Home / Compare / Aetna vs HealthSpring
Aetna (First Health Life & Health) vs HealthSpring (Medco Containment Life) Medigap in Washington
By Vadim Marusin, licensed Medicare insurance agent in Washington (WAOIC #1365574). Insurer data checked against the state chart current as of October 8, 2026.
A fact-by-fact comparison of the two insurers' Washington Medicare Supplement line-ups, from the state-approved chart. No rankings, no premiums: just what each sells, where and on what terms.
Side by side
| Aetna (First Health Life & Health) | HealthSpring (Medco Containment Life) | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal name on the state chart | First Health Life & Health | Medco Containment Life |
| Parent or brand | an Aetna company (CVS Health); its policies are sold as Aetna Medicare Supplement | one of the HealthSpring Medicare Supplement companies, formerly part of Cigna and now owned by Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) |
| Plans sold in Washington | A, B, G, N, F | A, G, N, F, HD-F |
| Counties | All 39 | All 39 |
| High-deductible plans | None | HD-F |
| Medicare SELECT | No | No |
| Sells to people under 65 | No | No |
| Health questions outside protected periods | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-existing condition waiting period | None | Up to 3 months |
| Membership required | No | No |
| Current WA rates effective | October 1, 2026 | August 1, 2026 |
Where they differ
Only Aetna (First Health Life & Health) sells Plan B. Only HealthSpring (Medco Containment Life) sells high-deductible Plan F. Aetna (First Health Life & Health) shows no pre-existing condition waiting period on the state chart; the other may apply one of up to three months.
Where each one sells
- Who sells here
- Neither
- Only HealthSpring
- Only Aetna
- Both
Plans you can compare head to head
| Benefit | A | G | N | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A hospital coinsurance, plus 365 extra hospital days after Medicare benefits end | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copay | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part B coinsurance or copay (the 20%) | 100% | 100% | 100%* | 100% |
| Medicare preventive care Part B coinsurance | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| First 3 pints of blood | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | – | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part A deductible | – | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Part B deductible | – | – | – | 100% |
| Part B excess charges | – | 100% | – | 100% |
| Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits) | – | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Yearly out-of-pocket limit | – | – | – | – |
How to decide
- Pick your plan letter first; see choosing a plan.
- Check both sell it in your county.
- Get current premiums from both, plus household and bank-draft discounts.
- Ask each about recent rate increases; see rate increases in Washington.
- Remember you can switch later: Washington's switching rule covers Plans B through N.
Insurer pages: First Health Life & Health · Medco Containment Life · All comparisons
Common questions
Is Aetna (First Health Life & Health) or HealthSpring (Medco Containment Life) better for Medigap in Washington?
For any plan letter both sell, the benefits are the same. Compare current premiums, recent rate increases and discounts in your county. Both sell Plan A, Plan G, Plan N, and Plan F.
Do Aetna (First Health Life & Health) and HealthSpring (Medco Containment Life) both sell Plan G in Washington?
Aetna (First Health Life & Health): yes. HealthSpring (Medco Containment Life): yes.
Can I switch from Aetna (First Health Life & Health) to HealthSpring (Medco Containment Life)?
If you have Medigap Plan B through N, Washington lets you switch to another insurer's Plan B through N at any time with no health questions.