For 2024 health plans, Virginia open enrollment begins on November 1, 2023 and runs through January 15, 2024. If you enroll by December 15, your coverage will start on January 1, 2024.
Once open enrollment ends, you might qualify for a 60-day special enrollment period that will allow you to sign up for a new health insurance plan. (See What Happens If I Miss the Enrollment Deadline?)
To get covered, you can go directly to the online health insurance marketplace for Virginia. If you need personalized help, you can reach out to an enrollment assistant. Most enrollment helpers are working remotely during the COVID crisis.
Where's the Virginia Health Care Exchange?
You can find the health insurance exchange for Virginia atHealthcare.gov. This is where you can learn about the various health insurance options available to you under the Affordable Care Act. If you see a plan you like, you'll be guided through the enrollment process online.
The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) expanded Medicaid eligibility to include more people who couldn’t otherwise obtain health insurance. As written, the ACA would extend Medicaid to all adults with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. (For a single person in Virginia in 2023, that’s $20,120. For a family of four, it’s $41,400.)
However, the U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that it was up to individual states to decide whether to expand Medicaid. As of December 2023, only 10 states have not expanded their programs.
Virginia Has Expanded Medicaid
Because Virginia did decide to expand its Medicaid program, adults with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level are now eligible.
Virginia's Medicaid expansion law originally included plans for a work requirement and monthly premiums. However, those proposals were never implemented and Governor Northam withdrew them from consideration in July 2020.
Get Help Finding a Health Insurance Plan in Virginia
Get Help From Virginia's Health Insurance Exchange
The following links and telephone numbers take you to the official help resources for Healthcare.gov, the health insurance marketplace for Virginia.
Help by phone: 800-318-2596 (TTY: 855-889-4325)
In-person help: Go to Find Local Help, where you can enter your city and state or zip code to find an application assister, insurance agent, or health insurance broker in your area.
Get Help From a Licensed Insurance Broker
To directly connect with a Virginia insurance broker who can help you evaluate insurance plans and choose a plan that's appropriate for your situation, call 800-943-6832. (We receive advertising income from the licensed brokers who offer their services through this telephone number.)