Local Outreach Workers Help Newly Unemployed Virginians Apply for Free Health Insurance During COVID-19 Health Emergency

Falls Church, VA – During these uncertain times, health is on nearly everyone’s mind. The Commonwealth of Virginia is taking action to fight COVID-19 and to improve access to the healthcare you and your family need. Virginia’s Medicaid/FAMIS programs cover comprehensive health and mental health services, including testing and treatment for COVID-19.

Local bilingual Outreach Workers with Inova Partnership for Healthier Communities, provide free, no touch 1:1 assistance to anyone who wants to learn about, apply for, or renew Medicaid/FAMIS coverage.

Between March 14 and June 6, 2020, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 203,044 new unemployment claims were filed in Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties and the Cities of Fairfax, Alexandria, Manassas, and Manassas Park. Of those who lost jobs, it is expected that more than 70,000 newly-unemployed and their families are now eligible for Virginia Medicaid. It is projected that by January 2021, almost 88,000 area resdients uninsured due to COVID-19 loss of health coverage will be Medicaid-eligible.

Current monthly income and family size are the only criteria used to evaluate financial eligibility for this comprehensive insurance coverage, available to Virginians under age 65. For example, the following individuals would be eligible for coverage:

• Single adult Virginians with a monthly income up to $1,469 (annual income up to $17,609).
• Adults in a household of three with a monthly income of $2,499 (annual income up to $29,974).
• Children and pregnant women in families earning up to $3,711 for a family of three (annual income up to $44,526).

Home, land, and retirement savings do not count as income when determining your Medicaid/FAMIS eligibility. COVID-19 stimulus checks (Economic Impact Payments from the IRS), and the $600/week in additional federal unemployment also do not count as income and will not affect your eligibility.

Medicaid/FAMIS coverage starts on the first day of the month in which you apply, so do not delay in applying for the coverage you have earned.

Outreach Workers are committed to working safely during this health emergency and provide all application assistance following social distancing guidlines. And, they make sure the Medicaid/FAMIS application process goes as smoothly as possible, every step of the way. 

Fairfax City or Fairfax County:  Call 703.698.2550 or text 703.479.0330

Prince William: Contact Joice Asato at Joice.Asato@inova.org or (703) 967-3772 (call or text)

Loudoun County: Contact Hyrcania Valentine at Hyrcania.Valentin@inova.org or (703) 579-7161 (call or text)

These helpful bilingual Outreach Workers are part of a special initiative of the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) in partnership with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services and the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

VHCF was initiated by the General Assembly and its Joint Commission on Health Care in 1992 as a public/private partnership with a mission to increase access to primary health care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians. Since its inception, it has funded 430 community-based projects across the Commonwealth, and its programs and partnerships have touched the lives of more than 700,000 uninsured Virginians.

For more information about VHCF and its programs, visit www.vhcf.org or call (804) 828-5804.

Media Contact: Tracy Connell, tracy.connell@inova.org

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About Inova                              

Inova is Northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider, recognized in 2019 by U.S. News & World Report, which named Inova Fairfax Hospital the #1 hospital in the Washington, DC region. All five Inova hospitals were awarded ‘A’ grades for the spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, recognizing Inova’s achievements in protecting patients from harm and providing safer healthcare. Each of Inova’s five hospitals holds a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), distinguishing Inova as the highest-rated large health system in the U.S., and the only system to have all hospitals receive five stars. Inova Fairfax Medical Campus was named to the Fortune/IBM Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals list, ranking in the top 10 nationwide among Major Teaching Hospitals. Our mission is to provide world-class healthcare – every time, every touch – to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve. Inova’s 18,000 team members serve more than 2 million individuals annually through an integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services and destination institutes. Inova is home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its hospitals have a total of 1,800 licensed beds. More information and statistics about Inova can be found at www.inova.org.