The Commonwealth of Virginia, nicknamed Old Dominion, was the 10th of the original 13 colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution. It’s also the birth state of eight presidents. At the time of the Civil War, Virginia was heavily Democratic. Over time, the party affiliation of the state has shifted to a large Republican voting population. The state has a number of world class medical universities, facilities and specialized physicians. Cost of living in Virginia is more expensive than the majority of states, and that includes the cost of healthcare. Old Dominion did not expand Medicaid under ACA guidelines and challenged the law in the Supreme Court.
Enrollment through the Years
Virginia uses the federal marketplace for enrollment in Obamacare plans. Since 2015, the state has seen an increase in the number of people signing up for coverage through the exchange despite a drop in signups between last year and now.
- 385,154 Virginians enrolled in 2015
- 421,897 Virginians enrolled in 2016
- 410,726 Virginians enrolled in 2017
In 2017, there were 121,510 new enrollees in an Obamacare marketplace plan. The remaining 289,216 people re-enrolled from the previous year. Exchange customers in Virginia tend to be older. The 55-64 demographic had the highest enrollment tally in 2017.
Cost Assistance
Cost assistance is available to eligible enrollees who choose a plan on the marketplace, typically those earning between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty limit. In 2017, 82 percent of people who enrolled in a marketplace plan in Virginia received cost assistance in the form of federal subsidies, thereby reducing the cost of monthly premiums.
For certain enrollees – those earning up to 250 percent of the federal poverty limit – cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) are also available if they choose a silver-level health plan. In 2017, 59 percent of Virginia exchange customers received CSRs.
Carrier Participation & Plan Availability
Virginians have two carrier options in the marketplace for 2018, nine fewer than they had in 2017. Last year, there were 3,583 plans offered by 11 carriers across the state. This does not mean that every county in Virginia has the same options for health insurance. Plan availability varies by county.
Note: The information provided on this page is constantly being updated with the latest statistical data available. Check back soon for updates.
