Medicaid in Virginia is a state program, but most people never visit the agency that runs it. The Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) writes the rules, pays providers and oversees the health plans. Local social services staff, a state call center and an online portal handle the day-to-day work of applications and renewals. This page explains how those pieces fit together, what our three listed offices in Arlington, Richmond and Roanoke offer, and how to prepare before you go.
How Virginia Divides Medicaid Work Between DMAS, Local Agencies and Cover Virginia
Federal law requires each state to name one agency to administer Medicaid. In Virginia that agency is DMAS, headquartered in Richmond. DMAS sets coverage policy, signs contracts with managed care companies, runs the member helpline and reimburses doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and long-term care providers. It does not keep a walk-in counter in every county.
Eligibility decisions are shared. Local departments of social services, which operate under the Virginia Department of Social Services, accept applications and review income, household size and residency in their own city or county. DMAS also runs Cover Virginia, which includes a central processing unit and a call center at 1-855-242-8282. Cover Virginia takes applications by phone and mail and handles many renewals, so some cases move through it rather than through the local counter.
That gives you four ways to start: apply online through the CommonHelp portal, call Cover Virginia, visit your local social services office, or mail a paper application. The eligibility rules are the same on every route. What changes is the wait time, the office hours and how easily you reach a person.
After approval, most members join a managed care program called Cardinal Care. You choose a health plan from the insurers contracted in your area, and that plan manages your network of doctors, specialists and pharmacies. Check that your current providers accept the plan before you pick one. If you do not choose, the state assigns a plan for you.
Arlington, Richmond and Roanoke: The Medicaid Offices in Our Virginia Listings
Our database lists three Medicaid offices in Virginia. Each sits in a different part of the state and serves a very different population. Confirm hours by phone before you travel, because offices change schedules and some work by appointment.
Arlington Virginia Medicaid Office
This listing is at 2100 Washington Boulevard in Arlington, phone 703-228-1350. Arlington County is a compact, densely populated county across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. Benefit programs are handled through the county government's human services operation. Arlington is one of the most expensive places to live in the state, so some working households still qualify for children's coverage or for help with long-term care costs. The county has a large multilingual population, so ask about interpreter services when you call.
Richmond Virginia Medicaid Office
The Richmond listing is at 600 East Broad Street, phone 804-786-8099. That street address is the one DMAS uses for its headquarters in downtown Richmond, which makes this listing most useful for general program questions, provider issues and policy information. Applicants who live in the city should confirm whether to go to the city's social services office instead. Our directory files this entry under City of Richmond County because Richmond is an independent city and does not sit inside any county.
Roanoke Virginia Medicaid Office
The Roanoke listing is at 1510 Williamson Road Northeast, phone 540-853-2591. We group it under Roanoke County, but Williamson Road Northeast runs through the independent City of Roanoke, which has its own social services agency separate from the county's. Residents of the county and residents of the city may be served by different offices, so confirm which one handles your home address before you drive. Roanoke is the main hub of the Roanoke Valley and draws people from smaller communities across western Virginia.
Metro and Rural Virginia: How Where You Live Changes the Medicaid Experience
Virginia has 95 counties and 38 independent cities, and each locality has its own social services agency or shares one with neighbors. That is why a Medicaid office in our directory can sit in a city that belongs to no county, and why the labels in the listings sometimes look unusual.
In Northern Virginia, including Arlington, caseloads are large and housing costs push many families close to the income limits. Expect busy phone lines, appointments at some offices and a real advantage in applying online. Richmond combines the state headquarters with a large local caseload of its own, so state-level questions and local case questions often go to different people.
In rural Southwest Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley and Southside, offices are farther apart and public transit is limited. A phone or online application can save a long drive. Rural members may also find fewer specialists in their plan's network. Ask your health plan about telehealth and about non-emergency transportation to medical appointments, which Medicaid arranges for eligible members through a state contractor.
Roanoke sits between those extremes. It is a regional medical and service center, so people from surrounding counties often travel there for care. If your home county has a small social services office, you can still apply online or by phone and use Roanoke-area providers if your plan includes them.
