More than 182,000 Virginians enroll in new health coverage
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More than 182,000 Virginia adults are now enrolled in new health coverage that begins on Jan. 1, Governor Ralph Northam said Tuesday.
The new coverage is available to men and women ages 19 through 64 who are not eligible for Medicare and who meet income requirements, which vary by family size. For example, a single adult with an annual income at or below $16,754 may be eligible for coverage. An adult in a three-person family with a total household annual income at or below $28,677 may be eligible.
Though enrollment for Marketplace health plans has ended, SNAP recipients and parents whose children are currently receiving Medicaid coverage have the opportunity to use a short-form application to sign up if they do so by Jan. 4. Those citizens were notified by letter earlier this fall, and a follow-up postcard was recently mailed to potentially eligible adults in these categories.
“I’m proud of the tremendous progress we’re making to enroll Virginians who are newly eligible for health coverage under Medicaid expansion,” said Governor Northam. “I encourage Virginians to visit CoverVA.org to find out if they are among the thousands now eligible under the new Medicaid rules, and apply for new coverage today.”
Virginians may apply for Medicaid at any time of the year. The Cover Virginia Call Center has received more than 140,000 calls since it began accepting Medicaid applications under the new eligibility rules Nov. 1. The call center logged more than 6,000 calls that day, the largest number in a single day since the facility opened in July 2001. That record was broken Nov. 26, when total calls exceeded 7,000.
“It has been very exciting to see the citizens we serve gain access to new health coverage,” said Virginia Department of Social Services Commissioner Duke Storen. “Our commitment to Virginians achieving better outcomes includes appropriate health care. The time to take advantage of this life-changing opportunity is now.”
For details about the new health coverage and eligibility rules, visit http://www.coverVA.org. The website includes an eligibility screening tool to help individuals assess whether they may qualify for coverage. Visitors to the website can sign up to receive regular information through email and text about the new coverage and enrollment process. Information also is available by calling 1-855-242-8282. Those who are deaf or hearing impaired can call 1-888-221-1590.
