The numbers behind Medicare in Buchanan County
| Buchanan County | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 4,714 | 1,498,879 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 24.7% | 17.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 6,427 | 1,764,998 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 4,187 | 698,851 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 65.1% | 39.6% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
With roughly 4,714 residents age 65 and older, Buchanan County is 76th among 133 Virginia counties for older residents. That group is 24.7% of its population, compared with 17.2% across Virginia. Another 1,456 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Among residents 65 and older, 57% are 65 to 74, 32% are 75 to 84 and 11% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Buchanan County is 65.1% of people with Medicare, higher than the Virginia average of 39.6%. What most people do in a county is less important than what fits you. We weigh Medicare Advantage against Original Medicare with Medigap using your doctors, your drugs and your budget.
Who has Medicare in Buchanan County
Buchanan County is a rural county (USDA: urban population of fewer than 5,000, not adjacent to a metro area). Plan choices can be narrower than in a city, and we focus on networks that include the doctors and hospital you actually use.
CMS counts 7,037 Medicare beneficiaries in Buchanan County (2023). Their average age is 69, younger than the Virginia average of 74. About 25% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 9%. 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 Buchanan County, CMS reported about 790 emergency room visits and 240 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is higher than the state average for emergency visits (589) and higher than it for hospital stays (206). About 9% 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 Buchanan County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Buchanan County; we help Buchanan County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Buchanan County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Buchanan County:
- Buchanan General Hospital — Grundy (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 of 5)
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.
Buchanan County: communities and ZIP codes
The largest communities in Buchanan County by 2023 Census population estimates are Grundy (837). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Buchanan County number 12: 24239, 24603, 24607, 24614, 24620, 24622, 24631, 24634, 24639, 24646, 24656, 24657. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Buchanan 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.
- Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace, Virginia’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Medicare Care Compare for hospitals and doctors.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Virginia Bureau of Insurance: Virginia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Buchanan County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Buchanan County residents we can compare life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA and group health insurance.
Get a clear answer for Buchanan County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Buchanan County residents
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
Buchanan County compared with similar Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northumberland County | 4,646 | 32.8% | 6% | Rural |
| Patrick County | 4,869 | 49.8% | 13% | Rural |
| Lee County | 5,149 | 69.9% | 26% | Rural |
| Lancaster County | 4,213 | 32.3% | 7% | Rural |
| King George County | 4,198 | 30.1% | 7% | Rural |
| Westmoreland County | 5,335 | 35.5% | 10% | Rural |
See every Virginia county in our Virginia directory or go to our Virginia Medicare hub.