Medicare in Ohio County by the numbers
| Ohio County | West Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 9,555 | 380,679 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 23.2% | 21.5% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 11,663 | 458,491 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 6,459 | 259,694 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 55.4% | 56.6% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
With roughly 9,555 residents age 65 and older, Ohio County is 12th among 55 West Virginia counties for older residents. That group is 23.2% of its population, compared with 21.5% across West Virginia. About 2,886 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Among residents 65 and older, 58% are 65 to 74, 29% are 75 to 84 and 12% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). CMS data show 55.4% of Ohio County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 56.6% average across West 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 Ohio County
Ohio County is a metro county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. Metro counties usually have more hospitals and more insurers competing for Medicare members, so there can be more plans to compare.
CMS counts 11,179 Medicare beneficiaries in Ohio County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the West Virginia average of 72. About 16% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, lower than the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Ohio County, CMS reported about 631 emergency room visits and 260 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 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Ohio County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Ohio County; we help Ohio County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Ohio County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Ohio County:
- Wheeling Hospital — Wheeling (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 of 5)
A hospital being in the county does not mean every plan covers it. Medicare Advantage networks differ by plan, so we check the hospitals and doctors you actually use 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.
Ohio County: communities and ZIP codes
The largest communities in Ohio County by 2023 Census population estimates are Wheeling (25,852), Bethlehem (2,553), West Liberty (1,441), Triadelphia (651), Clearview (459), Valley Grove (265). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Ohio County number 4: 26003, 26059, 26060, 26074. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Ohio 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 Ohio County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Ohio County households, including 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 Ohio County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare 101 for families
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
Ohio County compared with similar West Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County | 9,172 | 61.4% | 24% | Metro |
| Wayne County | 8,671 | 62.6% | 26% | Metro |
| Jefferson County | 10,779 | 41.2% | 11% | Metro |
| Putnam County | 11,687 | 58.8% | 16% | Metro |
| Marshall County | 7,187 | 66.6% | 18% | Metro |
| Preston County | 7,180 | 56.2% | 19% | Metro |
See every West Virginia county in our West Virginia directory or go to our West Virginia Medicare hub.