The numbers behind Medicare in Wirt County
| Wirt County | West Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 1,213 | 380,679 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 24.3% | 21.5% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 1,775 | 458,491 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 1,066 | 259,694 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 60.1% | 56.6% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
Among West Virginia’s 55 counties, Wirt County comes in 55th for residents age 65 and up (1,213). Older adults make up 24.3% of the population here; the state figure is 21.5%. About 403 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, 31% are 75 to 84 and 11% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Wirt County is 60.1% of people with Medicare, close to 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 Wirt County
Wirt County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 1,681 Medicare beneficiaries in Wirt County (2023). Their average age is 70, younger than the West Virginia average of 72. About 31% 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 Wirt County, CMS reported about 590 emergency room visits and 243 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (684) and close to it for hospital stays (250). About 6% 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 Wirt County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Wirt County; we help Wirt County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals and doctors near Wirt County
CMS Hospital General Information lists no acute care, critical access or children’s hospital located inside Wirt 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.
Wirt County: communities and ZIP codes
People in Wirt County live in communities such as Elizabeth (698) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Wirt County, that means areas such as 26143, 26160, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Wirt 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 Wirt County residents
Here is what we can help Wirt County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: 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 Wirt 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
Wirt County compared with similar West Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 1,785 | 71.3% | 33% | Metro |
| Morgan County | 4,531 | 44.8% | 13% | Metro |
| Boone County | 4,741 | 71.2% | 28% | Metro |
| Brooke County | 5,495 | 54.5% | 14% | Metro |
| Hampshire County | 5,874 | 46.7% | 19% | Metro |
| Hancock County | 7,010 | 48.2% | 13% | Metro |
See every West Virginia county in our West Virginia directory or go to our West Virginia Medicare hub.