Wayne County Medicare at a glance
| Wayne County | West Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 8,671 | 380,679 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 23.0% | 21.5% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 9,917 | 458,491 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 6,211 | 259,694 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 62.6% | 56.6% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among West Virginia’s 55 counties, Wayne County comes in 14th for residents age 65 and up (8,671). Older adults make up 23.0% of the population here; the state figure is 21.5%. The 2,677 residents now between 60 and 64 will become Medicare-eligible soon, and our turning 65 guide walks through it. Among residents 65 and older, 57% are 65 to 74, 33% are 75 to 84 and 10% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). About 62.6% of people with Medicare in Wayne 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 Wayne County
Wayne County is a metro county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population. Metro counties usually have more hospitals and more insurers competing for Medicare members, so there can be more plans to compare.
CMS counts 10,978 Medicare beneficiaries in Wayne County (2023). Their average age is 71, about the same as the West Virginia average of 72. About 26% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, higher than the state figure of 20%. 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 Wayne County, CMS reported about 608 emergency room visits and 228 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 8% 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 Wayne County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Wayne County; we help Wayne County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals and doctors near Wayne County
CMS Hospital General Information lists no acute care, critical access or children’s hospital located inside Wayne County. Residents often use hospitals in neighboring counties, which matters for Medicare Advantage because a plan’s network may include or leave out the hospital you use. We check your hospitals and doctors before you enroll.
Where people live in Wayne County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Wayne County at Huntington (3,564), Kenova (2,897), Wayne (1,395), Ceredo (1,341), Fort Gay (661), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas mostly within Wayne County number 13: 25507, 25511, 25512, 25514, 25517, 25530, 25534, 25535, 25555, 25570, 25669, 25699, 25704. Your exact ZIP code is what decides which plans you can join.
Questions about Medicare in Wayne 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 Wayne County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Wayne County residents we can compare Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance and annuities.
Get a clear answer for Wayne County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- 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
Wayne 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 |
| Ohio County | 9,555 | 55.4% | 16% | Metro |
| Marshall County | 7,187 | 66.6% | 18% | Metro |
| Preston County | 7,180 | 56.2% | 19% | Metro |
| Hancock County | 7,010 | 48.2% | 13% | Metro |
| Jefferson County | 10,779 | 41.2% | 11% | Metro |
See every West Virginia county in our West Virginia directory or go to our West Virginia Medicare hub.