Medicare in City of Salem by the numbers
| City of Salem | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents age 65 and older | 5,170 | 1,498,879 statewide |
| Share of residents age 65+ | 20.2% | 17.2% statewide |
| People with Medicare | 6,583 | 1,764,998 statewide |
| Enrolled in Medicare Advantage | 2,770 | 698,851 statewide |
| Medicare Advantage share | 42.1% | 39.6% statewide |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau (2023 population estimates); CMS, September 2026. Medicare Advantage share is enrollees divided by people with Medicare.
City of Salem ranks 70th of 133 Virginia counties by number of residents age 65 and older, with about 5,170 people in that age group, or 20.2% of residents (statewide: 17.2%). Another 1,689 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, 31% are 75 to 84 and 12% are 85 or older (Census 2023 estimates). CMS data show 42.1% of City of Salem residents with Medicare chose Medicare Advantage, which is close to the 39.6% average across Virginia. 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 City of Salem
The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies City of Salem 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 6,806 Medicare beneficiaries in City of Salem (2023). Their average age is 75, about the same as the Virginia average of 74. About 9% are “dual eligible,” meaning they have both Medicare and Medicaid, close to the state figure of 9%.
Among people in Original Medicare in City of Salem, CMS reported about 592 emergency room visits and 235 inpatient hospital stays per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, which is close to the state average for emergency visits (589) and higher than it for hospital stays (206). About 10% 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 City of Salem can be different from the ones offered next door. We are not based in City of Salem; we help City of Salem residents by phone or video call.
Hospitals located in City of Salem
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lists this hospital in City of Salem:
- Lewisgale Medical Center — Salem (acute care; for-profit; emergency services; CMS overall rating 2 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 City of Salem
The largest communities in City of Salem by 2023 Census population estimates are Salem (25,600). Each figure counts only the people living inside the county.
Questions about Medicare in City of Salem?
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 City of Salem residents
Here is what we can help City of Salem residents with, drawing on plans from many insurers: 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 City of Salem?
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City of Salem compared with similar Virginia counties
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share | Dual eligible share | Area type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Harrisonburg | 5,373 | 40.3% | 12% | Metro |
| New Kent County | 4,945 | 33.8% | 4% | Metro |
| Scott County | 5,488 | 72.9% | 22% | Metro |
| City of Winchester | 4,809 | 35.4% | 12% | Metro |
| City of Staunton | 5,560 | 38.0% | 12% | Metro |
| Dinwiddie County | 5,564 | 40.5% | 9% | Metro |
See every Virginia county in our Virginia directory or go to our Virginia Medicare hub.