Medicaid for pregnant women in Virginia
The number
Cardinal Care covers pregnancy-related care up to 205% of the federal poverty line — about $52,930 annual income for a family of three in 2025 — including prenatal, delivery, and postpartum visits plus WIC eligibility.
What Medicaid covers during pregnancy in Virginia
Cardinal Care covers pregnant women up to 205% of the federal poverty line — about $52,930 annual income for a family of three in 2025. Enrollment covers the full pregnancy from the date of application, plus — in most states — presumptive eligibility, which lets a qualified hospital, FQHC, or WIC clinic enroll you on the spot for at least 60 days of temporary coverage while your application is processed. Apply at https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/.
What's covered during pregnancy: all prenatal visits (ACOG recommends 10-15 for a typical pregnancy), ultrasounds, prenatal labs and blood tests, genetic screening, birth classes in most states, labor and delivery (vaginal or c-section), anesthesia, newborn care, and the 6-week postpartum check. Dental and vision are covered for pregnant enrollees in every state regardless of whether they're covered for adults generally. Cardinal Care extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months (effective 2022-07-01), and covers doula services through Medicaid at up to $959 per full perinatal package (effective 2022-04-01).
WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) is a separate federal program that every Medicaid-enrolled pregnant woman automatically qualifies for. WIC provides monthly food benefits for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women and their children through age 5, plus nutrition counseling and breastfeeding support. Apply at your county WIC clinic or at signupwic.com. WIC enrollment does not affect Medicaid enrollment or vice versa.
Finding a prenatal provider who accepts Medicaid: our provider directory filters to Virginia at /providers/va/, and our FQHC directory for Virginia — every FQHC takes Medicaid and offers sliding-scale fees on a sliding basis for anyone uninsured — is at /clinics/va/. For Black-serving community-based perinatal organizations, see the "Where to get help" section below. Virginia adopted expansion in the 2018 budget compromise between Governor Northam and a Republican legislature; coverage began January 2019. Doula services were added April 2022 under HB 1920 (2020), reimbursing up to $959 per perinatal package. Birth in Color RVA serves Black birthing people across Richmond and Hampton Roads.
For Black families
In Virginia, Black pregnant women are roughly three times more likely than white pregnant women to die from pregnancy-related causes, per CDC WONDER state-level mortality data. Medicaid is the single largest payer of Black births in the state. Virginia adopted expansion in the 2018 budget compromise between Governor Northam and a Republican legislature; coverage began January 2019. Doula services were added April 2022 under HB 1920 (2020), reimbursing up to $959 per perinatal package. Birth in Color RVA serves Black birthing people across Richmond and Hampton Roads.
Where to get help in Virginia
- Federally Qualified Health Centers in Virginia: every FQHC accepts Medicaid, charges on a sliding scale for the uninsured, and has certified application counselors who can help you apply or renew. See our FQHC directory for this state at /clinics/va/.
- Medicaid-accepting providers in Virginia: our provider directory lets you filter to providers in this state. See /providers/va/.
- State health profile for Virginia: for state-level health outcomes context (maternal mortality, infant mortality, life expectancy, uninsured rate) by race, see /health/virginia/.
- Cardinal Care consumer help line: 1-855-242-8282 for application help, renewal questions, and general Medicaid inquiries. Ask for an interpreter if you need one; language access is required under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
- Black Mamas Matter Alliance maintains a national directory of Black perinatal organizations at blackmamasmatter.org. Filter to programs serving Virginia.
- National Health Law Program (NHeLP) doula tracker: up-to-date Medicaid doula coverage map at healthlaw.org/doulamedicaidproject.
References & primary sources
- Cardinal Care, state Medicaid portal: https://www.dmas.virginia.gov/.
- KFF State Health Facts: kff.org/statedata. Medicaid income eligibility + enrollment.
- Medicaid.gov: medicaid.gov. Federal program guidance + state plan amendments.
- March of Dimes 12-month postpartum tracker: marchofdimes.org/report-card.
- CDC Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System: cdc.gov/reproductivehealth.
Data refreshed: