Optima gives $250,000 to health care foundation for Medicaid outreach

The private health plan is making the donation to the Virginia Health Care Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Richmond that works to expand access for Virginians.

Executive Director Deborah Oswalt said the contribution will enable the foundation to help the state reach many of the estimated 400,000 uninsured Virginians who will become eligible for Medicaid on Jan. 1 because of the program’s expansion. It was included in the state budget that the General Assembly passed and Gov. Ralph Northam signed this year.

“We are incredibly grateful to Optima Health for working with us to get the word out,” Oswalt said.

Optima, based in Virginia Beach and owned by Sentara Healthcare, said the company is making the donation in addition to its offering of health insurance plans for Medicaid patients in Virginia.

“Full enrollment in Medicaid is vital in order for Virginia to have healthy, thriving communities,” Optima President Dennis Matheis said in a statement. “We view our donation as part of our social responsibility to support the commonwealth in its efforts to educate our friends, family and neighbors that this new health insurance opportunity exists.”

The money will boost the funds available for Medicaid outreach to $1 million, on top of the $750,000 allocated by the state to the Department of Medical Assistance Services to promote the program’s expansion. Enrollment in the expanded program began on Nov. 1.

“More than 100,000 Virginia adults are already enrolled and will receive life-changing health coverage starting January 1,” DMAS Executive Director Jennifer Lee said. “This is a truly inspiring accomplishment, but we know that many more are eligible.”

State Medicaid officials expect about 360,000 people to enroll by the end of next year and 375,000 by mid-2020, when the two-year budget ends. Ultimately, they expect to enroll 400,000 people through expanded eligibility under the Affordable Care Act.

“We are committed to working with our partners to make sure every eligible Virginia adult has the opportunity to see a doctor for preventive checkups and regular care for chronic diseases,” said Lee, a former hospital emergency room doctor.

Currently, the state’s Medicaid program is limited to low-income children, pregnant women, parents, and elderly or disabled Virginians. Expanded eligibility will include adults who earn no more than 138 percent of the federal poverty level, or less than $17,000 a year.

“It’s vital that we get the word out that our Medicaid eligibility rules have changed, and those who have applied unsuccessfully in the past should try again,” Lee said.