Charleston, West Virginia: health insurance
Charleston is in Kanawha County. Here is what Charleston residents should know about coverage.
Coverage in Charleston
Charleston has about 46,838 residents (U.S. Census Bureau 2023 estimate).
Plans for Charleston residents are determined by Kanawha County, home to about 174,805 people (2023 estimate). Medicare Advantage plans and marketplace plans are offered by area, so use your ZIP code when you compare, and make sure a plan covers Kanawha County before you choose it.
- Turning 65 in Charleston? Your Initial Enrollment Period runs seven months around your birthday. West Virginia SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) offers free counseling at (877) 987-4463.
- Buying your own plan? Shop through HealthCare.gov (federal Marketplace).
- Medicaid questions? West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Medical Services handles applications.
West Virginia note: West Virginia recently split its old, single Department of Health and Human Resources into three separate departments -- Health, Human Services, and Health Facilities -- so Medicaid's Bureau for Medical Services now sits under the Department of Human Services specifically, not the older combined agency name still seen on some websites.
Medicare plans leaving Kanawha County for 2027
Medicare plans are set by county, so this applies to residents of this city. 13 plans are listed in Kanawha County for 2026 but not for 2027, covering at least 1,243 people.
| Plan going away | Company | People enrolled (at least) |
|---|---|---|
| Humana USAA Honor Giveback with Rx (PPO) H5216-391 | Humana | 896 |
| Humana USAA Honor Giveback with Rx (PPO) H7617-072 | Humana | 187 |
| The Health Plan SecureCare Capitol Plan (HMO) H3672-023 | The Health Plan of West Virginia | 60 |
| Complete Blue PPO Merit (PPO) H5106-037 | Highmark Health | 43 |
| Humana USAA Honor Giveback (PPO) H5216-105 | Humana | 41 |
| The Health Plan SecureChoice - Option II (PPO) H8604-011 | The Health Plan of West Virginia | 16 |
See all 13 plans leaving Kanawha County →
A plan can be listed because it was renumbered or replaced, not only because a company is leaving the county. When the same company keeps other plans there, members are usually moved to a replacement plan. Your plan should send you a notice, and Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) is when you can compare and switch. “People enrolled” is the number enrolled in that plan today (CMS hides counts of 10 or fewer). Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2026 and 2027, and CMS enrollment data from September 2026.
Colleges and universities near Charleston
West Virginia public institutions include West Virginia University, Marshall University, West Virginia State University. Students and employees at these schools should check their school’s student health or benefits office, because campus plans and employer plans work differently from individual coverage. More about West Virginia colleges.
Do Charleston and Kanawha County have the same plans?
Plans are offered by service area, and Charleston falls under Kanawha County. A plan that serves Kanawha County is generally the one that applies to you.
Do I have to enroll if I call?
No. A call is a conversation about your options.
Charleston residents: call 855-367-1095
Call Lander LLC to go over your options. There is no cost to call or to speak with an agent, and you are never required to enroll in anything.
Call 855-367-1095Other major West Virginia cities
- Huntington
- Morgantown
- Parkersburg
- Wheeling
- Martinsburg
- Weirton
- Fairmont
- Beckley
- Clarksburg
- South Charleston
- Vienna
- St. Albans
Reviewed by Richard Lander, licensed insurance agent (NPN 21255551), Lander LLC. Last updated October 3, 2026. This page is educational and is not a quote, an offer of coverage, or legal or tax advice.