Barbour County Medicare at a glance
| Barbour County | West Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 3,259 | 380,679 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 21.2% | 21.5% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 4,188 | 458,491 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 2,404 | 259,694 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 57.4% | 56.6% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Barbour County ranks 38th of 55 West Virginia counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 3,259 people in that age group, or 21.2% of residents (statewide: 21.5%). The 1,076 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. By age, the 65-and-older group splits 59% ages 65 to 74, 32% ages 75 to 84 and 9% age 85 and up (Census 2023). About 57.4% of people with Medicare in Barbour County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is close to the West Virginia average of 56.6%. A county average does not tell you which kind of plan fits you. Whether Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with a Medigap plan is the better fit depends on your doctors, your prescriptions and how you want to handle costs, so we compare both for your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Barbour County
Barbour County is a rural county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of fewer than 5,000, not adjacent to a metro area. Rural counties tend to have fewer local hospitals and doctors, so a plan’s network and the distance to care matter a great deal.
CMS counts 4,297 Medicare beneficiaries in Barbour County (2023). Their average age is 71, about the same as the West Virginia average of 72. About 27% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 20%. Where many people have both, special plans for dual-eligible members can matter; see our Medicaid and dual eligible guide, since availability varies by plan and area.
Among people in Original Medicare in Barbour County, CMS reported about 785 emergency room visits and 212 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (684) and lower than it for hospital stays (250). About 7% received home health care. These figures describe how people use care under Original Medicare; they do not show what any plan covers or costs.
Sources: CMS Medicare Geographic Variation, 2023; USDA Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, 2023.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Barbour County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Barbour County; we help Barbour County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Barbour County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Barbour County:
- Vandalia Health Broaddus Hospital — Philippi (critical access; nonprofit; emergency services)
Network rules, not geography, decide whether a plan covers a hospital. We look up the hospitals and doctors you use and check them against each plan before you enroll. Ratings are CMS Care Compare overall hospital star ratings; they describe the hospital, not whether a plan covers it. Source: CMS Hospital General Information.
Where people live in Barbour County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Barbour County at Philippi (2,904), Belington (1,789), Junior (376), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Barbour County number 6: 26238, 26250, 26275, 26349, 26405, 26416. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Barbour County?
Reach out to us: fill out our short form or call (571) 354-0146, and a licensed agent will compare the plans available to you, check your doctors and drugs, and stay with you each year at renewal. For general Medicare information, the federal helpline is 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Medicare resources from official sources
- Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov, searchable by ZIP code.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Medicare.gov: Medigap on how Medicare Supplement works.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner: West Virginia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Barbour County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Barbour County households, including Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities and Medicare Advantage.
Get a clear answer for Barbour County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
Barbour County compared with similar West Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summers County | 3,242 | 55.9% | 23% | Rural |
| Monroe County | 3,227 | 48.3% | 17% | Rural |
| Roane County | 3,347 | 58.3% | 26% | Rural |
| Hardy County | 3,424 | 44.8% | 19% | Rural |
| Lewis County | 3,471 | 60.5% | 24% | Rural |
| Braxton County | 3,047 | 64.8% | 23% | Rural |
See every West Virginia county in our West Virginia directory or go to our West Virginia Medicare hub.