Medicare in West Virginia: compare your plan options with a licensed agent
Whether you live in Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown or a small town in between, a licensed agent can explain the Medicare plans we offer in your West Virginia ZIP code in plain English. There's no cost for our help.
When you call, you'll speak with a licensed insurance sales agent. Amerance Health is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Your guide to Medicare in West Virginia
Medicare is a federal program, so Parts A and B work the same way in West Virginia as in every other state. What changes from state to state is which private plans you can choose from, the state rules that apply to Medicare Supplement insurance, and the local programs that can help you pay for coverage. This page covers what's specific to West Virginia.
Your Medicare options in West Virginia
People with Medicare in West Virginia choose between two main paths:
Original Medicare, with a Medicare Supplement and Part D
Original Medicare (Part A for hospital care and Part B for medical care) lets you see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. That's useful if you see specialists across West Virginia or spend part of the year out of state. Because Original Medicare has no yearly out-of-pocket limit, many people add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy to cover deductibles and coinsurance, plus a stand-alone Part D plan for prescriptions.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. They bundle hospital, medical and usually drug coverage into one plan, often with dental, vision and hearing benefits and a yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Plans are approved county by county, so what's available in Charleston may differ from what's available in Huntington or rural West Virginia. Most use provider networks (HMO or PPO), so it's important to confirm your doctors and hospitals before you enroll.
Not sure which path fits you? Read our Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement comparison.
West Virginia Medicare Supplement (Medigap) rules
West Virginia adopted a limited Medigap birthday rule in 2026. It works differently from other states' rules, so read the details carefully.
- Birthday rule (since June 11, 2026): once a year, during the 60 days starting on the first day of your birthday month, you can replace your Medigap policy with one that has the same or fewer benefits, with no health questions.
- There are limits: your current policy must have been in force for at least 24 months, and in most cases the new policy must come from the same insurance company or one of its affiliates.
- Losing Medicaid: people 65 and older who lose Medicaid eligibility have a 63-day guaranteed issue period to buy any Medigap policy, from any insurer.
- Under 65: we're not aware of a West Virginia law requiring insurers to sell Medigap to people under 65, so availability depends on the insurer.
Everywhere in the U.S., your strongest protection is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period: the 6 months starting when you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers in West Virginia must sell you any Medigap plan they offer, at the same price as someone in good health. Plan G and Plan N are common choices for people new to Medicare. Compare what each Medigap plan covers.
Talk with a licensed agent in West Virginia
We'll compare the plans we offer in your ZIP code against your doctors, prescriptions and budget.
Call (954) 668-4095 Request a callbackTurning 65 in West Virginia
Your Initial Enrollment Period is the 7 months around your 65th birthday: the 3 months before your birthday month, the month itself and the 3 months after. Sign up in the 3 months before your birthday month so your coverage starts on the first day of the month you turn 65. If you already receive Social Security, you'll be enrolled in Parts A and B automatically. Otherwise, apply through Social Security online, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local Social Security office in West Virginia.
If you're still working, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. Our Turning 65 Medicare guide walks through every deadline, or you can take our 2-minute quiz to get a personal game plan.
Help paying for Medicare in West Virginia
- Medicaid (West Virginia Medicaid): West Virginia residents with limited income and resources may qualify for Medicaid in addition to Medicare. Learn more from West Virginia Medicaid.
- Medicare Savings Programs: run through West Virginia's Medicaid agency, these can pay your Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026), and in some cases your deductibles and coinsurance.
- Extra Help: a federal program that lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays. Apply through Social Security.
- Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs): Medicare Advantage plans for people with both Medicare and Medicaid, which coordinate both sets of benefits.
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in West Virginia
WV SHIP is West Virginia's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Trained counselors give free, unbiased help with Medicare questions and don't sell insurance. Call 1-877-987-4463 or visit their website.
Insurance in West Virginia is regulated by the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner, which licenses agents and handles consumer complaints.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. For information on all of your options, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or WV SHIP.
2026 Medicare costs in West Virginia
Original Medicare costs are set nationally by CMS and are the same in West Virginia as everywhere else. Medicare Advantage, Medigap and Part D premiums vary by plan and location.
| Cost | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Part B standard monthly premium | $202.90 |
| Part B yearly deductible | $283 |
| Part A hospital deductible | $1,736 per benefit period |
| Part A premium | $0 for most people with 40 quarters of work |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 |
| Medicare Advantage in-network out-of-pocket limit | Up to $9,250 (many plans are lower) |
Key Medicare dates for West Virginia residents
- Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31, 2027, if you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- General Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31 each year, if you missed signing up for Part A or Part B.
- Moving within or out of West Virginia: if you move out of your plan's service area, you get a Special Enrollment Period to choose a new plan.
West Virginia Medicare FAQs
Does West Virginia have a Medigap birthday rule?
Yes, but it's limited. Since June 11, 2026, West Virginia Medigap policyholders who've had their policy for at least 24 months can switch to a plan with the same or fewer benefits without health questions, during the 60 days starting on the first day of their birthday month. In most cases the new plan must come from the same insurer or an affiliate.
Can I get a Medicare Supplement plan under 65 in West Virginia?
It depends on the insurer. We're not aware of a West Virginia law requiring Medigap insurers to sell to people under 65, so options may be limited. WV SHIP can help you review your choices, and you'll get a full Medigap open enrollment period when you turn 65.
Where can I get free Medicare counseling in West Virginia?
WV SHIP is West Virginia's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). It offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling at 1-877-987-4463. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit Medicare.gov for information on all plans.
Can I get help paying for Medicare in West Virginia?
Yes, if your income and savings are limited. West Virginia's Medicaid program (West Virginia Medicaid) runs the Medicare Savings Programs, which can pay your Part B premium, and Social Security runs Extra Help, which lowers prescription drug costs. People with both Medicare and Medicaid may also qualify for a Dual Special Needs Plan.
Are Medicare Advantage plans the same everywhere in West Virginia?
No. Medicare Advantage plans are approved county by county, so the plans, premiums, networks and extra benefits available in Charleston can differ from those in other parts of West Virginia. A licensed agent can show you the plans we offer for your ZIP code.
When can I sign up for Medicare in West Virginia?
Enrollment dates are the same in every state. Most people first sign up during their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday. If you already have Medicare, you can change Medicare Advantage and Part D plans during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, with coverage starting January 1.
Medicare help in nearby states
We also help people with Medicare in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. See all the states we serve.