Medicare Insurance in Virginia
Find the best Medicare plan for Virginia residents
Virginia has nearly 1.7 million Medicare beneficiaries — a number that continues to grow as the state's large Baby Boomer population reaches eligibility age. Whether you live in Northern Virginia's suburbs, the Hampton Roads region, Richmond, or rural Appalachian communities, understanding your Medicare options is essential to getting the right coverage at the right price. Virginia residents can choose from Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies — and comparing those options carefully can save you thousands of dollars each year.
10 Tips for Finding the Best Medicare Insurance in Virginia
- Learn the differences between Medicare Advantage and Medigap. Medicare Advantage (Part C) bundles your coverage through a private insurer, while Medigap supplements Original Medicare by covering out-of-pocket costs like copays and deductibles.
- Review your plan every year during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7). Plan benefits, premiums, and drug formularies change annually, so a plan that worked well last year may not be the best fit this year.
- Check whether your doctors and hospitals are in-network before enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan. Network restrictions vary widely between plans and regions in Virginia.
- Compare Part D prescription drug plans carefully. Even if you take few medications, having creditable drug coverage avoids a lifetime late-enrollment penalty.
- Understand the six-month Medigap Open Enrollment window. When you first enroll in Medicare Part B, you have a guaranteed right to buy any Medigap policy sold in Virginia — regardless of your health status.
- Work with a licensed, independent Medicare insurance agent. An independent agent can compare plans across multiple carriers rather than steering you toward a single company's products.
- Use the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov to compare Medicare Advantage and Part D plans available in your specific Virginia county or zip code.
- Contact the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP), Virginia's free State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), for unbiased Medicare counseling at no cost.
- Factor in total out-of-pocket costs, not just the monthly premium. A $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan may cost more overall if it has high copays, coinsurance, or a high out-of-pocket maximum.
- Plan ahead if you are approaching 65. Sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period — the seven-month window around your 65th birthday — to avoid late-enrollment penalties on Part B and Part D.
How Many Medicare Advantage Plans Are Available in Virginia?
Virginia Medicare beneficiaries have access to a robust and competitive Medicare Advantage marketplace. For 2024, approximately 80 or more Medicare Advantage plans are available to Virginia residents, depending on the county. The Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. metro area and the Hampton Roads region typically offer the greatest plan variety, while more rural areas in Southwest and Southside Virginia may have fewer options. Major carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans in Virginia include Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Anthem HealthKeepers, Aetna, Kaiser Permanente (in select Northern Virginia counties), and Cigna. Many plans in densely populated areas carry $0 monthly premiums and include extra benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, and fitness memberships. Virginia's Medicare Advantage enrollment has grown steadily, with more than 40% of the state's Medicare beneficiaries now enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
How Many Medicare Supplement Plans Are Offered in Virginia?
Virginia follows federal standardization rules for Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurance, meaning that plans sold under the same letter designation must offer identical benefits regardless of which insurer sells them. Virginia residents can choose from standardized Medigap plan letters including Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, Plan F, Plan G, Plan K, Plan L, Plan M, and Plan N. Plan F remains available only to those who became Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020. Plans G and N are currently among the most popular choices for new enrollees. More than 30 insurance companies are licensed to sell Medigap policies in Virginia, including AARP/UnitedHealthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Cigna, Aetna, Transamerica, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Virginia (Anthem), and Humana. Because benefits are identical across carriers for the same plan letter, comparing premiums and rate-increase history is the key factor when selecting a Virginia Medigap policy.
Senior Population Facts (Over 65)
Virginia's senior population has grown significantly over the past decade. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, approximately 1.4 million Virginians are age 65 or older, representing roughly 16% of the state's total population. That share is projected to increase as the Baby Boom generation continues to age into Medicare eligibility. Virginia's 65+ population is concentrated in Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads, and the Shenandoah Valley, though rural communities in the western and southside regions of the state also have relatively high proportions of older residents.
- Healthcare: Virginia seniors benefit from a strong network of healthcare facilities, including major academic medical centers such as the University of Virginia Health System, VCU Health in Richmond, and Inova Health System in Northern Virginia. However, access disparities exist — rural counties in Southwest Virginia and the Eastern Shore face physician shortages and longer travel times to specialty care, making plan network adequacy especially important for beneficiaries in those areas.
- Housing: Virginia offers a range of senior housing options, from urban continuing care retirement communities in Northern Virginia and Richmond to smaller assisted living facilities in rural areas. Northern Virginia's high cost of living can strain fixed incomes, while other regions of the state offer more affordable housing. Virginia has a well-developed network of Area Agencies on Aging that help seniors access home and community-based services to remain independent.
- Economic Security: The median household income for Virginia seniors is somewhat above the national average, in part due to the concentration of federal employees, military retirees, and government contractors in the Northern Virginia region. Many Virginia retirees receive federal or military pension income. However, economic security varies widely across the state — seniors in rural Southside and Southwest Virginia communities face higher poverty rates and rely more heavily on Medicare and Medicaid for healthcare coverage.