Medicare in Hawaii — clear answers for kupuna across every island
Independent guidance on Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D for residents of Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai. Free help from licensed agents and Hawaii's Sage PLUS counselors.
Start with the basics
Whether you're turning 65, moving to Hawaii, or reviewing your coverage during Open Enrollment, these are the topics most Hawaii residents ask about first.
What is Medicare?
The four parts of Medicare explained — Parts A, B, C, and D — and how they fit together for Hawaii residents.
Medicare basicsMedicare Advantage in Hawaii
Part C plans available across Hawaii's islands. How HMO and PPO networks work given inter-island travel needs.
Hawaii Advantage plansMedigap (Supplement) plans
How Medigap works alongside Original Medicare in Hawaii — including provider freedom across all islands.
Hawaii MedigapPart D drug coverage
Hawaii Part D plans, the new $2,100 out-of-pocket cap for 2026, and how the Inflation Reduction Act affects prescription costs.
Hawaii Part DEnrollment periods
Initial Enrollment, Annual Enrollment, Special Enrollment Periods — including disaster SEPs unique to Hawaii.
When to enroll2026 Medicare costs
Premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums for 2026, with Hawaii context on cost-of-living impacts.
2026 cost guide2026 Medicare costs at a glance
These are the 2026 numbers published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). They apply to Hawaii beneficiaries the same way they apply nationwide.
| Cost | 2026 amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Part B standard premium | $202.90/month | Higher for higher-income beneficiaries (IRMAA) |
| Part B annual deductible | $283 | Once per calendar year |
| Part A hospital deductible | $1,736 | Per benefit period (not annual) |
| SNF days 21–100 | $217/day | Skilled nursing facility coinsurance |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | New for 2026 — first time Part D has a hard cap |
| Part D max deductible | $615 | Plans may charge less; some charge $0 |
Source: CMS 2026 Medicare Premiums and Deductibles announcement.
Medicare by Hawaiian island
Plan availability, provider access, and inter-island travel considerations vary across Hawaii's islands. Find Medicare guidance for your home island.
Specialty topics & situations
Targeted guides for specific health needs and life situations Medicare beneficiaries face in Hawaii.
Diabetes & Medicare
The $35 insulin cap, CGMs, and culturally grounded care for Hawaii's high-risk communities.
Diabetes coverageCancer care
Treatment centers across the islands, inter-island travel for specialty care, clinical trials.
Cancer & MedicareDialysis & ESRD
Medicare regardless of age for kidney failure. Dialysis access by island.
ESRD MedicareMental & behavioral health
Telehealth, expanded providers, suicide prevention, culturally grounded resources.
Mental healthWorking past 65
The 20-employee rule, HSA-Medicare interaction, and Special Enrollment Periods.
Working past 65Medicare under 65
SSDI, ESRD, and ALS pathways. The 24-month waiting period and Hawaii Medigap availability.
Under-65 MedicareDental, vision, hearing
What Original Medicare excludes, MA plan benefits, OTC hearing aids, Med-QUEST adult dental.
DVH coveragePharmacy networks
Longs, Walmart, Costco, KTA, Foodland, military pharmacies, mail-order strategy.
Pharmacy guideHawaii hospitals directory
Every major hospital across all islands and the four Hawaii health systems.
HospitalsThe coconut wireless
In Hawaii, the best Medicare advice still travels by word of mouth.
For generations, news in the islands has spread through what locals call the coconut wireless — friend to friend, neighbor to neighbor, ohana to ohana. When it comes to Medicare, that's still how most kupuna find a trusted agent or learn which plan worked for someone they know. We built this site to support that tradition with clear, accurate information you can share — and to point you toward the two free resources every Hawaii beneficiary should know about.
Medicare by Hawaii county
Medicare in Hawaii's largest cities
Frequently asked questions
Yes — Medicare is a federal program, so eligibility, enrollment periods, and the four parts (A, B, C, D) are identical in Hawaii. What differs in Hawaii is the plan landscape, provider availability, inter-island travel considerations, and overlap with state programs like Med-QUEST and Kupuna Care.
Sage PLUS is Hawaii's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Call 1-888-875-9229 for free, unbiased Medicare counseling from trained volunteers across the islands. The program is administered by the Hawaii Executive Office on Aging.
It depends on your plan type. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and Medigap policies allow you to see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare — including across all Hawaiian islands. Medicare Advantage plans use networks, and many are HMO-based, so out-of-network and inter-island specialty care may be limited or require referrals.
Med-QUEST is Hawaii's Medicaid program. Medicaid is a need-based health program for lower-income residents, while Medicare is age- and disability-based. Many Hawaii residents qualify for both — these "dual-eligible" beneficiaries can enroll in special D-SNP plans designed to coordinate both programs.
Federal disaster declarations triggered Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) for affected Maui residents, allowing them to make Medicare changes outside the standard enrollment windows. Disaster SEPs typically remain active for several months following a declaration. Contact Sage PLUS or 1-800-MEDICARE to confirm current eligibility.