Highland County Medicare at a glance
| Highland County | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 912 | 1,498,879 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 39.0% | 17.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 950 | 1,764,998 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 274 | 698,851 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 28.8% | 39.6% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
Among Virginia’s 133 counties, Highland County comes in 132nd for residents age 65 and up (912). Older adults make up 39.0% of the population here; the state figure is 17.2%. Another 256 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). By age, the 65-and-older group splits 57% ages 65 to 74, 33% ages 75 to 84 and 10% age 85 and up (Census 2023). Medicare Advantage enrollment in Highland County is 28.8% of people with Medicare, lower than the Virginia average of 39.6%. 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 Highland County
Highland County is a rural county (USDA: urban population of fewer than 5,000, adjacent to a metro area). Plan choices can be narrower than in a city, and we focus on networks that include the doctors and hospital you actually use.
CMS counts 947 Medicare beneficiaries in Highland County (2023). Their average age is 74, about the same as the Virginia average of 74. About 7% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 9%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Highland County, CMS reported about 482 emergency room visits and 144 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is lower than the state average for emergency visits (589) and lower than it for hospital stays (206). About 6% 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 Highland County may differ from those in a neighboring county. We are not based in Highland County; we help Highland County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals and doctors near Highland County
CMS Hospital General Information lists no acute care, critical access or children’s hospital located inside Highland 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.
Highland County: communities and ZIP codes
People in Highland County live in communities such as Monterey (172) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Highland County include 24413, 24433, 24442, 24458, 24465, 24487. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Highland 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.
- Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace, Virginia’s own health insurance exchange, if you are not yet on Medicare.
- Medicare Care Compare for hospitals and doctors.
- Social Security: Medicare to enroll or check status.
- Virginia Bureau of Insurance: Virginia’s insurance regulator, including agent license lookup.
Coverage we offer Highland County residents
As an independent agency we are not tied to one insurer, so for Highland County residents we can compare final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance, ICHRA, group health insurance and life insurance.
Ready to compare plans in Highland County?
Tell us your doctors and medicines and we will show you what fits. No cost, no pressure.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
- What happens if you do nothing during open enrollment?
- Medicare 101 for families
Highland County compared with similar Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath County | 1,216 | 27.8% | 9% | Rural |
| Bland County | 1,576 | 46.0% | 10% | Rural |
| Richmond County | 2,020 | 37.8% | 11% | Rural |
| Cumberland County | 2,327 | 42.3% | 10% | Rural |
| Charlotte County | 2,594 | 43.8% | 14% | Rural |
| Essex County | 2,646 | 42.2% | 9% | Rural |
See every Virginia county in our Virginia directory or go to our Virginia Medicare hub.