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Washington · 2027 Plan YearWhat Changes for Medicare Advantage Plans in Washington State in 2027?
The national headline says Medicare Advantage premiums fall for 2027. CMS's own Washington numbers say the opposite for our state. Here is what the 2027 data shows, and why neither average is the number that decides your year.
Short answer: on September 28, 2026, CMS published its 2027 numbers. Nationally, the average monthly Medicare Advantage premium falls from $14.37 to $12.00. In Washington, CMS's state fact sheet shows the average rising from $17.39 to $22.75, with 120 plans instead of 126. Every person with Medicare in Washington can still choose a plan with a $0 monthly plan premium, though you keep paying your Part B premium either way. The useful question is not which way the average moved. It is what your own doctors and prescriptions will cost on the plans offered in your county.
- Washington's average goes up by $5.36 a month for 2027, while the national average goes down by $2.37.
- Six fewer plans statewide: 120 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, down from 126.
- Eight stand-alone drug plans in Washington, and CMS says 58% of their enrollees can choose a lower premium than they paid in 2026.
- The Plan Finder has 2027 plans by October 1. Star Ratings follow around October 8. Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7.
- Keeping your plan takes no action. Changing it starts with comparing your own drugs and doctors.
Washington's 2027 numbers, from CMS
CMS publishes a one-page fact sheet for every state each fall. Washington's, dated September 28, 2026, covers the 1,583,566 people enrolled in Medicare here. For the 2027 plan year:
- Average monthly Medicare Advantage premium: $22.75, up from $17.39 in 2026, an increase of about 31 percent.
- Medicare Advantage plans: 120, down from 126. Everyone with Medicare in Washington has access to at least one.
- Lowest Medicare Advantage premium: $0 a month, and CMS says every person with Medicare in the state has access to a plan at that premium. The Part B premium still applies.
- Stand-alone Part D drug plans: eight, with the lowest monthly premium at $5.30.
- Room to save on drug plan premiums: 58.39% of Washington's stand-alone drug plan enrollees can choose one with a lower premium than they paid in 2026, and 21.37% already get Extra Help.
The national picture, for context
CMS's national release, the same day, described 2027 as stable overall:
- Average Medicare Advantage premium: $12.00 a month, down 16.5% from $14.37.
- Plans: about 5,532 nationwide, compared with 5,553 in 2026.
- Stand-alone Part D: an average of about $36 a month, up from $35.09. The drug portion of Medicare Advantage plans averages $7, down from $11.32.
- Enrollment: about 34 million people in Medicare Advantage in 2027, roughly 47.4% of everyone with Medicare.
And two Part D figures that apply to every drug plan, in every state, for 2027: the deductible can be no higher than $700 (it is $615 this year), and your out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs is capped at $2,400 (it is $2,100 this year).
Why neither average is your number
An average premium is a summary of many plans at once. It can rise while a $0-premium option stays open to everyone, because the average reflects every plan's premium, not only the lowest one. A statewide figure also hides the county you live in: 120 plans across the state does not mean 120 plans in Pierce or Spokane County.
More importantly, the premium is only one line of what a year costs you. The others are usually bigger:
- The out-of-pocket maximum for medical care, which sets your worst-case year.
- Copays for the care you actually use: specialists, imaging, outpatient procedures.
- Where your prescriptions sit on the plan's drug list, and which pharmacy you use.
- Whether your doctors are in the network for 2027.
That is why the Annual Notice of Change your plan mailed by September 30 matters more than any headline. If you have not opened it, our ANOC checklist walks through the seven lines worth comparing.
What to do in October
- Now: the Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov has 2027 plans as of October 1. Enter your own prescriptions and pharmacy, not a guess, so the totals mean something.
- Around October 8: 2027 Star Ratings appear on Medicare.gov.
- October 15 to December 7: Open Enrollment. Changes you make start January 1, 2027.
- If you have a stand-alone drug plan: check it this year in particular. CMS's numbers say most people in Washington with one can find a lower premium.
- If your letter says your plan is ending: read what to do when a Medicare Advantage plan is terminated. Doing nothing there has real consequences.
Where a licensed agent helps
We are based in Washington and work with clients by phone and video. A plan review with us means looking at your 2027 options side by side, using your own prescriptions and doctors, and telling you plainly when the plan you already have is still the right one. It costs you nothing, and there is no obligation to change.
Related reading: the 2027 open enrollment dates and checklist, what to check in your Annual Notice of Change, or Medicare help in Washington.
Common questions
How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Washington for 2027?
CMS's Washington fact sheet, published September 28, 2026, lists 120 Medicare Advantage plans in Washington for 2027, compared with 126 in 2026. How many are offered where you live depends on your county, so the statewide number is a ceiling, not what you will see in the Plan Finder.
Are Medicare Advantage premiums going up in Washington in 2027?
On average, yes. CMS reports the average monthly Medicare Advantage premium in Washington going from $17.39 in 2026 to $22.75 in 2027, while the national average falls from $14.37 to $12.00. An average hides a wide spread: CMS also reports that every person with Medicare in Washington has access to a plan with a $0 monthly plan premium. You still pay your Part B premium with any Medicare Advantage plan.
How many stand-alone Part D plans are there in Washington for 2027?
Eight, according to CMS's Washington fact sheet. The lowest monthly premium is $5.30, and CMS says 58.39% of Washington's stand-alone drug plan enrollees have access to a plan with a lower premium than they paid in 2026. The premium is only part of the cost: in 2027 a Part D plan's deductible can be up to $700, and out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs is capped at $2,400.
When can I compare 2027 Medicare plans?
CMS says the Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov is updated with 2027 plans by October 1, 2026, and 2027 Star Ratings appear on or around October 8. Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and whatever you choose starts January 1, 2027. If you want to keep your current coverage, you do not need to re-enroll.
Why is the national Medicare Advantage premium falling if Washington's is rising?
Because each is an average over different plans and places. CMS's national figure falls from $14.37 to $12.00, but state averages move in both directions: Washington's rises, while many other states fall. Your own cost depends on the plans offered in your county and how you use care, so compare the total yearly cost for your doctors and prescriptions rather than any average.
What will 2027 actually
cost you in Washington?
Our licensed agents will compare the plans offered in your county against your own prescriptions and doctors, by phone or video, at no cost.
Free consultation · No obligation · By phone or video · Licensed in multiple states