Medicare 2026

Medicare in West Virginia for 2027: 11 Advantage Plans Leaving, 12 New

CHARLESTON — West Virginians on Medicare will see a slightly larger menu of Medicare Advantage plans in 2027, but the lineup is shifting underneath. According to the CMS Landscape Source File for the coming plan year, 70 Medicare Advantage plans will be offered across the state's 55 counties in 2027, up from 69 in 2026. Eleven plans are leaving the state entirely, 12 are new, and 22 are changing something a member would notice on paper — a different premium, drug deductible, plan type or plan name. One carrier, Communicare Advantage, is new to the state's Medicare Advantage market for 2027.

Medicare 2026West Virginia

The stand-alone Part D drug plan market, by contrast, is getting smaller: 8 plans in 2027, down from 12 in 2026, offered by 4 insurers. On the Medigap side, 26 Medicare Supplement insurers are listed on Medicare.gov for a sample ZIP code in the state.

The window to review and change coverage — Annual Enrollment 2027 — runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and any choice made during that window takes effect January 1, 2027.

What is changing in West Virginia's Medicare Advantage lineup for 2027?

West Virginia will have 70 Medicare Advantage plans available across its 55 counties in 2027, compared with 69 in 2026. Within that count, 11 plans are not returning anywhere in the state, 12 are brand new, and 22 are changing their premium, drug deductible, plan type or plan name. Communicare Advantage is new to the state's Medicare Advantage market for 2027.

Because Medicare Advantage plans are sold county by county, the statewide totals are a backdrop, not a menu for any one address. The plans actually available in Wheeling, Beckley or Martinsburg depend on the ZIP code.

Every current member should get two pieces of mail in the fall of 2026. The first is the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which spells out what the plan will look like in 2027. The second only arrives if a plan is leaving: a non-renewal letter. People whose plan is not returning get a Special Enrollment Period that stretches past the regular December 7 deadline through the end of February 2027, giving them extra time to pick a new Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D plan.

Which West Virginia counties are seeing the most Medicare Advantage change for 2027?

Five counties stand out in the 2027 Landscape file for the sheer number of plans leaving or changing. In Webster County, 15 plans are leaving and 13 are changing. In Nicholas County, 12 are leaving and 15 are changing. In Tyler County, 16 are leaving and 11 are changing. In Wirt County, 12 are leaving and 15 are changing. And in Wood County, 13 are leaving and 14 are changing.

If you live in one of those counties, there's a higher chance your current plan is one of the ones affected. That doesn't necessarily mean you have to switch — but it does mean the ANOC is worth reading closely this fall, and if a non-renewal letter arrives, acting during Annual Enrollment 2027 (or the Special Enrollment Period through February 2027) will keep coverage uninterrupted.

How many stand-alone Part D drug plans will West Virginia have in 2027?

West Virginia will have 8 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in 2027, down from 12 in 2026, offered by 4 insurers. These are the drug-only plans that people on Original Medicare — or Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy — use to cover prescriptions.

With fewer stand-alone options statewide, it's worth confirming that the plan you have in 2026 is still being offered in 2027, and that your medications are still on its formulary. Those details live on the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

How many Medigap insurers are available in West Virginia for 2027?

Medicare.gov lists 26 Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurers for a sample ZIP code in West Virginia. Medigap policies work alongside Original Medicare and are standardized by letter (Plan G, Plan N and so on), so the same lettered plan covers the same things from any insurer — the difference is price and customer service.

West Virginia follows federal Medigap rules on when you can buy a policy without medical underwriting, including the one-time six-month open enrollment that starts when you're 65 and enrolled in Part B. Beyond that window, acceptance and pricing depend on health questions in most cases. Medicare.gov has the official rules.

What are the national 2027 Medicare numbers that affect West Virginians?

Two Part D figures are set nationally for 2027. The out-of-pocket cap on covered prescriptions moves to $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026. The most any Part D plan may charge as a deductible is $700. The Part D base beneficiary premium — a national figure used to calculate the late-enrollment penalty — is $41.33 for 2027; actual plan premiums are set plan by plan.

On the Social Security side, the Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026 a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for benefits payable beginning January 2027.

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets that add surcharges for higher incomes, have not been announced yet. CMS typically publishes those figures in the fall, usually November. Watch Medicare.gov for the official numbers.

What should West Virginia Medicare enrollees check before December 7, 2026?

A short checklist for Annual Enrollment 2027:

• Read the Annual Notice of Change from your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
• Watch for a non-renewal letter; if your plan is leaving, you have a Special Enrollment Period through the end of February 2027.
• Use the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov to compare 2027 plans in your actual ZIP code.
• Confirm that your doctors, hospitals and prescriptions are covered under any plan you're considering for 2027.
• Make any changes by December 7, 2026 for a January 1, 2027 effective date.

Where can West Virginians get free Medicare help for 2027?

Two official, no-cost resources handle Medicare questions for every West Virginia county. Medicare.gov hosts the Plan Finder, enrollment tools, and the official rules for Medicare Advantage, Part D and Medigap. 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) is staffed around the clock to answer questions and help with enrollment.