Virginia Foster Care Specialty Plan | Medicaid

We are here for you and the ones you care about

Getting affordable health insurance for kids in your care is your priority. It’s ours, too. Children in foster care and adoption assistance may be eligible for Virginia Medicaid, the state’s health insurance program offering a full range of health benefits and more.

Who is eligible?

Children and youth in Foster Care ages 21 and under
Former foster care youth who had Medicaid and foster care services in any state at the time of their 18th birthday and are currently under age 26
Children adopted and receiving Adoption Assistance ages 21 and under

Learn more about your eligibility by calling the Foster Care Specialty Plan support line at 833-838-2605 (TTY 711)

What you get with the Cardinal Care Foster Care Specialty Plan

Children in foster care and adoptive families are eligible for a variety of Medicaid benefits.

Cardinal Care Foster Care Specialty benefits for children in foster care and adoptive families include:

Access to doctors, hospitals, and specialists near you
Urgent and emergency care
24/7 NurseLine
Condition Care (CNDC) services
Translation and interpretation services
Transportation
No-cost prescription and over-the-counter drugs
Early intervention services
Mental health services
Doula services
Dental services
Vision services

Check your member handbook for a complete list of your benefits.

Find care

Routine vision benefits include eye exams and prescription lenses and frames, when medically needed.

Members 21-years-old or older receive:

One routine eye exam every 12 months
Up to $150 for glasses or contacts yearly as an extra benefit for being an Cardinal Care Foster Care Specialty plan member

Members under 21-years-old receive:

One routine eye exam every 24 months
Glasses or contacts as medically necessary
Glasses to replace those that are lost, broken, or stolen

To find providers and store locations, call Member Services at 800-901-0020. (TTY 711)

Cardinal Care Foster Care Specialty plan benefits can help with emotional and mental health. These behavioral health and substance use treatment and recovery services are included in your plan:

Outpatient mental health and addiction treatment services
Intensive outpatient (IOP)
Partial day treatment
Opioid treatment
Case management
Residential treatment for pregnant and postpartum individuals
Halfway house and group home treatment
Residential treatment
Residential detox
Crisis stabilization
Peer supports

Find a behavioral health specialist

Healthy Rewards is a no-cost optional program for eligible Cardinal Care Foster Care Specialty plan members. It pays you for completing healthy activities like:

Yearly well-child and childhood dental visits.
Prenatal and postpartum visits for pregnant members.
Screenings for diabetes management.

To learn more about your Healthy Rewards, visit the Healthy Rewards page. To learn about other value-added benefits, visit the Extra Benefits page.

If you aged out of foster care and lost Medicaid, we can help

Former foster care youth under 26

Many ways to apply are:

Apply online at CommonHelp.
Call Cover Virginia to apply at 855-242-8282 (TTY 711).
Call the Department of Social Services at 804-726-7000 (TTY 711).

Children in foster care 18 years old and under

Foster youth 18 years old and under don’t need to apply. They’re automatically enrolled in Medicaid and placed in the Anthem HealthKeepers Plus Foster Care Specialty Plan.

PCP Change

Want to switch primary care provider (PCP)? If you are the legal guardian of a child in foster care, you can change their PCP by calling the dedicated Foster Care Specialty Support line at 833-838-2605 (TTY 711).

If you are an adoptive parent or Former Foster youth you can log into the member portal or call us to make the change.

Community partners and support

Community partners

NewFound Families (formerly called FACES, or Family Advocacy Collaboration Empowerment Support of Virginia Families) is a nonprofit organization that offers support and resources so despite challenges, the experience for both foster parents and children is rewarding and helpful. To learn more, call 877-VA-FACES.

Great Expectations helps Virginia’s foster youth finish high school, get access to a community college education, and shift successfully from the foster care system to living independently.

Project LIFE helps foster youth thrive while they’re in the program and as they grow up. It gives them the opportunity to make connections and helps them get the resources they need. Project LIFE serves youth ages 14 to 21 and works together with local departments of social services to prepare youth for success after foster care.

Foster Care Alumni Association of Virginia (FCAA) is a group that offers a network of alumni, allies, and organizations that join together to form a permanent community and use their skills to help the lives of people in foster care. Call 888-ALUMNI-(0) to find local resource information.

More support

Any young adult who was in foster care on their 18th birthday can apply for Medicaid benefits with the Former Foster Care online or by calling Cover Virginia at 833-5CALLVA (TTY 711).

Find your local Department of Social Services.

Get more information about foster care and FAQs.

The member handbook: Everything you need to know

Your member handbook is your go-to guide for Cardinal Care Foster Care Specialty plan health services. Read it to find out about:

How to use your benefits
How to choose a primary care provider (PCP)
How to get help if your doctor’s office is closed
How to reach Member Services if you have questions
Your rights and responsibilities as a Cardinal Care Foster Care Specialty plan member

Member Handbook (English)

Member Handbook (Spanish)