The numbers behind Medicare in Harrison County
| Harrison County | West Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 13,527 | 380,679 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 20.9% | 21.5% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 16,583 | 458,491 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 9,542 | 259,694 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 57.5% | 56.6% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Harrison County ranks 7th of 55 West Virginia counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 13,527 people in that age group, or 20.9% of residents (statewide: 21.5%). Another 4,475 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Among residents 65 and older, 57% are 65 to 74, 32% are 75 to 84 and 11% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Harrison County is 57.5% of people with Medicare, close to the West Virginia average of 56.6%. What most people do in a county is less important than what fits you. We weigh Medicare Advantage against Original Medicare with Medigap using your doctors, your drugs and your budget.
Who has Medicare in Harrison County
Harrison County is a smaller-city and town county; the U.S. Department of Agriculture describes it as: urban population of 20,000 or more, not adjacent to a metro area. Counties like this often sit between a metro area and rural communities, so some residents use hospitals and specialists in a neighboring county and a plan’s network across the county line matters.
CMS counts 16,972 Medicare beneficiaries in Harrison County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the West Virginia average of 72. About 17% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Harrison County, CMS reported about 674 emergency room visits and 274 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (684) and close to it for hospital stays (250). About 9% 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 Harrison County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Harrison County; we help Harrison County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Harrison County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Harrison County:
- United Hospital Center — Bridgeport (acute care; nonprofit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 4 of 5)
Being located in the county is not the same as being in your plan’s network. Each Medicare Advantage plan builds its own network, so we confirm that your hospital and your doctors are included before you choose. Ratings are CMS Care Compare overall hospital star ratings; they describe the hospital, not whether a plan covers it. Source: CMS Hospital General Information.
Communities and ZIP codes in Harrison County
People in Harrison County live in communities such as Clarksburg (15,489), Bridgeport (9,377), Shinnston (2,276), Stonewood (1,759), Salem (1,482), Nutter Fort (1,454) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Harrison County, that means areas such as 26301, 26323, 26330, 26361, 26366, 26369, 26385, 26386, 26404, 26408, 26422, 26431, 26438, 26448 and 3 more, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Harrison 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 Harrison County residents
Here is what we can help Harrison 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.
Let’s check your Harrison County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7?
- Why a Medicare Advantage plan drops a doctor or drug
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
Harrison County compared with similar West Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer County | 13,460 | 59.5% | 25% | Smaller city/town |
| Marion County | 11,428 | 58.9% | 19% | Smaller city/town |
| Greenbrier County | 8,112 | 52.6% | 17% | Smaller city/town |
| Logan County | 7,044 | 65.3% | 29% | Smaller city/town |
| Randolph County | 6,232 | 54.4% | 21% | Smaller city/town |
| Mineral County | 6,202 | 41.1% | 16% | Smaller city/town |
See every West Virginia county in our West Virginia directory or go to our West Virginia Medicare hub.