If you live in West Virginia and you have been searching for how and when to change your Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan, you have probably found confusing answers, because the rules depend on which type of plan you have. Here is a clear West Virginia-specific guide that separates the two, with the federal windows that apply everywhere and what to check for West Virginia in particular.
The quick answer for West Virginia
- Medicare Advantage: you can generally change during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7), during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) if you are already in an Advantage plan, or during a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify. These windows are set by Medicare, so they are the same in West Virginia as in every state.
- Medigap: there is no annual deadline, but whether you can switch without health questions depends on protections that include some state rules. See below for what we found for West Virginia.
Medicare Advantage changes in West Virginia
- Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15 – Dec 7). Change plans for the following January 1. See our Annual Enrollment guide.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan 1 – Mar 31). If you are already in an Advantage plan, you get one change. Read the full guide.
- Special Enrollment Periods. Triggered by moving to a new area, losing other coverage, your plan ending, or qualifying for Extra Help or Medicaid, among others. See when you can switch plans.
Medigap changes in West Virginia
West Virginia is listed in one 2026 source among states with some form of Medigap birthday rule, but the window, plan limits, and carrier rules were not stated, so we cannot give you exact terms. Confirm the current rule with the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner before relying on it, and do not cancel your current plan until a new one is approved.
Regardless of state, you generally have protection in your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period and in certain federal guaranteed-issue situations. Our national guide, when can I change my Medigap plan, explains each one.
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Get my plan reviewWhat to think about in West Virginia
West Virginia's terrain and small communities can mean longer trips to specialists and fewer in-network providers than in more urban states, and people in the Eastern Panhandle may use providers in neighboring Virginia or Maryland. Plan availability varies by county, so compare options at your exact address and check that the hospitals and clinics you use are in network. We serve people in and around Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Wheeling and the Eastern Panhandle, and we handle everything by phone.
Common situations people ask about
- "My doctor left my plan's network." You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period in some cases, and you can compare plans at the next window. See what to do when a plan drops your doctor.
- "My premium or drug costs went up." Review your Annual Notice of Change and compare during the next open window.
- "I moved within West Virginia." A move to a different county can change which plans you can choose, and may open a Special Enrollment Period.
- "I want to move from Advantage back to Original Medicare." Check your Medigap options before you cancel. Read leaving Medicare Advantage.
- "I have both Medicare and Medicaid." You may have more frequent change opportunities. See Medicaid and dual-eligible options.
- "My local hospital has limited specialists." Check whether the plan covers specialists in neighboring Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, or Pennsylvania if you use them.
A checklist before you change anything in West Virginia
- Identify which window you are in (AEP, MA-OEP, SEP, or Medigap rules).
- List your doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and medications.
- Check each against the plan you are considering at your West Virginia address.
- If it is Medigap, find out whether underwriting applies and apply before you cancel.
- Confirm the effective date in writing.
How Honorbrook helps West Virginia residents
We are an independent agency licensed in West Virginia and 10 other states. We compare plans offered at your address across many carriers, check your doctors and drugs, and explain the trade-offs plainly. Our help is free because carriers pay us, and your premium is the same whether you use an agent or enroll yourself. See our West Virginia Medicare page for more about how we work in your state.
Medicare Advantage by county in West Virginia
Medicare plan choices are set county by county. Statewide, about 56.6% of people with Medicare in West Virginia are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (CMS, September 2026). Here are the 10 largest counties by residents age 65 and older:
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share |
|---|---|---|
| Kanawha County | 39,460 | 61.7% |
| Berkeley County | 20,592 | 44.1% |
| Cabell County | 18,487 | 56.7% |
| Wood County | 18,279 | 51.6% |
| Raleigh County | 16,202 | 52.6% |
| Monongalia County | 15,092 | 57.1% |
| Harrison County | 13,527 | 57.5% |
| Mercer County | 13,460 | 59.5% |
| Putnam County | 11,687 | 58.8% |
| Marion County | 11,428 | 58.9% |
See every county on our West Virginia county directory or our West Virginia Medicare hub. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2023 estimates; CMS Medicare Advantage State/County Penetration.
Changing Medicare plans in other states
We are licensed in 11 states. The enrollment windows are federal and the same everywhere, but plan choices and free local help are state-specific:
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Virginia?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Maryland?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in North Carolina?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in South Carolina?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Georgia?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Alabama?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Louisiana?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Texas?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Michigan?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Indiana?