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August 10, 2020

Video: It’s Time to Dismantle Virginia’s “40-Quarter Rule”

The U.S. government requires that lawful permanent residents–immigrants with legal status–reside in the country for five years in order to access Medicaid coverage. Virginia is one of only six states that adds an additional barrier to Medicaid coverage for lawful permanent residents: the “40-Quarter Rule,” which mandates a 40-quarter, or 10-year, work history in the U.S. Language and funding to remove this barrier were included in the General Assembly-approved budget passed in March 2020; however, this funding has since been frozen due to economic uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virginia lawmakers can still choose to remove this barrier to health care and reinstate these funds during the 2020 special session, making a difference for families across the commonwealth to have the health coverage they need to thrive.

We collaborated with The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) to help tell the story of how this health coverage hurdle has affected just one of many families in Virginia. Check out the video to learn more and see why it’s time to do away with this rule.

The Commonwealth Institute

info@thecommonwealthinstitute.org

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