As of April 1st, Medicaid coverage in Virginia is no longer protected during the ongoing pandemic. Over 25% of Americans rely on Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program for their healthcare after the program's coverage ballooned to cover about 90 million people from 70 million prior to the pandemic. However, the relief package passed by Congress in 2020 that ensured the continued coverage of these vulnerable Americans during the pandemic has ended. States may begin removing Medicaid beneficiaries that no longer fit the eligibility criteria regardless of whether they still require Medicaid for medical cover.

For example, Charlottesville city staff has 14 months to evaluate the eligibility of about 7,000 Medicaid cases, while Albemarle County is set to review over 18,000 Medicaid recipients over the next year for eligibility. The Medicaid reviews will be broken down by when a recipient renewed their coverage, with those who were eligible for renewal around mid-2020 set to renew with those due in May 2023.

If a beneficiary is found to be ineligible for Medicaid coverage, federal Marketplace coverage is provided as an alternative. Beneficiaries should double-check their address, phone number, and household composition through social services websites or by calling Cover Virginia on 1-855-242-8282 to ensure that their account is up to date.