Medicare Help in Virginia: Programs That Pay for Care (2026)

If you are on Medicare in Virginia and struggling to afford premiums, prescriptions, or home-based care, I want you to know something first: you are probably not seeing everything that is available to you. Virginia's Medicare help landscape is made up of overlapping programs - federal and state - that most beneficiaries never apply for because they don't know they qualify. According to medicare.gov, State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) exist in every state precisely to close that gap; Virginia's is called VICAP, and it is free. The state's Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) is the separate agency that runs Medicaid, including the Medicare Savings Programs that pay Part B premiums and the Aged, Blind, and Disabled track that can open the door to long-term services and support. This article explains each program, who qualifies, and what to do next - in plain language, without the runaround.

Watch: How Virginia's Medicare Savings Programs Can Reduce Your Monthly Costs

In short: Watch: How Virginia's Medicare Savings Programs Can Reduce Your Monthly Costs: This short video explains how Medicare Savings Programs work, who typically qualifies, and what to.

This short video explains how Medicare Savings Programs work, who typically qualifies, and what to expect when you apply - useful context before you call your local Department of Social Services.

According to medicare.gov, State Health Insurance Assistance Programs like VICAP exist in every state to help people understand exactly these kinds of options - at no cost. If you prefer to speak with someone directly after watching, a VICAP counselor can walk through your specific income and asset situation and tell you which program to apply for first.

What Is VICAP and How Do You Get Free Medicare Counseling in Virginia?

VICAP - the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program - offers free, certified Medicare counseling through local Area Agencies on Aging, with no sales pressure and no insurance products sold.

In my experience, this is one of the most underused resources in the state. Many Virginia families I speak with have never heard of VICAP, even after spending hours on hold with Medicare's 1-800 number or trying to navigate coverage decisions on their own. According to shiphelp.org, the national SHIP network that VICAP belongs to helps over 1 million people annually understand their Medicare options. That number reflects a real need. What it doesn't show is how many more people don't know to call.

A comparison of free Medicare counseling resources shows that VICAP stands out specifically because its counselors are trained and certified - and cannot sell you anything. That last point matters more than it sounds.

The "no sales pressure" test: When you sit down with a VICAP counselor, ask yourself one question - did this person try to enroll me in a plan? If yes, you are not talking to a VICAP counselor. VICAP counselors explain options. They help you compare. They do not earn commissions.

VICAP can assist with:

• Medicare Advantage plan comparisons
• Medigap (supplemental insurance) guidance
• Medicare Part D prescription drug plan selection
• Cardinal Care Managed Care (Virginia's Medicaid program)
• Medicare appeals and denial navigation
• Low-income assistance program applications
• Healthcare fraud prevention

The program is administered by the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Eligibility extends to any Medicare beneficiary - including people with disabilities and those younger than 65. To schedule a counseling session, contact your local Area Agency on Aging. You can also reach DARS directly at 804-662-7000.

I'd recommend calling before Open Enrollment season starts. Counselors get busy in the fall, and a little preparation goes a long way.

What Are Virginia's Medicare Savings Programs and Who Qualifies in 2026?

In short: What Are Virginia's Medicare Savings Programs and Who Qualifies in 2026?: Virginia has four Medicare Savings Programs that pay some or all of your Medicare costs.

Virginia has four Medicare Savings Programs that pay some or all of your Medicare costs - and if your monthly income is under $1,816, you likely qualify for at least one of them.

This is the piece most people miss. They assume Medicare is all-or-nothing. It isn't. Virginia administers these programs through the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), and they are funded by Medicaid - not Medicare. The name is confusing. The benefit is real.

According to medicare.gov, here is what each tier pays in 2026:

Program	Income Limit (Individual)	Income Limit (Married Couple)	What It Pays
QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary)	$1,350/month	$1,824/month	Part B premium + deductibles + coinsurance + copays
SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary)	$1,616/month	$2,184/month	Part B premium only
QI (Qualifying Individual)	$1,816/month	$2,455/month	Part B premium only

The resource limit for QMB, SLMB, and QI is $9,950 for an individual or $14,910 for a married couple. A primary home is generally not counted.

QMB has one benefit the others don't: providers cannot bill you for Medicare-covered services - not deductibles, not coinsurance, not copays. In practice, QMB coverage can eliminate hundreds of dollars in annual out-of-pocket costs. That is a meaningful difference from SLMB or QI.

