Understanding Medicare Special Needs Plans in King County, Washington

Choosing the right Medicare Special Needs Plan (SNP) in King County depends on enrolling at the right time. Understanding the different enrollment periods will help ensure that you get the coverage that best meets your needs.

When You Can Sign Up

• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): Lasting seven months around your 65th birthday, this period lets you enroll in Medicare for the first time. You may also choose a Medicare Advantage plan during this time. Learn more
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP): Each year from January 1 through March 31, you may change to another Medicare Advantage plan or drop your plan and return to Original Medicare. Learn more
• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): This yearly window, running October 15 to December 7, gives you the opportunity to join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Learn more
• Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): Certain qualifying events, such as a change in residence or loss of existing coverage, may allow you to enroll in or change Medicare Advantage plans outside of the usual enrollment windows. Learn more

SNP Enrollment Options Explained

1. Talk with a Licensed Agent: Licensed agents at HealthCompare can explain your Medicare Advantage choices. Reach them at 1-833-748-3201 (TTY 711), Monday–Friday 5am–6pm and Saturday 6am–5pm PST.
2. Contact the Plan Provider Directly: You may enroll through a plan provider’s website or speak with their customer support staff to complete your application.
3. Use Medicare.gov: Visit Medicare.gov to shop for plans, review benefits, and submit your enrollment electronically.

• CMS.gov, Landscape Source Files — Last accessed September 26, 2025
• CMS.gov, Medicare Part C & D Performance — Last accessed October 10, 2025
• CMS.gov, Plan Benefits Package — Last accessed October 13, 2025
• CMS.gov, Medicare Advantage/Part D Contract and Enrollment Data — Last accessed May 2, 2026

Some facts and percentages shown on this page (such as average premiums, distribution of plan types, and percentage of $0 premium plans) are calculated by Medicare.org using data from the CMS Plan Benefits Package (PBP) files and Part C & D Performance files. All underlying values originate from CMS, and calculations are refreshed whenever CMS issues updated data.

To explore how 2026 Medicare SNP plans available in King County compare with plans offered elsewhere, you can search the Special Needs Plan directory to review options nationwide using the same authoritative data sources.

Medicare.org separates Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) plans and Special Needs Plans (SNPs) into different pages for clarity. As a result, plan counts, percentages, and other calculations shown here may differ from the aggregate totals published in the CMS Landscape files. All plan availability and benefit details originate from CMS.

Learn more about how we use CMS data.

• Medicare.gov, "Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans" — Last accessed 24 May, 2025
• Medicare.gov, "Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
• NCOA.org, "5 Steps to Choosing the Right Medicare Plan for You" — Last accessed 22 May, 2025

Medicare.org is owned and operated by Health Network Group, LLC, an Allstate company. Medicare.org provides information only and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.

Data provenance documentation is maintained in alignment with the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Provenance standard.

Page content independently curated and maintained by David W. Bynon, Medicare Technical Operator, using a standardized, data-driven methodology designed for accurate, non-commercial Medicare plan interpretation and resolution.