Commonwealth of Virginia

Office of Governor Terry McAuliffe

RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) will begin notifying Virginia families with one or more family members who are enrolled in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that they could lose their coverage unless the United States Congress reauthorizes the program soon.

If Congress does not reauthorize CHIP funding, Virginia will run out of funding for its program, called FAMIS, on January 31^st. The letters are intended to warn families of that possibility and inform them about steps they can take now to prepare while they wait for Congress to act. As of December 1^st, there were 68,495 Virginia children and 1,114 pregnant women who stood to lose coverage if Congress fails to reauthorize funding for CHIP.

“It is truly shameful that gridlock and dysfunction in Congress have left nearly 70,000 Virginians who depend on the FAMIS program hanging in limbo,” said Governor McAuliffe. “After delaying these notifications to give Congress as much time to act as possible, Virginia has a responsibility to these families to inform them of the possibility that their coverage could lapse so they can be as prepared as possible to explore alternatives. It is past time for Congress to reauthorize this program so that these Virginians can have the certainty they deserve.”

The letter included below will be mailed tomorrow. A subsequent communication will be made in the event that Congress reauthorizes the CHIP program and no further action is necessary, or if they fail to reauthorize it and coverage will be terminated.

Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services

Insert mailing address here                         December 12, 2017                    FAMILY Case ID: #####

Important Information About FAMIS and FAMIS MOMS

We are sending you this letter because these people in your family are enrolled in FAMIS or FAMIS MOMS:

Insert member names here

FAMIS and FAMIS MOMS are paid for by state and federal funds through the Children’s Health Insurance Program known as CHIP. For 20 years CHIP has had the strong support of Congress and has been renewed many times. We are hopeful that Congress will once again provide the funding to continue this program.  However, because Congress has not acted yet, we need to let you know that there is a chance the FAMIS programs may have to shut down.

If Congress does not act soon, the FAMIS programs will end on January 31, 2018.

Important Things for You to Know

• Right now, there are NO changes to your family’s FAMIS benefits. FAMIS and FAMIS MOMS members can still get ALL of their health care services.
• We are hopeful that Congress will act soon and the FAMIS programs will continue to help thousands of families like yours. However, if Congress does not renew federal funds for CHIP in time, you will get another letter in January telling you when FAMIS benefits will end. At that time, we will give you more information about what else you may qualify for and who you can call for help.
• This does not affect Medicaid – only FAMIS and FAMIS MOMS.

Here’s What You Can Do Right Now

1. Visit http://www.coverva.org for regular updates or call 1-855-242-8282 to speak with someone who can answer your questions.
2. If any FAMIS members need medical or dental care, make an appointment to visit your doctor or dentist before January 31.
3. If you or your family gets a letter telling you that it is time to renew your FAMIS benefits, follow the instructions and renew your coverage as soon as you can.
4. You may want to talk to your employer(s) to see if they offer coverage for children or pregnant women.

We will keep you informed of what is happening through the mail and our website http://www.coverva.org.

If you have questions about this letter call 1-855-242-8282.

Spanish-Language Version:

  Vea el reverso para leer esta información en Español

Departamento de Servicios de Asistencia Médica de Virginia

12 de diciembre de 2017

Información importante sobre FAMIS y FAMIS MOMS

Le enviamos esta carta ya que hay personas en su grupo familiar que están inscritas en FAMIS o FAMIS MOMS. Vea el reverso de esta carta para conocer los nombres de las personas inscritas.

FAMIS y FAMIS MOMS están financiados mediante fondos estatales y federales a través del Programa de Seguro Médico para Niños (Children’s Health Insurance Program) conocido como CHIP. Durante 20 años, CHIP ha contado con un fuerte apoyo del Congreso y se ha renovado en varias oportunidades. Esperamos que el Congreso otra vez aporte el financiamiento para continuar con este programa. Sin embargo, dado que el Congreso aún no ha actuado, nos vemos obligados a avisarle que existe la posibilidad de que los programas FAMIS sean cerrados.

Si el Congreso no actúa pronto, los programas FAMIS finalizarán el 31 de enero de 2018.

Datos importantes a tener en cuenta

• Hasta ahora, NO se produjo ningún cambio en los beneficios de FAMIS para su familia. Los miembros de FAMIS y FAMIS MOMS aún pueden recibir TODOS sus servicios de atención de la salud.
• Esperamos que el Congreso actúe pronto y que los programas FAMIS continúen para ayudar a miles de familias como la suya. No obstante, si el Congreso no renueva los fondos federales destinados a CHIP a tiempo, usted recibirá otra carta en enero que le indicará cuándo finalizarán los beneficios de FAMIS. En ese momento le brindaremos más información sobre otros programas para los que podrá calificar y a quién puede llamar para recibir ayuda.
• Esto no afecta a Medicaid, solo a FAMIS y FAMIS MOMS.

He aquí lo que usted puede hacer ahora mismo

1. Visite http://www.coverva.org para recibir actualizaciones periódicas o llame al 1-855-242-8282 para hablar con alguien que pueda responder a sus preguntas.
2. Si cualquier miembro de FAMIS necesita atención médica o dental, haga una cita para visitar a su médico o dentista antes del 31 de enero.
3. Si usted o su familia recibe una carta que le indica que es hora de renovar sus beneficios de FAMIS, siga las instrucciones y renueve su cobertura tan pronto como pueda.
4. Tal vez desee hablar con su empleador(es) a fin de corroborar si ofrece(n) cobertura para niños o mujeres embarazadas.

Lo mantendremos informado sobre las novedades mediante correo y a través de nuestro sitio web http://www.coverva.org. Si tiene preguntas sobre esta carta, llame al 1-855-242-8282.

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