All three programs also qualify you for Extra Help, which caps each covered prescription drug at $12.65 in 2026. The takeaway: MSP enrollment often reduces drug costs at the same time it reduces premium costs.

One caution with QI: you must reapply every year, and states approve applications on a first-come, first-served basis. In my experience, people who wait until December often miss out. Apply early.

To apply in Virginia, contact your local Department of Social Services office or visit CommonHelp.virginia.gov.

How Does Virginia's ABD Medicaid Work - and Who Actually Qualifies?

In short: How Does Virginia's ABD Medicaid Work - and Who Actually Qualifies?: Virginia's Aged, Blind, and Disabled Medicaid track has a strict income limit of $1,044 per.

Virginia's Aged, Blind, and Disabled Medicaid track has a strict income limit of $1,044 per month and a $2,000 asset limit for individuals - far tighter than the Medicare Savings Program thresholds.

Many people I talk with assume that because they qualified for QMB or SLMB, they also qualify for full Medicaid. That is not how it works. ABD Medicaid is a separate track. The eligibility thresholds are different, the application process is different, and the benefits are substantially broader - covering nursing home care, personal care services, and home- and community-based waiver programs that Medicare simply does not pay for.

Virginia sets its ABD income limit at the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) standard, which is $1,044 per month for an individual in 2026. That number catches a lot of people off guard - it is lower than the QMB threshold by more than $300 per month.

The asset limit is strict. You can hold no more than $2,000 in countable assets as an individual. A primary home, one vehicle, personal belongings, and burial funds are typically excluded. Savings accounts, additional real estate, and most investments count.

One rule worth knowing: if a family member pays a bill directly on your behalf - rent to a landlord, electricity to the utility company - that payment is generally not counted as income against you. According to VICAP counselors and DMAS guidance, this "in-kind support" distinction matters most for families who quietly help an older parent meet monthly expenses without realizing it could affect a Medicaid application.

In practice: cash gifts to you are income. Paying your landlord directly is usually not. The difference can determine eligibility.

ABD Medicaid is also the gateway to Virginia's Medicaid long-term care waiver programs. Without ABD Medicaid, you cannot access the services that pay for in-home care hours, assisted living, or adult day support. That is why it matters even for people who already have Medicare.

To apply, visit CommonHelp.virginia.gov or contact your local Department of Social Services. VICAP counselors can also help you prepare your application paperwork at no cost.

Why Does a Medicare Deduction Appear on Your Social Security Check Without Warning?

After 24 months of receiving Social Security Disability Income, Medicare enrollment is automatic - and so is the Part B premium deduction from your monthly benefit check.

This is one of the most disorienting moments families describe to me. A check that was $1,450 one month is suddenly $1,265 the next. No letter arrived first. No one called. Medicare Part B enrollment happened automatically, and the $185 monthly premium was deducted before the money ever reached the bank.

The source of the confusion is structural. Medicare Savings Programs - despite having "Medicare" in the name - are funded and administered through Medicaid. That means two different agencies are involved in your coverage. Social Security handles the deduction. DMAS handles the MSP application. Neither one proactively coordinates with the other on your behalf.

In practice: you may qualify for QMB and never be told. The deduction starts. The eligibility window passes. And by the time someone calls us, they have lost months of premiums they could have reclaimed.

There is a fix. Under QMB rules, Medicaid is required to refund Part B premiums that were deducted while you were enrolled in QMB - going back up to three months in most cases. But that refund requires someone to know to apply. VICAP counselors can walk you through the QMB application and help document the retroactive claim.

One thing worth naming here: SSDI recipients under 65 are often surprised to learn they have Medicare at all. Most people associate Medicare with turning 65. After 24 months on SSDI, you have it regardless of age. That early Medicare enrollment changes which programs you can access - and which ones you can't.

The takeaway: Medicare and Medicaid are separate systems that interact in ways nobody explains to you upfront. Getting them working together is worth the effort. It is also worth asking for help.

Should You Choose Medicare Advantage or Traditional Medicare in Virginia?

In short: Should You Choose Medicare Advantage or Traditional Medicare in Virginia?: Medicare Advantage plans tend to have lower monthly premiums, but they cap your annual out-of-pocket exposure.

