Honorbrook Insurance is an independent agency licensed in West Virginia. We help Kanawha County residents choose Medicare, ACA, life and retirement coverage by phone or video call. Our help is free to you, and we compare plans from multiple carriers instead of representing just one company.
Medicare in Kanawha County
Kanawha County is centered on Charleston, the county seat and the state capital. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 population estimates put the number of Kanawha County residents age 65 and older at 39,460.
Local hospitals and health systems matter when you pick a plan. Hospitals serving the county include Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC), part of Vandalia Health, which operates hospitals in Charleston including CAMC Women and Children's Hospital. Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so we check the plans offered where you live and whether your doctors and hospitals are included.
Medicare in Kanawha County by the numbers
| Kanawha County | West Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 39,460 | 380,679 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 22.6% | 21.5% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 46,861 | 458,491 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 28,925 | 259,694 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 61.7% | 56.6% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Kanawha County ranks 1st of 55 West Virginia counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 39,460 people in that age group, or 22.6% of residents (statewide: 21.5%). Another 12,331 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, 59% are 65 to 74, 31% are 75 to 84 and 10% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). About 61.7% of people with Medicare in Kanawha County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is higher than 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 Kanawha County
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies Kanawha County as a metro county (counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population). 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 48,867 Medicare beneficiaries in Kanawha County (2023). Their average age is 71, about the same as the West Virginia average of 72. About 20% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Kanawha County, CMS reported about 625 emergency room visits and 275 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (684) and close to it for hospital stays (250). 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Kanawha County
The largest communities in Kanawha County by 2023 Census population estimates are Charleston (46,838), South Charleston (13,281), St. Albans (10,387), Dunbar (7,163), Nitro (5,334), Marmet (1,435). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Kanawha County, that means areas such as 25003, 25015, 25025, 25035, 25039, 25045, 25054, 25061, 25064, 25067, 25071, 25075, 25083, 25086 and 30 more, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Kanawha 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.
- HealthCare.gov if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Medicare Care Compare for hospitals and doctors.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner: West Virginia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Kanawha County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Kanawha County residents we can compare ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Part D drug plans.
Let's check your Kanawha County options together
We'll confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Kanawha County residents
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medicare 101 for families
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Kanawha County compared with similar West Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley County | 20,592 | 44.1% | 13% | Metro |
| Cabell County | 18,487 | 56.7% | 21% | Metro |
| Wood County | 18,279 | 51.6% | 19% | Metro |
| Raleigh County | 16,202 | 52.6% | 20% | Metro |
| Monongalia County | 15,092 | 57.1% | 15% | Metro |
| Putnam County | 11,687 | 58.8% | 16% | Metro |
See every West Virginia county in our West Virginia directory or go to our West Virginia Medicare hub.