How many Medicare beneficiaries are in Virginia?

Virginia has approximately 1.6M Medicare beneficiaries. Roughly 50% are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, with the balance on Original Medicare — often paired with a Medigap plan and a standalone Part D drug plan.

When is Virginia Medicare enrollment?

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7 each year, with changes effective January 1. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs January 1 through March 31. New-to-Medicare beneficiaries use their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday.

Is Medigap available in Virginia?

Yes. Virginia has all federal Medigap letter plans (A, B, D, G, K, L, M, N, and high-deductible G and F for those eligible) available from multiple carriers. Medical underwriting typically applies outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window, so timing matters.

Virginia · Medicare · 2026 plan year

Virginia Medicare plans for 2026.

Q: What are the top Medicare Advantage carriers in Virginia?

Leading Medicare Advantage carriers in Virginia include Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield VA, Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Aetna, Cigna, Optima Health, CareFirst. Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

Virginia has approximately 1.6M Medicare beneficiaries — about 50% on Medicare Advantage, the rest on Original Medicare. We compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D options from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield VA, Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Aetna, Cigna, Optima Health, CareFirst.

Talk to a licensed Virginia Medicare advisor Medicare basics Browse plans yourself

1.6M

Virginia Medicare beneficiaries

~50%

on Medicare Advantage in VA

All 95

Virginia counties served

Carriers pay us — never you

Want to enroll yourself? Compare Virginia Medicare plans online.

Same Medicare Advantage, Supplement, and Part D plans we'd quote you. SilverEdge stays your broker on file — call us anytime.

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The core decision

Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap in Virginia

For most Virginians, the choice between Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Original Medicare plus a Medigap (Supplement) plan is the biggest decision you'll make.

Medicare Advantage in Virginia

Bundles Part A, Part B, and usually Part D into a private plan. Most Virginia metros offer competitive $0-premium plans with dental, vision, hearing, OTC, and transportation benefits.

Most Virginia MA plans are HMOs with local networks including Inova, VCU Health, Sentara Healthcare, Carilion Clinic, UVA Health, Bon Secours. We verify your doctors before enrolling.

Medigap in Virginia

Pairs with Original Medicare and covers the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays Medicare doesn't pay. Any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare accepts Medigap — no networks.

Virginia Medigap premiums vary by ZIP and age, and carriers may medically underwrite outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window.

Carriers

Top Medicare carriers in Virginia

Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Virginia

Virginia's Blue plan. Statewide network covering Inova, VCU Health, Sentara, Carilion Clinic, UVA Health.

Optima Health

Virginia-rooted (Sentara Healthcare). Strong Hampton Roads and Eastern Virginia presence.

Humana & UnitedHealthcare

Both national carriers compete strongly in Virginia. UnitedHealthcare's AARP Medigap plans popular with Virginia seniors.

Aetna, Cigna, CareFirst

All offer competitive Medicare plans. CareFirst strong in Northern Virginia (DC metro). Aetna and Cigna across statewide markets.

Part D

Part D prescription coverage in Virginia

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, 2026 Part D caps out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,100 per year and eliminates the old "donut hole."

Every Virginia Medicare beneficiary needs prescription drug coverage (or creditable alternative coverage) to avoid the Part D late enrollment penalty. Virginia has dozens of standalone Part D plans plus drug coverage bundled into most MA-PD plans.

Formulary check: The same medication can land in very different tiers across plans. We run your drug list against every Part D plan in your ZIP.
Preferred pharmacy: Many Virginia Part D plans offer lower copays at preferred pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger, Harris Teeter, Costco). Which pharmacy you prefer can change which plan is cheapest.
Extra Help / LIS: Virginia beneficiaries with limited income may qualify for the Low Income Subsidy that significantly reduces drug costs.

Timing

Medicare enrollment dates for Virginia

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7. Change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans; changes effective January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP): January 1 – March 31. One plan change allowed for members already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): 7 months around your 65th birthday — 3 months before, your birthday month, and 3 months after.
Medigap Open Enrollment: 6 months from your Part B effective date — the one-time window when Virginia Medigap carriers cannot deny you or charge more for health reasons.
Special Enrollment Periods: Moving into Virginia, losing employer coverage, qualifying for Extra Help, or moving into or out of a nursing facility may each trigger a SEP.

Common questions

Virginia Medicare FAQ

Are there Virginia-specific Medicare rules?

Medicare is federal, so core rules match nationwide. What varies in Virginia is plan availability, network depth, Medigap pricing, and carrier mix.

Can I switch from Advantage to Medigap later?

Sometimes. Outside your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment window, Virginia Medigap carriers can medically underwrite — which means they can decline you or charge more for health conditions. We walk through your specific options carefully.

What if my doctor is at a different network?

We verify every doctor and hospital you want to keep against each plan's network before recommending anything. Networks like Inova, VCU Health, Sentara Healthcare, Carilion Clinic, UVA Health, Bon Secours are common in Virginia — but specifics vary plan by plan.

What does SilverEdge cost?

Nothing. Medicare carriers pay us a commission when you enroll. We earn the same regardless of which carrier you pick — our job is to find your best Virginia fit.

Coverage

Virginia counties & cities we cover

All 95 Virginia counties + 38 independent cities. A few of the counties & cities where we have the most active members:

Fairfax Virginia Beach Norfolk Chesterfield Henrico Prince William Loudoun Chesapeake Arlington Hampton Newport News Richmond City Alexandria Roanoke Stafford Spotsylvania Hanover Albemarle Bedford Frederick + 75 more localities

★★★★★

$1,680 / yr saved

on Medicare Advantage · Fairfax, VA

"I had a Cigna plan that didn't include my new specialist at Inova. SilverEdge moved me to an Anthem plan with Inova in network and saved me $130/month on top of that."

Janet S.

Network-driven MA switch · Fairfax, VA

Ready to compare Virginia Medicare plans?

Free, no pressure. Licensed in Virginia and all 50 states. We'll review your doctors, drugs, and budget — and walk you through the right Medicare combination for you.

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