Medicaid enrollment jumps
Jeremy M. Lazarus | 12/28/2018, 6 a.m.
More than 182,000 Virginia adults — or nearly half of the 400,000 projected to be eligible — have enrolled in Medicaid health care coverage that will begin Jan. 1, Gov. Ralph S. Northam announced.
“I’m proud of the tremendous progress we’re making to enroll Virginians who are newly eligible for health coverage under Medicaid expansion,” Gov. Northam stated Dec. 19 in a news release.
The new health coverage is available to people ages 19 through 64 who meet the expanded income requirements that went into effect after the General Assembly voted in May to expand Medicaid.
For example, a single adult with an annual income at or below $16,754 may be eligible for the health program. An adult in a three-person family with a total household annual income at or below $28,677 also may be eligible.
Enrollment has been simplified for people who receive food stamps, according to Dr. Daniel Carey, state secretary of health and human services.
Enrollment for Medicaid is open year-round, unlike the Affordable Care Act and Medicare, which have enrollment deadlines.
Since Nov. 1, the Cover Virginia call center has received more than 140,000 calls about the program.
Details on eligibility: www.coverva.org or (855) 242-8282. Those needing hearing assistance may call (888) 221-1590. — JEREMY M. LAZARUS