Medicare Advantage plans tend to have lower monthly premiums, but they cap your annual out-of-pocket exposure at up to $8,850 and require prior authorization for many services - a trade-off traditional Medicare doesn't impose.

This is the question I hear most often during VICAP counseling sessions. People see a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan and think they are getting a better deal than traditional Medicare. Sometimes they are right. Sometimes the $8,850 annual out-of-pocket ceiling is the number that changes the conversation.

Here is the core distinction. Traditional Medicare - Parts A and B - pays a defined share of nearly any Medicare-covered service from any participating provider, no referrals required. You add Medigap to fill the gaps (deductibles, coinsurance), and you pay a predictable monthly premium. The total cost is higher. The friction is lower.

Medicare Advantage replaces Part A and Part B through a private insurer approved by CMS. Premiums are often lower - sometimes $0 for individuals who already have their Part B premium covered by an MSP. The trade-off is a defined network and prior authorization requirements. Before a hospital admission or an imaging study, your plan may require approval. If that approval is denied, you can appeal - but the process takes time you may not have.

One pattern I see often: Virginia beneficiaries who chose a Medicare Advantage plan for the low premium and then discovered their specialist was out of network. They faced the choice of paying full cost or switching plans - but only during Open Enrollment, which runs October 15 through December 7 each year.

The takeaway is not that Medicare Advantage is wrong. It is that the comparison requires knowing your own health usage. High-utilization patients - those with chronic conditions, specialists, or frequent hospitalizations - often fare better with traditional Medicare plus Medigap. Lower-utilization patients often find Medicare Advantage adequate and more affordable.

A VICAP counselor can run a side-by-side comparison for your specific situation. That is exactly what the service is designed for.

What Does Medicare Actually Pay for at Home - and Where Does It Stop?

Medicare covers skilled home health care - nursing visits, therapy, short-term aide support - but only when you are homebound, have a doctor's order, and use a Medicare-certified agency.

This distinction matters enormously for families trying to plan care for an older parent or a spouse. Medicare home health is not the same as full-time home care. It never was. The program pays for intermittent skilled services delivered by a Medicare-certified agency - not a companion, not a personal care attendant, not someone to be there when you can't be.

To qualify, you must meet all three conditions:

• Homebound status - leaving home requires considerable effort, a taxing trip, or assistance from another person or device
• Doctor's order - a physician or qualified practitioner must certify the need for home health care
• Medicare-certified agency - the agency providing care must be approved by CMS

When those conditions are met, Medicare covers skilled nursing visits, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and limited home health aide hours. The aide hours are tied to the skilled services - once therapy ends, aide coverage typically ends too.

In practice: Medicare home health is a bridge after a hospitalization or a health change. It is not a permanent care solution. Many families I speak with are shocked to learn their parent's coverage ran out - they assumed Medicare paid for ongoing help at home. It doesn't.

That gap is where Virginia's Medicaid Long-Term Services and Supports programs step in. The Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus waiver, for example, funds in-home personal assistance for people who qualify for nursing facility level of care but want to stay at home. The service hours are substantially broader than Medicare's intermittent model.

The takeaway: Medicare covers recovery. Medicaid LTSS covers long-term need. Understanding which program applies to your situation - and when the hand-off happens - is one of the most important planning conversations a Virginia family can have.

Are Federal Medicaid Cuts Putting Virginia's Long-Term Care Safety Net at Risk?

Federal legislation is already cutting close to $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next decade - and Virginia could lose between 260,000 and 600,000 covered residents as a result.

This is not a distant policy debate. The cuts are already written into law, and the projections for Virginia are specific. Fairfax County alone is estimated to lose more than $3.6 billion in Medicaid funding over time. Across the state, hospitals - particularly rural hospitals operating on thin margins - are expected to absorb roughly $2 billion in annual reductions.

What this means in practice for someone navigating Virginia's care system today:

• Medicaid LTSS waiver slots are already limited. Waiting lists exist. Cuts increase pressure on those lists.
• ABD Medicaid eligibility reviews may become more frequent and more restrictive as states face tighter federal match rates.
• Rural Virginians face additional risk if nearby hospitals reduce services or close outpatient facilities due to funding shortfalls.

