Safety Net Participants
While Northern Virginia is known for having communities with some of the highest median incomes in the United States, we must recognize that there are segments of the community in need of assistance that live in one of the most prosperous regions in the country.
Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010. More than 151,000 residents in Northern Virginia in 2024 received health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) expenditures in Northern Virginia from 2011 to 2024 are shown in this graph, and the participants are shown in the tables below. Since 2011, the peak amount of expenditures was reached in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic downturn. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and its impact on the Northern Virginia region was significant from a health and economic standpoint. The temporary boost to SNAP benefits put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, known as emergency allotments, ended nationwide after the February 2023 issuance.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and TANF-UP (TANF Unemployed-Families) expenditures in Northern Virginia from 2019 to 2024 are shown in this graph, and the participants are shown in the tables below. Since 2019, the peak amount of expenditures was reached in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic downturn. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and its impact on the Northern Virginia region was significant from a health and economic standpoint.
For additional information on the TANF and TANF-UP programs view the Virginia Department of Social Services's TANF program flyer.
Medicaid Expansion
The Medicaid Expansion Dashboard, which is maintained by the Virginia Department Medical Assistance Services, shows new health coverage for adults by overall enrollment, age, gender, family income, locality and region of residence.