Carriers We Represent

Carriers We Represent

Health Insurance Options LLC is an independent insurance agency serving Spokane and surrounding Eastern Washington communities. We work with multiple insurance organizations across Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Part D, dental, vision, and other supplemental coverage.

Representing a carrier means we are authorized to discuss and enroll eligible clients in certain products from that organization. It does not mean every carrier, every product, or every plan is available to every person. Availability can depend on your county, ZIP code, Medicare eligibility, enrollment period, and the specific product line.

Organizations and coverage types we currently represent

The list below reflects our current carrier relationships and the product categories we generally work with. Carrier appointments and product availability can change, so confirm the current options for your address before making a coverage decision.

• Aetna: Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Medicare Part D
• Ameritas: dental coverage
• Asuris: Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement
• Delta Dental: dental coverage
• Humana: Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D
• Kaiser Permanente: Medicare Advantage
• PacificSource: Medicare Advantage
• Premera: Medicare Supplement
• Providence Health Plans: Medicare Advantage
• Regence: Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement
• SilverScript: Medicare Part D
• UnitedHealthcare: Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Medicare Part D
• United of Omaha: Medicare Supplement
• Wellcare: Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D
• VSP: vision coverage

A carrier name on this page does not guarantee that a particular plan is offered in Spokane County, available at your ZIP code, open for enrollment, or appropriate for your circumstances. It also does not mean we represent every product sold by that carrier.

Why the carrier name alone is not enough

Two plans from the same insurance company can have different provider networks, drug formularies, pharmacy arrangements, premiums, deductibles, copayments, prior-authorization rules, and extra benefits. A familiar company name can be reassuring, but the exact plan contract is what determines how your coverage works.

When comparing Medicare plans, review the details that affect your real care and costs:

1. Doctors and hospitals: Confirm that your physicians, specialists, clinics, and preferred hospital are in network for the exact plan. Network rules can differ between HMO and PPO plans and can change from year to year.
2. Prescriptions: Check every medication, dosage, and frequency against the plan's current formulary. Also review tiers, prior authorization, step therapy, quantity limits, and whether your preferred pharmacy is in network or preferred.
3. Total annual cost: Consider the premium together with deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, drug costs, and the plan's medical out-of-pocket maximum—not just the monthly premium.
4. Travel and service area: Think about where you live for the year, whether you spend time outside Spokane, and how the plan handles routine care away from its service area.
5. Extra benefits: Dental, vision, hearing, transportation, fitness, and over-the-counter allowances can be useful, but they should be reviewed after core medical access and prescription coverage.
6. Plan rules: Check referral requirements, prior authorization, and any limits on how or where you receive care.

Medicare's official Plan Compare tool can show plans available for a ZIP code and lets you enter prescriptions and pharmacies for a more individualized estimate. Provider directories and formularies should also be confirmed directly with the carrier before enrollment.

Medicare Advantage carriers

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. These plans provide Part A and Part B benefits and often include Part D drug coverage. Plan availability is local, and an organization may offer several contracts or benefit designs in the same county.

For Medicare Advantage, the carrier comparison should include:

• the exact HMO, PPO, or other plan type;
• provider and hospital network participation;
• prescription coverage and pharmacy pricing;
• premiums and cost sharing for services you expect to use;
• the annual medical out-of-pocket maximum;
• prior-authorization and referral rules; and
• how urgent, emergency, and out-of-area care are handled.

Do not assume that a doctor accepts every plan from an insurance company simply because the office accepts one plan from that carrier. Verify the full plan name and contract before enrolling.

Medicare Supplement carriers

Medicare Supplement insurance, also called Medigap, works with Original Medicare and helps pay certain out-of-pocket costs. Plans with the same letter generally provide the same standardized medical benefits regardless of carrier, but premiums, rate history, household discounts, underwriting practices, customer service, and other administrative features can differ.

A lower starting premium is only one part of the comparison. Ask how rates are determined, whether discounts have eligibility requirements, and what could happen if you later want to change carriers. In Washington, switching opportunities and underwriting rules depend on the coverage you have and the change you want to make, so review your rights before canceling an existing policy.

Medicare Supplement policies do not include outpatient prescription drug coverage. If you want Part D, it is generally purchased separately.

Medicare Part D carriers

Part D coverage is offered through private plans approved by Medicare. Each plan has its own formulary and pharmacy network, so the best fit can vary sharply from one person to another even when premiums look similar.

A useful Part D comparison starts with a current medication list and preferred pharmacies. Review:

• whether each medication is covered;
• the drug tier and estimated annual cost;
• deductible treatment;
• preferred versus standard pharmacy pricing;
• mail-order options;
• prior authorization, step therapy, or quantity limits; and
• expected costs across the plan year.

Drug formularies and prices can change. Recheck coverage during each Annual Enrollment Period, especially after a medication or pharmacy change.

Dental, vision, and supplemental carriers

Standalone dental, vision, and other supplemental policies are separate from Medicare. Coverage may include waiting periods, annual maximums, provider networks, exclusions, frequency limits, or benefit schedules. Review these details instead of comparing only the monthly price or advertised allowance.

Some Medicare Advantage plans include limited dental, vision, or hearing benefits. Those benefits are part of that Medicare Advantage plan and may work differently from a standalone policy.

Independent help and the required scope disclosure

We can explain and compare the plans we are authorized to represent. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 8 organizations offering 75 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or contact Washington's Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors program (SHIBA) for information about all of your options.

Health Insurance Options LLC is a licensed independent insurance agency. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare.gov, the Social Security Administration, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Prepare for a carrier and plan review

Before an appointment, gather:

• your Medicare card and current insurance cards;
• a complete prescription list with dosage and frequency;
• your preferred pharmacies;
• the names of your doctors, specialists, clinics, and hospitals;
• recent notices from your current plan; and
• the ZIP code where you permanently reside.

Then compare the exact plans available to you—not just the companies behind them. You can also review our Medicare Advantage guide, Medicare Supplement guide, Medicare Part D guide, and Medicare options comparison.

For help reviewing the carriers and plans we represent in the Spokane area, call 509-353-0476 or use our contact page.