I want to be direct here. None of this means the programs stop existing. QMB, SLMB, and ABD Medicaid are active and enrolling right now. MSP income limits rose again in 2026. The system is under strain, not collapse.

But the timing of your application matters more than it used to. A waiver slot that exists today may be on a freeze list next year. A program that covers 600,000 people today may cover fewer tomorrow if budget reconciliation proceeds as written.

The most honest advice I can offer: if you think you might qualify for Virginia's Medicaid LTSS programs, apply now. Do not wait for a health crisis to force the conversation. The programs are real, the benefits are substantial, and the window may narrow.

How Does DMAS Actually Decide if You Qualify for Medicaid in Virginia?

Virginia's Department of Medical Assistance Services evaluates Medicaid eligibility in three steps: covered group membership first, then nonfinancial requirements, then financial rules - in that order.

This sequence matters because most people approach the question backwards. They look up an income limit first, decide they don't qualify, and stop there. In practice, your covered group determines which financial rules even apply to you - and those rules differ significantly depending on whether you are a senior or person with a disability versus a working-age adult.

Here is how the sequence works for older Virginians and people with disabilities:

1. Covered group - You must fit into one of Virginia's defined eligibility categories. For seniors and people with disabilities, the relevant category is the Aged, Blind, or Disabled group. Eligibility for SSI automatically places you in this group.
2. Nonfinancial requirements - Virginia residency, citizenship or qualifying immigration status, and Social Security number verification come next. These are usually straightforward.
3. Financial rules - For ABD applicants, DMAS applies SSI-based rules: both income and assets are tested. This is different from the MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) rules used for children and working-age adults, which have no asset test.

Virginia also has a "medically needy" pathway for people who exceed the ABD income limit but have high medical expenses. Under this pathway, you subtract unreimbursed medical costs from your countable income - a process called "spend-down." If your income after that deduction falls below the eligibility threshold, you may qualify for a limited period.

In my experience, this pathway is underutilized. Families with a member in a nursing home or receiving intensive home care often qualify through spend-down without realizing it.

If the income limit is the only number you have checked, it may be worth a second look with a VICAP counselor or your local DMAS office.

How Do Virginia's Medicare and Medicaid Programs Work Together for One Person?

For many Virginia seniors, the programs described in this article work as a stack - each layer reducing a different category of cost or expanding a different category of service.

The clearest way I can explain it is with a realistic example. Take a Virginia resident who is 72, on Medicare, and has a monthly Social Security income of $1,290. She lives alone. Her daughter pays her electric bill directly each month.

Here is how the programs align for her:

• QMB - At $1,290/month individual income, she is below the QMB threshold. She qualifies. Medicare Part B premium, deductibles, coinsurance, and copays are covered. That daughter's electric payment doesn't count as income, so her eligibility is not affected by it.
• ABD Medicaid - At $1,290/month, she is above the $1,044 ABD income limit. She does not qualify outright. However, if she has significant unreimbursed medical costs, the spend-down pathway may bring her countable income below the threshold.
• Extra Help - QMB enrollment automatically qualifies her for the low-income subsidy on prescription drugs. Her drug copays drop to the fixed cap.
• Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus - If she qualifies for ABD Medicaid through spend-down, she becomes eligible to apply for this Medicaid LTSS waiver, which can fund personal care hours in her home.

Not every path opens for every person. But the stack is real. The programs are designed to interlock, even if no one agency explains that to you.

In practice, most families navigate these programs reactively - after a health crisis - rather than proactively. By then, a waiver application may take months. The VICAP counseling model is built to help people get ahead of that timeline.

Where Should Virginia Residents Go for Medicare and Medicaid Help?

For most Virginians, the right first call is your local Area Agency on Aging, which connects you to a VICAP counselor - free, unbiased, and trained specifically on Virginia's programs.

The source of help matters as much as the help itself. I have seen families spend hours on national Medicare comparison websites or call centers that don't know Virginia's MSP income limits, the Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus waiver process, or how DMAS handles the ABD spend-down pathway. General information is not the same as Virginia-specific guidance.

