Medicare in Virginia — What You Need to Know

Virginia Medicare beneficiaries have access to both Original Medicare and a growing Medicare Advantage market. Here's what's specific to Virginia residents navigating Medicare.

Medicare Advantage in Virginia

Virginia's Medicare Advantage market varies significantly by region. Northern Virginia and the Richmond area have a broader selection of plans and carriers than Southwest Virginia and rural areas. Major carriers in Virginia include Anthem HealthKeepers Plus, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Humana, and Kaiser Permanente (in Northern Virginia).

Medicare Supplement in Virginia

Virginia follows federal Medigap standardization. Plan G is the most popular supplement plan for new Virginia Medicare beneficiaries. Virginia does not currently have birthday rule open enrollment for Medigap — meaning after your initial open enrollment window, medical underwriting applies if you want to switch plans.

Virginia Medicaid and Medicare

Low-income Virginia Medicare beneficiaries may qualify for Virginia Medicaid (Medallion 4.0 or CCC Plus) in addition to Medicare. Dual eligible beneficiaries receive additional cost protections. Apply through CommonHelp at commonhelp.virginia.gov.

Virginia SHIP — Free Medicare Counseling

Virginia's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — called the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) — offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling to Virginia residents.

BenZen is licensed in Virginia and helps Medicare-eligible clients compare options statewide. Let's review your Virginia Medicare options.