Amherst County Medicare at a glance
| Amherst County | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 7,113 | 1,498,879 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 22.7% | 17.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 8,705 | 1,764,998 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 3,781 | 698,851 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 43.4% | 39.6% statewide |
Figures come from the Census Bureau and CMS (September 2026).
With roughly 7,113 residents age 65 and older, Amherst County is 53rd among 133 Virginia counties for older residents. That group is 22.7% of its population, compared with 17.2% across Virginia. The 2,365 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, 34% are 75 to 84 and 10% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Amherst County is 43.4% of people with Medicare, close to the Virginia average of 39.6%. 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 Amherst County
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies Amherst County as a metro county (counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population). Counties like this tend to have a wider choice of hospitals and Medicare plans than rural ones, though networks still differ plan by plan.
CMS counts 8,655 Medicare beneficiaries in Amherst County (2023). Their average age is 74, about the same as the Virginia average of 74. About 10% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 9%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Amherst County, CMS reported about 444 emergency room visits and 211 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (589) and close to it for hospital stays (206). 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.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability and provider networks are set county by county, so the plans open to you in Amherst County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Amherst County; we help Amherst County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals and doctors near Amherst County
CMS Hospital General Information lists no acute care, critical access or children’s hospital located inside Amherst 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.
Communities and ZIP codes in Amherst County
Census Bureau 2023 estimates put the biggest communities in Amherst County at Amherst (2,113), counting only the part of each community inside the county.
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Amherst County, that means areas such as 24521, 24572, 24574, 24595, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Amherst 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.
- Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace, Virginia’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Virginia Bureau of Insurance: Virginia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Amherst County residents
Here is what we can help Amherst 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.
Ready to compare plans in Amherst County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonRead next
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- When can you switch Medicare plans? Every enrollment window
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
Amherst County compared with similar Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goochland County | 7,155 | 27.0% | 4% | Metro |
| Warren County | 7,355 | 40.4% | 9% | Metro |
| Powhatan County | 6,626 | 31.5% | 4% | Metro |
| City of Charlottesville | 6,335 | 32.5% | 11% | Metro |
| Fluvanna County | 6,268 | 31.7% | 6% | Metro |
| Pulaski County | 7,990 | 45.6% | 13% | Metro |
See every Virginia county in our Virginia directory or go to our Virginia Medicare hub.