Medicare in Virginia serves about 1.7 million beneficiaries, with 47% enrolled in Medicare Advantage and the remainder on Original Medicare + Medigap. Average Medigap Plan G premium for a new 65-year-old enrollee: $148/mo. Stand-alone Part D plans average $45/mo.
Medicare Beneficiaries
1.7 million
Age 65+ and disabled
MA Enrollment
47%
% on Medicare Advantage
Avg Medigap Plan G
$148/mo
New enrollee, age 65
| Topic | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans available | 65+ | Varies by county; check medicare.gov plan finder |
| Top MA carriers | UnitedHealthcare, Aetna/CVS, Anthem HealthKeepers (Elevance) | Networks differ by county |
| Stand-alone Part D | $45/mo | Required if you have Original Medicare + Medigap |
| Annual guaranteed-issue Medigap switching | No (one-time 6-month window at 65) | No state annual GI rights; Northern Virginia's dense market shares MA plan offerings with the DC/Maryland metro. Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads is a major coastal retiree and military retiree market. |
Medigap premiums vary by carrier, age, and ZIP code. The 2026 Part B premium is $202.90/month and Part B deductible is $283. Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026.
Virginia's Medicare market is shaped by two distinct dynamics: Northern Virginia's dense concentration of federal government employees and military retirees who transition to Medicare at 65, and the Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach area's large active-duty and retired military community. Federal retirees often have Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) programs as secondary coverage alongside Medicare, which affects their Medicare Advantage plan decisions — FEHB-Medicare combinations can provide comprehensive coverage without a separate Medigap policy. UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Anthem HealthKeepers are the dominant MA carriers. Inova Health System anchors Northern Virginia's hospital network, while Sentara Healthcare dominates Hampton Roads and coastal Virginia.
Richmond and Charlottesville are anchored by VCU Health System and UVA Health respectively — both strong academic medical centers participating across MA networks. Medigap Plan G averages about $148/month in Virginia — mid-range for the Mid-Atlantic. Southwestern Virginia's Appalachian communities (Roanoke, Bristol) have adequate coverage from Carilion Clinic and Ballad Health systems. Virginia has no birthday rule or annual Medigap switching protections. IRMAA is a notable consideration for Northern Virginia's high-income retirees in Fairfax, Loudoun, and Arlington counties, where household incomes are among the highest in the nation.
In Virginia, traditional Medicare combined with a Medigap supplement (typically Plan G or N) plus a stand-alone Part D plan provides nationwide access with predictable costs. Plan G covers everything except the $283 Part B deductible.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans bundle Medicare Parts A, B, and usually D into one private plan, often with $0 premium beyond Part B. Trade-offs include network restrictions and prior authorization. 47% of Virginia beneficiaries currently choose MA.
No state annual GI rights; Northern Virginia's dense market shares MA plan offerings with the DC/Maryland metro. Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads is a major coastal retiree and military retiree market.
💡 Virginia Pro Tip
Virginia beneficiaries in Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria) and the Richmond metro typically have access to 65 or more Medicare Advantage plans, sharing much of the DC metro market. Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake) generally offers 45 to 60 options. Southwest Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley may have 20 to 35 plans available.
The average Medigap Plan G premium for a 65-year-old in Virginia is approximately $148 per month. Northern Virginia premiums may run slightly higher than the state average due to the region's elevated healthcare costs. Federal retirees with FEHB coverage should evaluate whether Medigap is still needed given their existing secondary insurance.
Virginia does not have a birthday rule or annual guaranteed-issue protections for Medigap. Outside your 6-month initial open enrollment at 65 or qualifying federal events, insurers can use medical underwriting. Military retirees with TRICARE For Life should understand that TRICARE coordinates with Medicare differently than Medigap does, and may not need a traditional Medigap policy.
Beneficiary counts and MA enrollment percentages from CMS state-level Medicare data; premium averages from 2026 carrier rate filings for Virginia. Verify current plan costs at medicare.gov before enrolling.
Jennifer Walsh
Editorial Lead, Health & Medicare
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed May 2026
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