Charleston, West Virginia
Medicare agents in Charleston, WV
Find a licensed agent with an office in Charleston, and see what Medicare looks like locally: how many people have it, how many are in Medicare Advantage, and how many plans are offered for 2027.
Last reviewed October 27, 2026. General information, not advice about any plan.
Agents in Charleston
No agents with an office in Charleston are listed yet. Agents licensed anywhere in West Virginia can help by phone or video: see agents in West Virginia.
Before you meet anyone, check their West Virginia license. Agents in nearby towns are on the Kanawha County page.
Medicare in Kanawha County
- People with Medicare
- 47,231
- In Medicare Advantage or another Medicare health plan
- 61% (28,969)
- With both Medicare and Medicaid*
- 18% (8,406)
Source: CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment, July 2026, for all of Kanawha County; Charleston itself has about 46,482 residents (Census, 2024). Medicare health plans include Medicare Advantage, cost plans and PACE, not Medigap or drug plans. *Includes people who get help only with Medicare costs from a Medicare Savings Program.
2027 plans offered in Kanawha County
- Medicare Advantage with drug coverage
- 30 plans, 15 with a $0 plan premium
- Medicare Advantage without drug coverage
- 8 plans
- Special Needs Plans
- 19 plans: 15 for people with both Medicare and Medicaid; 1 for people with certain chronic conditions; 3 for people who live in, or need the care of, a nursing home. Only people who qualify can join.
- Companies offering these plans
- 8
Standalone drug plans in West Virginia: 8 plans, with monthly premiums from $5.30.
Source: CMS 2027 plan landscape (updated October 2026), which lists plans by county. A $0 plan premium doesn't mean $0 costs: you still pay the Part B premium, plus copays, and plans differ in their yearly limit and in which doctors and drugs they cover. How to compare.
Free local help
- West Virginia State Health Insurance Assistance Program (WV SHIP)
- West Virginia's free, unbiased Medicare counseling program. 1-877-987-4463 · Website
- The West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner
- Licenses agents and takes complaints. 1-888-879-9842 · How to check a license
- 1-800-MEDICARE
- 1-800-633-4227 (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays.
West Virginia rules to know
- Switching Medigap plans
- Birthday rule. For 60 days starting the first day of your birth month, you can switch to the same or lesser benefits with your same insurer or an affiliate, once your current policy has been in force for 24 months.
- Medigap under 65
- Not required. West Virginia does not require insurers to sell Medigap to people under 65; the guaranteed 6-month open enrollment starts only when you are 65 and enrolled in Part B.
- Agent licenses
- Agents must be licensed for health insurance in West Virginia. Look one up.
Dates to know
- October 15 to December 7
- Open Enrollment: change Medicare Advantage or drug plans for the next year.
- January 1 to March 31
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: one change for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Turning 65
- A 7-month window around your birthday month. The checklist.
Moving to Charleston from another state opens a special enrollment period for Medicare Advantage and drug plans. It doesn't by itself let you buy Medigap without health questions. What to do.
Common questions
How many people in Charleston have Medicare?
In Kanawha County, 47,231 people had Medicare in July 2026, according to CMS. About 61% were in Medicare Advantage or another Medicare health plan; the rest had Original Medicare.
How many Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Charleston for 2027?
CMS lists 30 Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage in Kanawha County for 2027 (15 with a $0 plan premium; you still pay the Part B premium), 8 without drug coverage, and 19 Special Needs Plans for people who qualify, from 8 companies. Medicare.gov's Plan Finder shows which ones cover your address, doctors and drugs.
Where can I get free Medicare help in Charleston?
West Virginia's free counseling program, West Virginia State Health Insurance Assistance Program (WV SHIP) (1-877-987-4463), gives unbiased one-on-one help. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) any time.
Will I pay more for a plan if I use an agent?
No. A plan's premium is set by the plan, and you pay the same whether you enroll through an agent, the plan, or Medicare.gov. Agents can't charge a fee to enroll you in a Medicare Advantage or drug plan.
Keep reading
- How to find a good Medicare agent near youWhere to look for a local Medicare agent, how to narrow the list to one or two, and the five-minute checks to do before you share anything.
- Medicare Open Enrollment checklist: what to check before December 7A step-by-step checklist for the October 15 to December 7, 2026 Open Enrollment Period: what to read in your plan's letter, what's changing for 2027, what you can switch, and what happens if you do nothing.
- Medicare Advantage or Medigap? The questions that decide itNeither is better for everyone. How the two common Medicare set-ups differ, the questions that point to one or the other, and why the first choice is the hardest to undo.
Ready to talk to someone local?
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