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Premera vs Regence BlueShield 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
| Premera | Regence BlueShield | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal name on the state chart | Premera Blue Cross | Regence BlueShield |
| Parent or brand | an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association | a Cambia Health Solutions company; independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association |
| Plans sold in Washington | A, G, HD-G, N, C | A, G, K, N, C, F |
| Counties | 38 of 39 | 22 of 39 |
| High-deductible plans | HD-G | None |
| Medicare SELECT | No | No |
| Sells to people under 65 | No | No |
| Health questions outside protected periods | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-existing condition waiting period | Up to 3 months | None |
| Membership required | No | No |
| Current WA rates effective | April 1, 2026 | April 1, 2026 |
Where they differ
Only Premera sells high-deductible Plan G. Only Regence BlueShield sells Plan K and Plan F. Premera sells in 38 counties and Regence BlueShield in 22; they overlap in 22. Regence BlueShield 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 Regence BlueShield
- Only Premera
- Both
Plans you can compare head to head
| Benefit | A | G | N | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | – | – |
| 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: Premera Blue Cross · Regence BlueShield · All comparisons
Common questions
Is Premera or Regence BlueShield 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 C.
Do Premera and Regence BlueShield both sell Plan G in Washington?
Premera: yes. Regence BlueShield: yes.
Can I switch from Premera to Regence BlueShield?
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.