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Regence BlueShield vs Aetna (First Health Life & Health) 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
| Regence BlueShield | Aetna (First Health Life & Health) | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal name on the state chart | Regence BlueShield | First Health Life & Health |
| Parent or brand | a Cambia Health Solutions company; independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association | an Aetna company (CVS Health); its policies are sold as Aetna Medicare Supplement |
| Plans sold in Washington | A, G, K, N, C, F | A, B, G, N, F |
| Counties | 22 of 39 | All 39 |
| High-deductible plans | None | None |
| Medicare SELECT | No | No |
| Sells to people under 65 | No | No |
| Health questions outside protected periods | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-existing condition waiting period | None | None |
| Membership required | No | No |
| Current WA rates effective | April 1, 2026 | October 1, 2026 |
Where they differ
Only Regence BlueShield sells Plan K and Plan C. Only Aetna (First Health Life & Health) sells Plan B. Regence BlueShield sells in 22 counties and Aetna (First Health Life & Health) in 39; they overlap in 22.
Where each one sells
- Who sells here
- Neither
- Only Aetna
- Only Regence BlueShield
- 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: Regence BlueShield · First Health Life & Health · All comparisons
Common questions
Is Regence BlueShield or Aetna (First Health Life & Health) 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 Regence BlueShield and Aetna (First Health Life & Health) both sell Plan G in Washington?
Regence BlueShield: yes. Aetna (First Health Life & Health): yes.
Can I switch from Regence BlueShield to Aetna (First Health Life & Health)?
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.