Wheeling, West Virginia, has over 6,400 persons 65+ enrolled in Medicare. And you might be surprised by the scarily high number of those who are not protecting their financial assets from the costly gaps in Medicare coverage.
Wheeling, West Virginia Medicare plans
The average Wheeling, West Virginia, Original Medicare recipient is female and 71 years of age. You may receive a higher rate quote if you’re older than that or male. But we can help you navigate the system to find lower premiums for yourself.
Cheapest Medicare Advantage plans in Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is unique because it straddles the border of Marshall and Ohio counties. Depending on your zip code, you could access one of Marshall’s 24 Medicare Advantage plans or choose between the 26 Medicare Advantage plans available in Ohio County.
Medicare Advantage is commonly referred to as Medicare Part C. The chart below displays five of the best Medicare Advantage plans in Wheeling, West Virginia. The cheapest is Humana because it has a $0 monthly premium and less than $5,000 in out-of-pocket maximum costs.
Highmark Inc and Aetna are the two plans which are the farthest from cheap. This is probably because PPO medical networks usually cost more. But they give you more choices, and both plans have excellent customer service ratings.
The Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare are in the middle regarding cheap prices. One is a limited HMO medical network, and the other is another PPO. It’s helpful to look at those networks to see which ones have the doctors and hospitals you use most.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | Plan Type | Star Rating |
| Highmark Inc. | $0 | $7,550 | LOCAL PPO | 4 |
| Humana | $0 | $4,500 | REGIONAL PPO | 4 |
| Aetna | $0 | $7,550 | LOCAL PPO | 4 |
| The Health Plan | $0 | $6,700 | HMO | 4 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $0 | $5,400 | LOCAL PPO | 4 |
Affordable Medicare Supplement plans in Wheeling, West Virginia
Medicare Supplement plans are standardized, small, and sold by private insurance companies. But they are standardized by the federal government so that each of the ten plans below is identical, no matter what state you live in.
What affects your monthly Medigap rates? Your age, location, and plan are just a few factors. If you want an affordable plan, you have to balance the cost of your monthly premium with comprehensiveness. Plans like Plan F or Plan G help many beneficiaries keep prices low.
Medigap Plan N will not cover Your Part B deductible or excess charges. Thankfully, it covers everything else. But you will have to pay a small copay for your 20% Part B coinsurance.
Medigap Plan C is one of the least affordable on the list below. Yet it costs more than the Plan F Medicare Supplement in Wheeling, West Virginia, even though it covers less. Unfortunately, certain beneficiaries did not qualify for Medicare early enough to get grandfathered in, so they aren’t eligible to purchase Plan F, and providers are taking advantage of this.
| LETTER PLAN | LOWEST PREMIUM | HIGHEST PREMIUM |
| PLAN A | $85.99 | $1,074.12 |
| PLAN B | $117.33 | $311.12 |
| PLAN C | $152.78 | $378.62 |
| PLAN D | $108.25 | $198.00 |
| PLAN F | $115.69 | $1,394.64 |
| PLAN HDF | $28.00 | $427.68 |
| PLAN G | $101.17 | $1,120.44 |
| PLAN HDG | $28.00 | $68.33 |
| PLAN K | $50.92 | $139.00 |
| PLAN L | $63.50 | $219.25 |
| PLAN M | $116.01 | $225.28 |
| PLAN N | $73.80 | $841.68 |
Our Medigap FAQ pages contain even more helpful information about Medicare Supplement Insurance and what it has to offer.
Average Medicare Part D prescription drug plans
Medicare Part D is a small private insurance plan which exclusively covers prescription drugs. If you have Original Medicare, Part D is essential for keeping your prescriptions affordable.
Your Explanation of Benefits will include valuable information, such as your formulary. Your formulary determines two essential things: the drugs you can get discounts on and how deep those discounts are. A limited formulary may explain why Clear Spring has such a low star rating.
Every other plan in the list below has an above-average star rating. And since they all have an average $480 annual deductible, Aetna is the most affordable plan.
The most expensive Wheeling, West Virginia, Part D plan comes from Humana. Its monthly premium is well above average, but so is the star rating. So maybe it’s worth the extra expense?
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING |
| Aetna | $7.20 | $480 | 3 |
| Wellcare | $12.90 | $480 | 3 |
| Clear Spring | $18.20 | $480 | 2 |
| Elixir | $20.30 | $480 | 3 |
| Humana | $22.70 | $480 | 4 |
Please read our Part D FAQ pages here.
Medicare Special Needs plans
If you live in West Virginia with a severe medical disability, there’s a small chance you could qualify for a Special Needs Plan. You will have to purchase one through Medicare Advantage. But only a minority of people with medical disabilities will be able to qualify.
The WV Senior Advantage plan is not only the most expensive but also the most restrictive eligibility-wise. Your medical disability has to be severe enough to require institutionalization. After qualifying, you will still have to pay a monthly premium of $7,550 per year in out-of-pocket costs.
Thankfully, the other plans are a little more forgiving. Humana has the lowest out-of-pocket annual maximum and offers you a PPO medical network for more choices.
UnitedHealthcare and Aetna have much higher annual out-of-pocket limits. But at least they don’t charge you a monthly premium. And UnitedHealthcare also has a PPO network.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | Plan Type | Eligibility |
| UnitedHealthcare | $0 | $7,550 | LOCAL PPO | Dual |
| Humana | $0 | $3,450 | LOCAL PPO | Dual |
| Aetna | $0 | $7,550 | HMO | Dual |
| The Health Plan | $40.40 | $7,550 | HMO | Dual |
| WV Senior Advantage | $40.60 | $7,550 | HMO | Institutional |
FAQs
Can you simultaneously have a Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement in Wheeling, West Virginia?
No. There is no scenario in which it’s legal for an insurance company to sell you this type of duplicate coverage. You would be paying twice for the same coverage.
What is the main difference between Medicare Advantage and Medigap in Wheeling, West Virginia?
The same difference exists in every other state and city in the country. Medicare Advantage replaces your Medicare benefits with a private insurance plan; Medigap insurance lets you keep your government benefits while protecting you from the inherent coverage gaps.
Do Medigap plans cover Part D in Wheeling, West Virginia?
Medicare Part D is a private prescription drug plan. None of the Medigap plans available for sale today cover prescription drugs. So the answer is no.
How to sign up for Medicare plans in Wheeling
Whether you’re just starting to research supplemental Medicare or are ready to sign up, we can help. Our experts will provide accurate information about providers in your area and answer any questions about the process.
So what are you waiting for? Contact us today via phone, or fill out our online rate form to connect directly with the best rates in your area.
