James City County Medicare at a glance
| James City County | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 22,517 | 1,498,879 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 27.2% | 17.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 24,800 | 1,764,998 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 7,532 | 698,851 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 30.4% | 39.6% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among Virginia’s 133 counties, James City County comes in 15th for residents age 65 and up (22,517). Older adults make up 27.2% of the population here; the state figure is 17.2%. Another 6,116 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). By age, the 65-and-older group splits 53% ages 65 to 74, 36% ages 75 to 84 and 11% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 30.4% of James City County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is lower than the 39.6% average across Virginia. 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 James City County
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies James City County as a metro county (counties in metro areas of 1 million population or more). Counties like this tend to have a wider choice of hospitals and Medicare plans than rural ones, though networks still differ plan by plan.
CMS counts 24,927 Medicare beneficiaries in James City County (2023). Their average age is 75, about the same as the Virginia average of 74. About 3% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 9%.
Among people in Original Medicare in James City County, CMS reported about 559 emergency room visits and 174 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (589) and lower 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in James City County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in James City County; we help James City County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in James City County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists these hospitals in James City County:
- Riverside Doctors' Hospital of Williamsburg — Williamsburg (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 5 of 5)
- Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center — Williamsburg (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 5 of 5)
Being located in the county is not the same as being in your plan’s network. Each Medicare Advantage plan builds its own network, so we confirm that your hospital and your doctors are included before you choose. Ratings are CMS Care Compare overall hospital star ratings; they describe the hospital, not whether a plan covers it. Source: CMS Hospital General Information.
Communities and ZIP codes in James City County
We look up plans by ZIP code. In James City County, that means areas such as 23081, 23168, 23185, 23188, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in James City 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 James City County residents
Here is what we can help James City County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap).
Ready to compare plans in James City County?
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James City County compared with similar Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanover County | 22,514 | 36.3% | 4% | Metro |
| Roanoke County | 21,875 | 37.5% | 6% | Metro |
| City of Hampton | 23,421 | 49.1% | 9% | Metro |
| Spotsylvania County | 23,454 | 35.6% | 7% | Metro |
| City of Alexandria | 20,937 | 29.9% | 8% | Metro |
| Albemarle County | 24,602 | 22.4% | 5% | Metro |
See every Virginia county in our Virginia directory or go to our Virginia Medicare hub.