Who Qualifies for Medicaid in Virginia and What to Bring
Virginia expanded Medicaid on January 1, 2019. Adults aged 19 to 64 can qualify if household income is at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Other groups qualify under separate rules: children, pregnant women, parents and caretaker relatives, people age 65 and older, and people who are blind or have a disability. FAMIS, the state's Children's Health Insurance Program, covers children and pregnant women whose income is above Medicaid limits but still modest.
Income limits change each year with the federal poverty guidelines, so check current figures with DMAS or a local office rather than relying on an old chart. Long-term care and home- and community-based waiver services add their own income, asset and level-of-care tests.
Have these items ready when you apply, whether you upload them or carry them in:
- Photo ID for each adult applicant
- Social Security numbers for household members who are applying
- Proof of Virginia residency, such as a lease, utility bill or official mail
- Recent pay stubs, benefit letters or tax records that show income
- Immigration documents for non-citizens who are applying
- Insurance cards and recent bank statements if you are applying for long-term care coverage
Virginia can cover medical bills from up to three months before your application month if you were eligible during that time. That makes it worth applying quickly after a hospital stay. The agency generally has 45 days to decide an application, or 90 days when a disability determination is needed.
Before You Go: Practical Steps for Using a Virginia Medicaid Office
A short phone call saves most wasted trips. Ask whether the office takes walk-ins or only appointments, what hours it keeps and whether it can handle your type of case. If you are calling the Richmond number, ask whether you should be directed to the city's social services office or to Cover Virginia for your application.
Bring originals and copies of every document, and ask for a receipt, confirmation number or the caseworker's name before you leave. If you apply online, save the confirmation page. When the agency asks for more proof, it sets a deadline, and a missed deadline is a common reason applications are denied. Send what you have on time and explain what is still coming.
Once you are approved, keep your contact details current. Report changes in income, household size or address promptly, usually within 10 days of the change. Coverage is reviewed about once a year, and the renewal notice goes to the address on file. If the answer is a denial, the notice states the reason and how to appeal, and the deadline is short, so act on it right away.
Medicaid in Georgia is administered by the state health and human services agency, providing health coverage for eligible low-income residents through a combination of fee-for-service and managed care delivery systems tailored to the state's population needs.
Medicaid Office locations are available in 7 cities across Georgia. They are spread across 7 counties.
Cities with the highest concentration include Sandersville, Ringgold, Quitman, which have the largest Medicaid caseloads in the state and dedicated eligibility offices to serve high-need urban populations.
Residents of Georgia can apply for Medicaid online through the state's health benefits portal or health exchange, by calling the Medicaid agency's toll-free number, or by visiting a local eligibility office with the required documentation.
Dublin Georgia Medicaid Office
Fitzgerald Georgia Medicaid Office
Pearson Georgia Medicaid Office
Quitman Georgia Medicaid Office
Ringgold Georgia Medicaid Office
Sandersville Ga Medicaid Office
Sandersville Georgia Medicaid Office
Tucker Georgia Medicaid Office
Residents of Georgia who currently receive Medicaid should complete their annual renewal on time to avoid a gap in coverage. Most states send renewal notices by mail and email, and online renewal is typically the fastest method to maintain uninterrupted healthcare coverage.
Browse Medicaid Office by county across Georgia to find the nearest location.
Medicaid Help Across Virginia: Phone, Online and In-Person Options
Most Virginians reach Medicaid through one of three doors. The first is CommonHelp, the state's online portal, which lets you apply, upload documents and check your case at any hour. The second is Cover Virginia at 1-855-242-8282, which suits you if you prefer to talk to a person or lack reliable internet. The third is the local social services office in your city or county.
Our listings give you three direct phone numbers: 703-228-1350 for Arlington, 804-786-8099 for Richmond and 540-853-2591 for Roanoke. For county-level detail, see Arlington County, City of Richmond County or Roanoke County.
A few habits make every route easier. Apply as soon as you need coverage instead of waiting for perfect paperwork, because you can send missing proof afterward. Write down the date you applied, the name of anyone you speak with and any case number. Open every letter from DMAS, Cover Virginia or your local office, since missed requests for information are a common reason for denials and closures. If English is not your first language, ask for an interpreter. Agencies that receive federal funds must provide language help at no cost to you.