Here is where to go - and what each resource can actually do for you:

• Your local Area Agency on Aging - The access point for VICAP counseling. Counselors are certified, uncompensated, and prohibited from selling insurance. They can help with plan comparisons, MSP applications, and low-income subsidy paperwork. To find your local AAA, call 1-800-AGE-LINE or search the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services directory.
• Virginia DMAS (Department of Medical Assistance Services) - The state Medicaid agency. For ABD eligibility questions, benefit explanations, and waiver program information. Phone: 804-786-7933.
• CommonHelp.virginia.gov - The online portal for Medicaid applications and renewals in Virginia. You can start an application, upload documents, and check case status here.
• Your local Department of Social Services office - For in-person Medicaid applications, especially useful for older adults who prefer not to navigate online portals.

One caution: national Medicare tools and general eligibility calculators may not reflect Virginia's specific thresholds, waiver availability, or DMAS rules. Use them for background education, not for benefit decisions.

The Understood Care team also works with Virginia families navigating these questions. If you are unsure where to start or have already hit a wall with one of these agencies, we are available to help you sort through the stack.

What Should Virginia Medicare Beneficiaries Watch for Over the Next Two Years?

Three forces will reshape Virginia's Medicare landscape: tightening Medicaid eligibility, rising Medicare Savings Program thresholds, and growing federal scrutiny of Medicare Advantage plans.

• Medicaid access is likely to shrink. According to reporting from Virginia health policy researchers, federal budget legislation already in motion would cut Medicaid at a scale that could remove coverage from hundreds of thousands of Virginia residents who currently depend on long-term services and home-based care. The weak signal is visible now: Virginia's largest counties are projecting significant Medicaid funding losses over the next decade. If you depend on CCC+ or another Medicaid-funded home care waiver, eligibility rules are likely to tighten - applying while current thresholds hold is the lower-risk move.
• Medicare Savings Program thresholds will likely keep rising. Income limits have increased each of the past several years. People who did not qualify when they first checked may qualify today. A twenty-minute appointment with a VICAP counselor once a year is the simplest way to stay current as limits shift.
• Federal investigators are scrutinizing Medicare Advantage billing. Investigations allege plans overcharged the federal government by tens of billions of dollars through upcoded diagnoses. If CMS enforcement tightens, plan benefits and premium structures could change with short notice. Lock in a VICAP counseling appointment before each fall open enrollment to reassess your plan choice with current data.

Here is the thing most families miss: the bigger risk is usually not enrolling late - it is enrolling in the right program at the wrong time, while the rules are quietly changing around it. Staying informed is not a one-time task. It is annual.

Our predictions for 12-24 months

What's Next for Virginia Medicare Assistance Programs

Three forecasts on how Medicaid cuts, Medicare Advantage growth, and savings-program limits will affect Virginia Medicare beneficiaries.

25 sources analyzed5 community discussions3 industry publications2 government sources2 video sources

A

Forecasts for Virginia Medicare Beneficiaries

Use these forecasts to anticipate changes in Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and savings-program eligibility over the next two years.

Strongest Evidence

70/100

High confidence 12-24 months

Virginia's Medicare Savings Program income limits will keep climbing, with the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary threshold rising from $1,235 a month for an individual in 2024 to $1,350 in 2026, qualifying more low-income Medicare beneficiaries for Part B premium and cost-sharing assistance over the next 12-24 months.

Our Wildcard

56/100

Medium confidence 12-24 months

Even as investigations allege Medicare Advantage plans overcharge the federal government by $100-140 billion a year, Virginia Medicare Advantage enrollment is likely to keep expanding over the next 12-24 months because its premiums remain much lower than traditional Medicare paired with a Medigap policy.

48/100

High confidence 12-24 months

Over the next 12-24 months, Virginia could see 260,000 to 600,000 residents lose Medicaid coverage as roughly $2 billion in annual cuts hit Virginia hospitals, putting pressure on waiting lists for Medicaid-funded long-term care and pushing the state's uninsured rate up from its current 7%.

Soft Evidence So Far Federal legislation already set to cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next decade, with Fairfax County alone projected to lose more than $3.6 billion in Medicaid funding by 2034. Beneficiaries describe Medicare Advantage premiums as far lower than traditional Medicare plus Medigap, while a Medicare Advantage enrollee reports paying only 10-20% of charges for office visits and partial coverage for hearing aids and dental care. Reddit threads document beneficiaries in Virginia successfully applying for QMB, SLMB, and QI as the 2024 income limits ($1,235-$1,660 single) were already lower than the 2026 limits ($1,350-$1,816 single) now published by Medicare.gov.

