Health Care
Virginia Has Another Chance to Get It Right on Health Coverage
Virginia residents may face another round of cuts to vital services because state revenues are coming in lower than expected. And, once again, a common sense solution to saving the state money and boosting Virginia’s economy is staring right at lawmakers: closing the health care coverage gap. Closing the gap could inject roughly $2 billion in federal money per year into Virginia, help as many as 400,000 low-paid Virginians get the medical care they need to be healthy and productive, and protect vital services from cuts by saving the state hundreds of millions of dollars.
Let’s Put Out the ‘Welcome Mat’ So More Virginia Kids Get Health Insurance
More than 20,000 kids in Virginia may lack health insurance because lawmakers have refused to close the health care coverage gap for their parents. That’s because allowing more low-income adults to get health insurance also helps connect more low-income children with the coverage they’re already eligible for.
We’re in This Together
African-American and immigrant communities in Virginia share many challenges, and there are critical policy solutions that could improve the lives of both immigrant and African-American Virginians. This report explores some of these challenges and solutions, focusing on residential segregation, schools that too often fail to meet the needs of all students, employment challenges for adults without high school diplomas, low wages for many workers, lack of health insurance and culturally competent health care, significant caretaking responsibilities without the benefit of paid sick leave and family leave, and harsher punishment in the criminal justice system.
Medicaid Reduces Financial Stress
Closing the coverage gap in Virginia would help 400,000 people get quality, affordable health care. And, as this growing body of research shows, it would also protect them from financial ruin for reasons often beyond their control: illness and injury.
Mental Health Coverage Gap Remains Despite Lawmakers’ Efforts, Assertions
No one suffering from a serious mental illness should be denied the care they need. Without the appropriate medications, there are men and women, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters who are left to struggle without a realistic shot at managing their disease.
Closing the Coverage Gap Could Combat Addiction and Mental Illness
Investing in preventing and treating substance use disorders and mental illness is pragmatic and cost-effective. Virginia lawmakers know this is true because they are using state dollars to increase access to these services for some people. Now it is time for them to close the coverage gap to make sure that all Virginians can obtain the quality, affordable care they need to be healthy and productive.