She Came In to Talk About Life Insurance. She Left Saving $600 a Year.
She wasn't there to talk about her Medicare coverage.
She was 66, in good health, and curious whether she could still qualify for a life insurance policy. We went through her situation. Figured out what made sense. And before she left, I asked her one question I ask almost every client who is already enrolled in Medicare.
"What are you paying for your Supplement plan?"
She pulled out her card. Mutual of Omaha, Plan N. $221 a month.
I told her she could have the exact same Plan N coverage — same benefits, same doctors, same everything — for $50 less per month. And in Washington, she could make that switch without answering a single medical question.
She looked at me like I'd said something that couldn't possibly be true.
It is. And she's not the only one paying more than she needs to.
Same Plan. Different Price. Here's Why.
Medicare Supplement plans are standardized by the federal government. Plan N is Plan N. The benefits are identical no matter which insurance company issues the policy. There are no tricks buried in the fine print. The coverage works the same way.
The premiums don't.
Every carrier sets its own pricing. They have different overhead costs, different administrative structures, and different histories of how aggressively they've raised rates over time. Some carriers come in low and increase sharply year over year. Others price higher but stay more stable. Some offer household discounts. Some don't.
What that looks like in Washington right now:
Plan N premiums range from $170 to $250 a month. Plan G runs $230 to $350. Same coverage at every carrier in each tier. Just a different number on your bill.
That's up to $80 a month in potential savings on Plan N alone. $960 a year. For the exact same coverage you already have.
Most people enrolled in a Supplement plan haven't compared prices since the day they signed up. That was fine when rates were stable. In 2025, some carriers raised premiums by as much as 50%. If you haven't looked since then, there's a real chance the gap between what you're paying and what you could be paying has grown significantly.
The Washington Advantage Most People Don't Know About
In most states, switching Medicare Supplement plans after your initial enrollment window closes is a gamble. Carriers can ask health questions. They can charge you more based on your medical history. They can deny you outright.
Washington is different.
State law gives Supplement enrollees in Washington guaranteed-issue switching rights. If you're currently enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan — any plan from B through N — you can switch to a different plan in the same letter category at any time of year, with no medical underwriting. No health questions. No risk of denial.
The woman I mentioned at the start of this post had no idea this was possible. She assumed that because she'd already enrolled, she was locked in. She's not. And neither are you.
What This Means If You're Already Enrolled
When did you last compare what you're paying against what else is available?
If the answer is "when I first signed up" — or if your premium has gone up in the last year or two — a 10-minute conversation might be worth your time.
Looking costs nothing. Deciding is up to you.
In Washington, the switching process is straightforward when you have someone who knows the carriers and the current pricing. What I can't tell you in a blog post is which carrier makes sense for your specific situation — that depends on your current plan, your premium, your location in Washington, and a few other factors that vary person to person.
What I can tell you is that the woman who came in to talk about life insurance is now paying $50 less every month for coverage she didn't change at all.
That's $600 this year. And every year after that.
Michael Gurr is a licensed Medicare and retirement advisor serving Pierce County and Washington State.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really switch Medicare Supplement plans in Washington without answering health questions?
Why do Medicare Supplement premiums vary so much between carriers?
How much could I save by switching Medicare Supplement plans in Washington?
Does switching Medicare Supplement plans affect my doctors or coverage?
When is the best time to review my Medicare Supplement premium?
Have questions about your specific situation?
Join Michael's free Facebook group — "Turning 65 in Washington State" — where Washington residents get clear Medicare answers without the sales pitch.
Join the group →Want to find out if you're overpaying?
As a licensed Medicare advisor in Washington State, I'll compare your current premium against what else is available — and tell you if switching makes sense.
There's no charge to talk and no obligation to decide. If it's not the right fit, I'll tell you that too.
This article is for educational purposes. For official Medicare information, visit medicare.gov.