Medicare in Preston County by the numbers
| Preston County | West Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 7,180 | 380,679 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 21.1% | 21.5% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 8,569 | 458,491 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 4,815 | 259,694 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 56.2% | 56.6% statewide |
Sources: Census Bureau 2023 estimates and CMS Medicare Advantage penetration, September 2026.
Among West Virginia’s 55 counties, Preston County comes in 17th for residents age 65 and up (7,180). Older adults make up 21.1% of the population here; the state figure is 21.5%. Another 2,323 residents are age 60 to 64 and will reach Medicare eligibility within about five years (see our turning 65 guide). Census 2023 estimates show 61% of the 65-plus population is under 75, 31% is 75 to 84 and 9% is 85 or older. Medicare Advantage enrollment in Preston County is 56.2% of people with Medicare, close to the West Virginia average of 56.6%. Averages cannot choose a plan for you. Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a Medigap plan each suit different people, depending on doctors, medicines and how you prefer to handle costs, and we compare both at your ZIP code.
Who has Medicare in Preston County
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies Preston County as a metro county (counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 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 8,537 Medicare beneficiaries in Preston County (2023). Their average age is 72, about the same as the West Virginia average of 72. About 19% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 20%.
Among people in Original Medicare in Preston County, CMS reported about 635 emergency room visits and 213 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (684) and lower than it for hospital stays (250). 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.
Where you live decides which Medicare Advantage and Part D plans you can join, and Preston County may have a different set of plans than the counties around it. We are not based in Preston County; we help Preston County residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in Preston County
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in Preston County:
- Preston Memorial Hospital — Kingwood (critical access; for-profit; emergency services)
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.
Preston County: communities and ZIP codes
People in Preston County live in communities such as Kingwood (2,956), Terra Alta (1,413), Reedsville (526), Masontown (505), Rowlesburg (435), Tunnelton (291) (2023 population estimates, counting only the part of each community that lies inside the county).
We look up plans by ZIP code. In Preston County, that means areas such as 26374, 26410, 26425, 26444, 26519, 26520, 26524, 26525, 26537, 26542, 26547, 26705, 26716, 26764, based on Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas that lie mostly in the county.
Questions about Medicare in Preston 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 Preston County residents
Here is what we can help Preston County residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: group health insurance, life insurance, final expense insurance, annuities, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Part D drug plans, ACA health insurance and ICHRA.
Let’s check your Preston County options together
We confirm your doctors and prescriptions before you enroll, at no cost to you.
Get my plan comparisonMedicare guides for Preston County residents
- How to read your Medicare Annual Notice of Change
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N
- Do you really need a Medicare agent?
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?
Preston County compared with similar West Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall County | 7,187 | 66.6% | 18% | Metro |
| Hancock County | 7,010 | 48.2% | 13% | Metro |
| Hampshire County | 5,874 | 46.7% | 19% | Metro |
| Wayne County | 8,671 | 62.6% | 26% | Metro |
| Brooke County | 5,495 | 54.5% | 14% | Metro |
| Fayette County | 9,172 | 61.4% | 24% | Metro |
See every West Virginia county in our West Virginia directory or go to our West Virginia Medicare hub.