The numbers behind Medicare in Smyth County
| Smyth County | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 6,698 | 1,498,879 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 22.9% | 17.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 8,634 | 1,764,998 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 4,551 | 698,851 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 52.7% | 39.6% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Smyth County ranks 54th of 133 Virginia counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 6,698 people in that age group, or 22.9% of residents (statewide: 17.2%). Another 2,152 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 56% ages 65 to 74, 32% ages 75 to 84 and 11% age 85 and up (Census 2023). CMS data show 52.7% of Smyth County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is higher than the 39.6% average across Virginia. Averages cannot choose a plan for you. Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a Medigap plan each suit different people, depending on doctors, medicines and how you prefer to handle costs, and we compare both at your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Smyth County
Smyth County is a non-metro county with towns and small cities (USDA: urban population of 5,000 to 20,000, not adjacent to a metro area). Care is often split between local providers and a bigger hospital elsewhere, which is worth testing against each plan’s network.
CMS counts 8,968 Medicare beneficiaries in Smyth County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Virginia average of 74. About 18% 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 Smyth County, CMS reported about 737 emergency room visits and 246 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 Smyth County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Smyth County; we help Smyth County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Smyth County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Smyth County:
- Smyth County Community Hospital — Marion (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 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 Smyth County
People in Smyth County live in communities such as Marion (5,617), Chilhowie (1,620), Saltville (1,617) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Smyth County number 5: 24311, 24319, 24354, 24370, 24375. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Smyth 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.
- Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace, Virginia’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Virginia Bureau of Insurance: Virginia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Smyth County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Smyth County households, including annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance and final expense insurance.
Let’s check your Smyth County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Smyth County residents
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
Smyth County compared with similar Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wythe County | 6,375 | 53.8% | 15% | Smaller city/town |
| Rockbridge County | 6,320 | 32.1% | 8% | Smaller city/town |
| Wise County | 7,144 | 70.3% | 21% | Smaller city/town |
| Carroll County | 7,819 | 39.8% | 14% | Smaller city/town |
| Orange County | 8,069 | 37.0% | 8% | Smaller city/town |
| Mecklenburg County | 8,445 | 45.8% | 12% | Smaller city/town |
See every Virginia county in our Virginia directory or go to our Virginia Medicare hub.