B

Supporting and contrary evidence

Each forecast lists the sources that support it alongside the sources that complicate it.

Medicare Savings Program income limits keep rising in Virginia 70

Supporting evidence

• The case rests on Medicare Savings Programs. [Government]Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are administered at the state level; applicants apply through their state, which determines program eligibility. “Medicare providers aren't allowed to bill you for services and items Medicare covers, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.”
• How to get Medical to pay for my medicare part B? is what puts this forecast on the board. [Community / Forum]Medicare Part B premium deduction cited in the thread: $174.40 per month withheld from Social Security (user's example, 2024-era figure). “SSA is just letting you know they have to deduct it. Talk to the county about the Medi[c]are savings program/ state buy-in. If the state pays going back you…”

Counter-signals

• Pushing back: Medicaid Cuts Are Coming to Virginia: How to Protect Your Family's. [Blog]Federal legislation is set to cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next decade. “double squeeze" - used by unnamed "experts" to describe Virginia's simultaneous immediate funding uncertainty and long-term Medicaid cuts.”

Medicare Advantage keeps growing in Virginia despite overcharge scrutiny 56

Supporting evidence

• OPINION: Medicare Advantage - A Disadvantage for Patients? is what puts this forecast on the board. [Substack / Newsletter]Medicare was enacted in 1965 as a "public good" for the American people rather than business. “Advantage plans are 'causing significant harm to America's patients, providers, and healthcare system. The insurers who run MA plans claim they lead to better…”
• Medicare Versus the Insurance Industry: A Privatization-Driven Arms supports this forecast. [Substack / Newsletter]Article by Paul Krugman published Jan 7, 2025, titled "Medicare Versus the Insurance Industry: A Privatization-Driven Arms Race," framed around "forty years of gaming the system.". “Privatisation has never been about providing a cheaper, better service. It has always been about rich getting their hands on things we own." - quoted by…”

Counter-signals

• Understanding Medicare Home Health Care is the strongest argument against it. [Industry Publication]Most home health care is covered under Medicare Part B; Part A may cover it in certain situations following a qualifying three-day hospital stay or a covered Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) stay. “Medicare’s coverage of home health care is very limited and does not meet the full needs of many older adults and people with disabilities.”

Federal Medicaid cuts squeeze Virginia long-term care access 48

Supporting evidence

• Backing it: Medicaid Cuts Are Coming to Virginia: How to Protect Your Family's. [Blog]Virginia could see 260,000 to 600,000 people lose Medicaid coverage.

Counter-signals

• Against it: Medicare Savings Programs. [Government]QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) 2026 monthly income limit: $1,350 individual / $1,824 married couple; resource limit: $9,950 individual / $14,910 married couple.

C

What could change these forecasts

Federal Medicaid funding decisions and Medicare Advantage oversight actions could shift these outcomes.

Worth Pausing On

Weigh these differently: 70 has the strongest case behind it, 56 is the one worth watching closest for a reversal.

• If regulators or buyers move in the opposite direction, Medicare Savings Program income limits keep rising in Virginia would weaken first.
• If the source mix shifts toward stronger contrary evidence, Medicare Advantage keeps growing in Virginia despite overcharge scrutiny could become the more durable forecast.

Methodology We treat these forecasts the way we treat a diagnosis: look at the evidence first, ask what could disprove it, and only then commit to an answer.

What I Tell Every Virginia Family Before They Leave Our Office

In short: Here is the thing I find myself saying over and over: Virginia has real programs that pay real costs - but they only work for families who actually apply.

Here is the thing I find myself saying over and over: Virginia has real programs that pay real costs - but they only work for families who actually apply. The window to access them is open right now. Income limits have been rising each year, which means some families who did not qualify twelve months ago may qualify today - but pending federal Medicaid changes could tighten eligibility in the months ahead.

Do not wait until a crisis to check. VICAP counseling is free. Applying for QMB, SLMB, or ABD Medicaid through DMAS costs nothing. The worst outcome is learning you don't qualify - and that only takes a conversation. I'd rather you know your options than carry costs that a government program was designed to cover.

If you are unsure whether your income qualifies for QMB, SLMB, or ABD Medicaid - or want help applying - our Virginia patient advocates at Understood Care can walk through your situation with you at no charge.