How to Apply for the Medicare Savings Program in Virginia

Three Ways to Apply

Virginia accepts Medicare Savings Program applications through any of these channels — the "no wrong door" policy means all three reach the same system:

1. CommonHelp (online) Go to commonhelp.virginia.gov, create an account, and submit an application for health coverage. When the system asks about household composition and age, indicate that the applicant is 65+ or disabled and on Medicare. The system routes the application to the local DSS for eligibility processing.

2. Cover Virginia (phone) Call 1-855-242-8282 (TTY: 1-888-221-1590). A representative takes the application over the phone and enters it into the state system. Phone applications carry the same legal weight as paper or online submissions.

3. Local Department of Social Services (in person or mail) Submit directly to the county or independent city DSS office where the applicant lives. Virginia has 120 local offices organized by jurisdiction — if your parent lives in an independent city like Norfolk or Richmond, the application goes to that city's DSS, not the surrounding county.

Which Forms You Need

For a paper application, you'll need two forms:

• Application for Health Coverage & Help Paying Costs — the standard health coverage application
• Appendix D — a supplemental form for applicants who are aged, blind, or disabled. This is where income, resources, and Medicare enrollment details go.

If someone else is submitting on behalf of the applicant, also file Appendix C (Form DMAS-201) — the Authorized Representative form. Verbal or written case-discussion permission can allow a one-time inquiry about basic case status, but it does not grant authority to sign forms, receive official notices, or conduct appeals.

What Happens After You Submit

The local DSS first runs electronic verification through Virginia's data systems — the Asset Verification System (AVS), the State Online Query-Internet (SOLQ-I), and the Federal Data Services Hub. If the numbers from these sources are reasonably compatible with what the application states (within 20% or both under the threshold), paper verification may be waived entirely.

If the system flags something, the DSS issues a Verification Checklist (VCL) with at least a 10-day window to provide the requested documents.

Virginia law requires a decision within 45 calendar days of the application filing date. If the application sits beyond 45 days without any applicant-caused delay, you can request an administrative fair hearing through the DMAS Appeals Division.

A Common Routing Problem

Applications submitted through CommonHelp or Cover Virginia are assigned to a local DSS based on ZIP code. In Virginia, many ZIP codes span the border between an independent city and the surrounding county. A Richmond-area ZIP might route an application to Henrico County DSS when it should have gone to Richmond City DSS.

If this happens, Virginia policy requires the receiving office to transfer the case electronically without resetting the filing date. But it adds time. You can avoid it by calling the local DSS directly and confirming they have the case before the 45-day clock gets too far along.

Applying Through an Extra Help Application at SSA

If someone files for Medicare Part D Extra Help at Social Security, SSA electronically sends that application data to DMAS. Under Virginia policy, this counts as an MSP application — backdated to the date SSA received the Extra Help filing. The local DSS opens a case and contacts the applicant if additional resource documentation is needed.

This is a legitimate path, but it's passive — the applicant may not realize an MSP application is pending, and the DSS may not reach out aggressively if it needs more information. Filing directly through one of the three channels above gives you more control.

For the complete application walkthrough — including the document checklist, how to track your case through CommonHelp, and what to do if the 45-day deadline passes — the Virginia Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide covers every step with Virginia-specific forms and contacts.

See more Virginia guides →