Virginia readies Cardinal Care managed‑care transition; special enrollment window and Molina member moves explained
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Summary
The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services outlined steps for a July 1 contract transition to new Cardinal Care managed‑care plans, special enrollment options for members and how members can get help with plan selection and continuity of care.
The Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) told members in a recorded June member educational session that new Cardinal Care managed‑care contracts take effect July 1, 2025, and that members will be able to review and change plans during a special selection period before their new plan takes effect.
DMAS said the Cardinal Care Managed Care contracts will include Aetna Better Health of Virginia, Anthem HealthKeepers Plus, Humana Healthy Horizons of Virginia, Sentara/Centerra Health Plans and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. "This is an enhancement of the care system, not a change that you will enroll in Medicaid or FAMIS," a DMAS presenter said, emphasizing eligibility rules remain the same.
DMAS described a special plan selection window on slides as June 15 through Sept. 30, 2025, but a DMAS speaker later referred during the Q&A to June 19–Sept. 30. Both dates were presented in the session; DMAS materials on the Cardinal Care member web page and the Virginia Cardinal Care mobile app are the official sources for the exact enrollment calendar.
Why it matters: the transition moves members among managed‑care organizations (MCOs) that administer Medicaid benefits under the Cardinal Care program. Members who do not pick a different plan during the selection window may have their plan assigned and must wait until the 2026 open enrollment to switch again.
Key details members were given
- Effective date: DMAS presenters said new Cardinal Care contracts are effective July 1, 2025. - Which plans: Aetna Better Health of Virginia; Anthem HealthKeepers Plus; Humana Healthy Horizons of Virginia; Sentara/Centerra Health Plans; UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. (Molina Healthcare will exit Cardinal Care after June 30.) - Molina members: DMAS said members enrolled with Molina will be automatically moved to Humana Healthy Horizons of Virginia on July 1, 2025, and will have until Sept. 3, 2025, to switch plans if they choose. (DMAS and plan materials linked to the enrollment broker list the official details.) - How to select: members may use the Virginia Cardinal Care mobile app, virginiamanagedcare.com, or the Cardinal Care enrollment broker phone line operated by MAXIMUS; speakers read the phone number during the session and the DMAS web pages contain the authoritative contact information. - Effect timing: If a member selects a new plan on or before the 18th of a month, coverage under the new plan begins the first day of the next month; selections after the 18th typically take effect the first day of the second month after selection. - Continuity of care: DMAS noted continuity of care protections: new plans must allow members to continue seeing a current provider for up to 30 days; plan may extend that period if needed. Humana stated it will honor prior authorizations and allow members to see current providers for the first 60 days while they work to bring providers into its network.
How members get help
DMAS and plan speakers repeatedly directed members to the Virginia Cardinal Care app, the Virginia managed care website and the MAXIMUS enrollment broker for plan comparisons, provider network lookups and enrollment assistance. DMAS also noted the department and local departments of social services help with eligibility and renewals but cannot assist with MCO enrollment or benefit questions; MCOs handle those benefit and network questions directly.
Ending: DMAS presenters closed by reminding members that the session materials and the recording would be posted on the Cardinal Care member web page and that a second live Q&A session would be offered later the same day for members who could not complete their questions during this session.
