
New Report: Medicaid Plays More Significant Role in Small Towns and Rural Communities than Metro Areas in Virginia
Wednesday, February 5th, 2025
February 5, 2025
Richmond, VA – Medicaid and CHIP play a critical role in providing health coverage to residents of small towns and rural communities in Virginia, particularly children, far exceeding its reach in metropolitan areas, according to an in-depth analysis by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families (CCF).
In response to these findings, Voices for Virginia’s Children, The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis (TCI), and Virginia Poverty Law Center are collaborating to identify and advance actionable policy solutions. Through advocacy efforts and by engaging Virginia legislators, these organizations aim to address the disparities highlighted in the report and improve health care access for underserved communities.
“As Congress considers large Medicaid cuts, young people across Virginia, but particularly in rural Virginia where nearly 40% of children receive coverage through Medicaid/FAMIS, have so much to lose,” said Rachael Deane, CEO of Voices for Virginia’s Children. “Medicaid helps children and families lead better, healthier lives, and it’s a critical investment in our Commonwealth’s future.”
The report found that across all age groups, Virginians living in rural areas and small towns are more likely than those living in metro areas to rely on Medicaid for their health coverage. Report findings included:
- 37.9 percent of children in Virginia’s small towns and rural areas rely on Medicaid/CHIP for their coverage, compared to 30 percent in metro/urban areas.
- Among Virginia adults younger than 65, 18.9 percent of those in small towns and rural areas get their coverage through Medicaid/CHIP, compared to 13.7 percent in metro areas.
- Among seniors, 11.7 percent of those living in Virginia’s small towns and rural areas were covered by Medicaid compared to 10.7 percent in metro/urban areas.
“Across the state – but especially in rural areas – Medicaid protects families from excessive medical debt and covers a large share of births, maternal care, and residents in nursing homes,” said Victoria Richardson, Healthcare and Public Benefits Attorney at Virginia Poverty Law Center. “Nursing care benefits under Medicare are actually very limited. Medicaid meets that need for Virginia’s seniors by providing access to long term care, both at home in their communities and in nursing facilities.”
“Medicaid is critically important to thousands of lives and livelihoods in rural Virginia,” said Freddy Mejia, Policy Director at The Commonwealth Institute. “Medicaid funding keeps our rural hospitals running – many of these institutions would cease to exist without federal funding, leaving thousands of Virginians without a way to access care and many without work.”
For the full report, as well as interactive maps featuring a county-level breakdown of Medicaid/CHIP coverage, visit https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2025/01/15/medicaids-role-in-small-towns-and-rural-areas/. This report primarily relies on data from the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey (ACS).
The Center for Children & Families (CCF), part of the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, is an independent, nonpartisan policy and research center founded in 2005.
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Voices for Virginia’s Children envisions a Virginia in which our systems center young people, ensuring their ability to realize their brightest potential is no longer predictable by race, socioeconomic status, or geography. Voices champions public policies and legislation that achieve positive and equitable outcomes for young people. Visit vakids.org for more information.
The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis advances racial and economic justice in Virginia by advocating for public policies that are designed in partnership with people most impacted, and shaped by credible, accessible fiscal and policy research. Visit thecommonwealthinstitute.org for more information.
Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) is the state support center for all civil legal aid programs in Virginia. VPLC’s work breaks down systemic barriers that keep low-income Virginians in the cycle of poverty through advocacy, education, and litigation. Visit vplc.org for more information.
Contact: Mara Guyer, VPLC Strategic Communications Manager, Cell: 804-801-2927, mara@vplc.org