Mill Creek packs 21,630 people into about 4.6 square miles, and Census estimates put roughly 3,100 of them at 65 or older, about 15% of the city. That is right at the county average. What sets a Mill Creek decision apart is usually not the city itself but the person: how long you've had Medicare, whether you ever had a Medigap policy, and whether this was your first Medicare Advantage plan. Those three facts change which doors are open to you once your plan ends on December 31, 2026.
Mill Creek and the county
| Measure | Mill Creek | Snohomish County |
|---|---|---|
| Population (OFM, April 1, 2026) | 21,630 | 879,700 |
| Age 65 and older (ACS 2020-2024) | about 3,100 (plus or minus 515) | 124,763 |
| Share 65+ | 15.0% | 14.8% |
| Medicare beneficiaries (CMS, July 2026) | County level only | 152,940 |
| In Original Medicare | County level only | 61,852 (40.4%) |
Sources: WA OFM; U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024 (B09020), which has a fairly wide margin for a city this size; CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment, July 2026.
Three questions that sort out your options
1. When did you first become eligible for Medicare?
This decides which Medigap policies you can buy with Washington's guaranteed issue right after your plan ends. If you were eligible before January 1, 2020, the list is Plans A through F (including high-deductible F), K and L. If you became eligible on or after that date, it's A, B, D, G (including high-deductible G), K and L. Either way, insurers must accept you for those plans with no health questions, provided you switch to Original Medicare. OIC's instruction is to send the application on November 1 or later, and the right expires March 4, 2027.
2. Is this your first Medicare Advantage plan, and have you had it less than a year?
If you joined Medicare Advantage when you first got Part A at 65 and you're still within your first year, or you dropped a Medigap policy to try Medicare Advantage for the first time less than a year ago, you may also have a "trial right." For the second case, that can include getting your old Medigap policy back. This is a narrow situation, so confirm it with SHIBA before relying on it.
3. Do you want to stay with a plan network, or go without one?
With another Medicare Advantage plan, you may need to use its network for non-emergency care, may need referrals, usually get drug coverage built in, and have a yearly cap on covered costs. With Original Medicare, you can see any provider in the country who accepts Medicare, rarely need referrals, buy drug coverage separately, and have no yearly cap unless you add Medigap. Medicare publishes this comparison in its handbook; neither side is better for everyone. Mill Creek has no hospital of its own in state or federal records, so if you go the plan route, check the hospital you would actually use, by name, in the 2027 network.
The clock everyone shares
| When | What it means |
|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026 | OIC's earliest suggested date to apply for Medigap |
| Dec 7, 2026 | Regular Open Enrollment closes |
| Dec 8, 2026 | Your plan-ending special enrollment period opens |
| Dec 31, 2026 | Last day of your plan; last day to choose for a Jan 1 start |
| Jan 1, 2027 | New coverage starts, or Original Medicare without a drug plan if you chose nothing (Extra Help recipients get a drug plan assigned) |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Special enrollment period closes |
| Mar 4, 2027 | Medigap guaranteed issue right ends |
Sources: CMS CY 2027 enrollment guidance; OIC; RCW 48.66.055.
That January 1 row deserves a second look. Defaulting to Original Medicare keeps Parts A and B, but you would have no drug plan, and a stretch of 63 days or more without drug coverage can bring a Part D late penalty that lasts as long as you have Medicare drug coverage. The statewide guide goes into that and the dual-eligible rules.
Where Mill Creek residents can get help
Mill Creek Senior Center, run by Northshore Senior Center, is on the ground level of Vintage at Mill Creek, 4111 133rd St. SE, according to the county's 2026 senior center list (member services 425-948-7170). County-funded senior centers are open to residents 55 and up.
SHIBA. Free Medicare counseling through SHIBA is available on the statewide line, 800-562-6900, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Don't count on the local office this fall: on October 26, 2026, OIC listed the county's sponsor as "Currently not accepting appointments. For assistance, call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227."
1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays, and can help you choose a plan. Medicare Plan Finder shows 2027 options for your Mill Creek ZIP code.
Homage, the county's Community Living Connections contact (425-513-1900), can refer you to benefits help such as Medicare Savings Programs.
This is general information: federal Medicare law and Washington statute set the rules, the notice from your plan sets your dates, and 1-800-MEDICARE, SHIBA or a licensed agent can confirm how they fit your case.
Mill Creek FAQ
Which Medigap plans can a Mill Creek resident buy without health questions after a plan ends?
What is a Medigap trial right?
Where is the senior center in Mill Creek?
Does Mill Creek have a hospital?
Sources
- WA OFM: April 1, 2026 population of cities, towns and counties
- U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2020-2024 5-year, table B09020 (population 65+)
- CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment, July 2026 (Washington counties)
- RCW 48.66.055: Medigap guaranteed issue (Washington)
- Washington OIC: Is your Medicare Advantage plan changing or leaving?
- CMS: Choosing a Medigap Policy (2026)
- Medicare & You 2027
- CMS: CY 2027 MA and Part D Enrollment and Disenrollment Guidance
- Medicare.gov: Part D costs and late enrollment penalty
- WA DOH hospital data (HOFIDAR, data.wa.gov)
- CMS Hospital General Information
- Snohomish County: Senior Centers listing (2026, PDF)
- Washington OIC: Get free Medicare help from SHIBA
- Washington OIC: Find a local SHIBA office (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Medicare Plan Finder
