Washington County Medicare at a glance
| Washington County | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 13,565 | 1,498,879 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 25.1% | 17.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 16,087 | 1,764,998 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 8,689 | 698,851 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 54.0% | 39.6% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Among Virginia’s 133 counties, Washington County comes in 30th for residents age 65 and up (13,565). Older adults make up 25.1% of the population here; the state figure is 17.2%. About 4,194 more people are 60 to 64 and are heading toward Medicare; our turning 65 guide explains their first steps. Among residents 65 and older, 56% are 65 to 74, 34% are 75 to 84 and 10% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). CMS data show 54.0% of Washington County residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is higher 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 Washington County
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies Washington County as a metro county (counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million 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 16,434 Medicare beneficiaries in Washington County (2023). Their average age is 73, about the same as the Virginia average of 74. About 11% 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 Washington County, CMS reported about 586 emergency room visits and 237 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Washington County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Washington County; we help Washington County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Washington County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Washington County:
- Johnston Memorial Hospital — Abingdon (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 3 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.
Where people live in Washington County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Washington County at Abingdon (8,325), Glade Spring (1,368), Damascus (787), Saltville (162), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Washington County, that means areas such as 24202, 24210, 24211, 24236, 24270, 24327, 24340, 24361, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Washington 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 Washington County residents
Here is what we can help Washington County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance and final expense insurance.
Get a clear answer for Washington County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: how to choose
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Washington County compared with similar Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fauquier County | 13,440 | 27.3% | 6% | Metro |
| Franklin County | 14,066 | 45.3% | 8% | Metro |
| York County | 13,033 | 26.1% | 3% | Metro |
| Montgomery County | 14,290 | 35.4% | 8% | Metro |
| Campbell County | 12,096 | 42.5% | 10% | Metro |
| City of Portsmouth | 15,095 | 52.0% | 13% | Metro |
See every Virginia county in our Virginia directory or go to our Virginia Medicare hub.