Virginia health insurance plans
How individual and family health coverage works in Virginia, in plain language.
ACA Open Enrollment opens November 1st
Open enrollment starts November 1st. Not sure which Virginia plan is right for you? Call and we'll help you find it.
Where Virginia residents shop
Virginia residents who buy their own coverage shop on Virginia's Insurance Marketplace at www.marketplace.virginia.gov. That is also where income-based help with monthly premiums (premium tax credits) is applied. Virginia runs its own marketplace, so it has its own enrollment dates and rules.
Virginia's insurance regulator isn't a standalone department the way most states structure it -- the Bureau of Insurance is a division of the State Corporation Commission (SCC), the same body that also oversees Virginia's Insurance Marketplace.
Enrolling
Open enrollment dates are set by the marketplace and can change from year to year, so confirm this year’s window on the marketplace site before you plan around it. Outside open enrollment you generally need a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage, moving, or a change in household size.
What affects the plans you see
- Where you live. Plans and premiums are set by area within Virginia, so your county matters. Find your county.
- Income and household size. These determine help with premiums and whether you may qualify for Medicaid instead.
- Plan level. Metal levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) trade a lower monthly premium against higher costs when you use care.
Virginia Medicaid and FAMIS (Virginia's children's health insurance program) are administered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) -- DMAS, through the Cover Virginia call center, is the right place to start if your Virginia Medicaid eligibility changed.
Virginia's Insurance Marketplace, launched November 1, 2023, fully replaced HealthCare.gov as the place Virginia residents shop for individual and family ACA coverage.
Free Medicare counseling is available in Virginia through VICAP (Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program) at 1-800-552-3402, run by the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services and separate from Virginia Medical Insurance's own free phone help.
Questions
Where do I shop for ACA health plans in Virginia?
Virginia residents shop through Virginia's Insurance Marketplace (https://www.marketplace.virginia.gov). An independent agent such as Lander LLC can explain the plans for you, but the marketplace is the only place premium tax credits are applied.
How do I apply for Medicaid in Virginia?
Medicaid in Virginia is run through Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) (https://www.dmas.virginia.gov). Eligibility depends on income, household size and other factors, and it is decided by the state, not by an insurance agency.
Who regulates insurance in Virginia?
Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance (https://www.scc.virginia.gov/boi) regulates insurance companies and agents in Virginia. You can use it to check that an agent or company is licensed and to file a complaint.
Is there free, unbiased Medicare help in Virginia?
Yes. VICAP (Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program) (1-800-552-3402) offers free Medicare counseling through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), separate from any insurance agency.
Does Virginia Medical Insurance cost anything to use?
There is no cost to call or to speak with an agent. Insurance premiums and plan costs are set by the insurance companies and are separate from our help.
Questions about Virginia health plans? Call 855-367-1095
Call Lander LLC to go over your options. There is no cost to call or to speak with an agent, and you are never required to enroll in anything.
Call 855-367-1095Reviewed by Richard Lander, licensed insurance agent (NPN 21255551), Lander LLC. Last updated October 3, 2026. This page is educational and is not a quote, an offer of coverage, or legal or tax advice.