Nelson County Medicare at a glance
| Nelson County | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 4,476 | 1,498,879 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 30.4% | 17.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 5,344 | 1,764,998 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 1,829 | 698,851 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 34.2% | 39.6% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
With roughly 4,476 residents age 65 and older, Nelson County is 78th among 133 Virginia counties for older residents. That group is 30.4% of its population, compared with 17.2% across Virginia. Another 1,264 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 59% ages 65 to 74, 33% ages 75 to 84 and 8% age 85 and up (Census 2023). About 34.2% of people with Medicare in Nelson County are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. That is 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 Nelson County
Nelson County sits in a metro area, which the USDA defines as counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population. That usually means more doctors, more hospitals and more plan choices in the area.
CMS counts 5,328 Medicare beneficiaries in Nelson 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, lower than the state figure of 9%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Nelson County, CMS reported about 421 emergency room visits and 147 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 7% 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.
Insurers choose which counties to serve each year, which means the Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can pick in Nelson County can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in Nelson County; we help Nelson County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals and doctors near Nelson County
CMS Hospital General Information lists no acute care, critical access or children’s hospital located inside Nelson 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 Nelson County
ZIP codes that fall mostly inside Nelson County include 22920, 22922, 22938, 22949, 22958, 22964, 22967, 22969, 22971, 22976, 24464, 24581. Plan availability can change by ZIP code, so have yours ready when we compare plans.
Questions about Medicare in Nelson 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 Nelson County residents
We work with many carriers, which lets us compare more than one option for Nelson County households, including group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance and ICHRA.
Get a clear answer for Nelson County
A short call is enough to compare your options. Our help is free to you.
Get my plan comparisonPlain-English Medicare answers
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Medicare 101 for families
- What Medicare Part D actually costs
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Nelson County compared with similar Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Waynesboro | 4,262 | 43.6% | 10% | Metro |
| City of Manassas | 4,774 | 39.6% | 11% | Metro |
| Greene County | 4,145 | 32.1% | 9% | Metro |
| City of Winchester | 4,809 | 35.4% | 12% | Metro |
| New Kent County | 4,945 | 33.8% | 4% | Metro |
| Floyd County | 3,921 | 38.7% | 10% | Metro |
See every Virginia county in our Virginia directory or go to our Virginia Medicare hub.