated to cater to individuals that live in an institutionalized setting.
Amerigroup is a small insurance company that only offers plans in a few states. They focus on the areas where they do business, and they have a CSNP – HMO with a zero-premium.
Humana is one of the leading Medicare companies in the US. They have a great Dual SNP plan to help low-income beneficiaries in Tacoma.
Molina is a small company that works similarly to Kaiser. They offer VIP-style care in a tight network. Companies that take this approach can benefit the beneficiaries but can significantly limit access to doctors.
The average cost of Medicare Special Needs plans in Tacoma, Washington
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | Plan Type | Eligibility |
| Amerigroup | $0 | $5,900 | HMO | Chronic or Disabling |
| Wellcare | $0 | $3,450 | LOCAL PPO | Dual |
| Humana | $0 | $6,700 | HMO | Dual |
| Molina Healthcare | $0 | $7,550 | HMO | Dual |
| Community Health | $0 | $7,550 | HMO | Dual |
How to sign up for Medicare plans in Tacoma, Washington
When you live in an area like Tacoma, there is no shortage of options when it comes to Medicare. We can assist you with determining the coverage that works best for your needs. Since everyone is different, the plan best for you may be different than a friend or family member’s choice.
Let our licensed experts help decipher the Medicare world and help you with this crucial choice. Give us a call, or fill out our online request form. We’re here to assist in every step of the process.
