"Non-renewal" is the word insurers and CMS use when a Medicare Advantage plan won't be offered again next year, either anywhere or just in your county. If your letter used that word, your plan's last day is almost certainly December 31, 2026. Here is what the numbers look like for Issaquah, and what to do with them.
Issaquah at a glance
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, April 2026 | 41,590 | OFM |
| Residents 65 and older | about 5,744 (±434), 14.5% | Census ACS 2020–2024 |
| King County residents on Medicare | 368,813 | CMS, July 2026 |
| … in Medicare Advantage and other health plans | 197,594 (53.6%) | CMS, July 2026 |
| … on Medicare because of a disability | 21,859 | CMS, July 2026 |
| Hospitals with an Issaquah address | 1 acute care hospital | WA DOH, CMS |
CMS reports Medicare enrollment by county only. Counts are people, not plans.
Issaquah's share of older residents is about the same as the county's. What the county numbers tell you is that more than half of people on Medicare around here are in plans that can change networks or exit an area from one year to the next. If you've been in one for years without a problem, this letter can feel like it came out of nowhere. It didn't; plans make these decisions every year, and Washington's insurance commissioner has no say over them. CMS does.
The hospital question
There is one acute care hospital with an Issaquah address on the state and CMS lists, on NE Blakely Drive. If it's where you go, look it up by name in the provider directory of any 2027 Medicare Advantage plan you consider, along with your doctors. If you choose Original Medicare instead, any hospital that accepts Medicare is in play, here or out of state.
If you're under 65 and on Medicare
CMS counted 21,859 King County residents on Medicare because of a disability. If that's you, read this part twice.
Medigap is harder to get before 65. Federal law generally doesn't make insurers sell Medigap to people under 65, and Washington isn't on Medicare's list of states that require it. OIC's own page says people under 65 on Medicare due to disability have more limited options.
There is a wrinkle in your favor. Washington's guaranteed issue law for a plan that's leaving (RCW 48.66.055) doesn't set an age limit for this situation. But insurers only have to offer policies they actually sell to new customers, and not every insurer sells to under-65 enrollees. So before you leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare, call SHIBA and confirm you can get a supplement. If you can't, Original Medicare alone leaves you with no cap on your share of costs, and another Medicare Advantage plan may make more sense for you right now. You'll get a fresh Medigap open enrollment period when you turn 65.
Dates and defaults
- Your plan pays through December 31, 2026.
- Choose by December 31 and your new coverage starts January 1. Open Enrollment ends December 7; your special non-renewal window covers December 8, 2026 through February 28, 2027.
- A choice made in January starts February 1. One made in February starts March 1.
- No choice at all: you're in Original Medicare January 1, with no Part D drug plan unless you get Extra Help (CMS reassigns those members). A gap of 63 days or more without drug coverage can add a penalty to your premium for as long as you have Medicare drug coverage.
- Going to Original Medicare? Washington lets you buy certain Medigap plans without health questions until March 4, 2027; OIC says to apply on November 1 or later. That right doesn't apply if you join another Medicare Advantage plan.
The longer explanation, including which Medigap plan letters qualify, is in our statewide guide to a discontinued Medicare plan.
Getting help in and around Issaquah
The City of Issaquah runs the Issaquah Senior Center at 75 NE Creek Way, open Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a lunch program. The city's main line is 425-837-3000.
For Medicare questions:
- SHIBA: 800-562-6900, Monday–Friday 8:30 to 4:30. It's free and doesn't sell anything. Heads up: OIC's King County office listings (Solid Ground, Chinese Information and Service Center) displayed a "not accepting appointments" notice on October 26, 2026.
- 1-800-MEDICARE: 1-800-633-4227, 24/7 except some federal holidays. TTY 1-877-486-2048.
- Medicare Savings Programs through HCA, if premiums are a strain; there's no asset test. Apply at washingtonconnection.org.
And if you feel the plan handled the change badly, you can file a complaint with Medicare online at medicare.gov.
Last word: this is a general explainer. The controlling rules are federal Medicare law and Washington statute, your plan's notices govern your dates, and SHIBA, 1-800-MEDICARE or a licensed agent can check the details against your situation.
Issaquah non-renewal questions
What does Medicare plan non-renewal mean for Issaquah residents?
I am under 65 with Medicare in Issaquah. Can I get Medigap after my plan ends?
Does the Issaquah Senior Center help with Medicare?
Sources
- WA OFM April 1, 2026 population
- U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024 B09020
- CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment, July 2026
- Medicare: Choosing a Medigap Policy (under 65)
- RCW 48.66.055
- WA OIC: Medicare Advantage plan changing or leaving
- WA OIC: local SHIBA offices
- City of Issaquah: Seniors
- WA HCA: Medicare Savings Program
- Medicare complaint form
