Medicaid in Virginia: what you may be able to apply for

Virginia adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion (effective January 1, 2019), so income-eligible adults 19-64 qualify with income under 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Virginia Medicaid is now unified under the Cardinal Care brand, with eligibility and enrollment handled through Cover Virginia and applications through CommonHelp (commonhelp.virginia.gov) or your local Department of Social Services (DSS). On immigration status — this is safety-critical — Cover Virginia's official "Health Coverage for Noncitizens" page states: "Children under age 19 must be lawfully residing to be eligible for Medicaid."; "Pregnant individuals may be eligible for Virginia Medicaid or FAMIS regardless of their immigration status."; "Nonpregnant adults must meet more restrictive immigration status rules to qualify. These rules are set to change October 1, 2026."; and "Noncitizens who do not have an eligible immigration status, but meet all Medicaid eligibility rules, may still be able to get Medicaid coverage for emergency services." So full Medicaid for adults generally requires a citizen or a qualified/lawfully present immigrant; and — regardless of status — Emergency Medicaid is available to treat an emergency medical condition. 🌟 Two Virginia bright spots: (1) lawfully residing children under 19 and lawfully residing pregnant people qualify without the usual five-year waiting period; (2) pregnant individuals can be covered regardless of immigration status through Virginia Medicaid/FAMIS, and FAMIS Prenatal Coverage covers prenatal care with no immigration-status, immigration-document, or Social Security number requirement (see the CHIP / FAMIS row). 🔴 Did-not-find, stated honestly: unlike California or Illinois, we did not find any Virginia state-funded program that provides full-scope Medicaid to undocumented children or undocumented non-pregnant adults — for children without lawful residence the pathway is Emergency Medicaid (plus, if pregnant, FAMIS Prenatal). Do not assume the whole family is barred, and do not assume everyone qualifies — a mixed-status household can have citizen or lawfully residing children on full coverage, a pregnant member on FAMIS Prenatal regardless of status, and others eligible only for Emergency Medicaid. 🔴 The October 1, 2026 change to non-pregnant adult immigration rules is a federal-level change; verify your own household with Cover Virginia (1-855-242-8282) or your local DSS. Applying for or receiving Medicaid for your children does not require the parents to have status.