Update
A Price Too High: Virginia Families Face Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid
Published
The Cost of Policy: SNAP and Medicaid Rollbacks Threaten Virginia Families
More than 300,000 Virginians stand to lose health insurance or food assistance under new federal budget proposals advancing in Congress—and rural, elderly, and working-class families will be hit the hardest.
The cuts target Medicaid, ACA Marketplace subsidies, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). They could shift hundreds of millions of dollars in new costs to states like Virginia, putting programs at risk and leaving local families in crisis.
“This isn’t just a budget debate. This is about whether a mom with diabetes gets her insulin, or whether a child eats three meals a day,” said Cassie Edner, a public benefits attorney with Virginia Poverty Law Center. “I’ve talked to families who already skip meals to pay rent. If SNAP is cut, they’ll go hungry.”
A Price Too High: Virginia Families Face Cuts to SNAP and Medicaid
What’s Being Proposed
- SNAP: Starting in 2028, states would be responsible for up to 25% of benefit costs. For Virginia, that could mean a $353 million annual hit to the state budget.
- Medicaid: Proposed work requirements and funding cuts would result in 160,000 Virginians losing Medicaid coverage, according to CBO projections.
- ACA subsidies: Roughly 136,000 Virginians could lose access to affordable coverage through the insurance marketplace.
What We’re Asking For
VPLC urges Congressional and state leaders to:
- Reject federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP that harm vulnerable residents.
- Protect Medicaid expansion in Virginia through state-level safeguards.
- Maintain SNAP as a fully federally funded program.
- Invest in outreach so eligible families don’t fall through the cracks.
- Tell the truth about the impact—these aren’t numbers. They’re neighbors.
How You Can Help
- Stay informed: Follow VPLC for updates as these proposals move through Congress.
- Contact your lawmakers: Urge them to oppose Medicaid and SNAP rollbacks.
- Share your story: If you or someone you know is affected by coverage loss, contact who?@vplc.org to share your voice to help stop harmful policies before they take root.
