ICYMI: Governor Spanberger Highlights New Healthcare Savings for Virginians After President Trump & His Allies in Congress Let Premiums Increase

RICHMOND, VA - Governor Abigail Spanberger this week celebrated the newly established Virginia Premium Savings Program - which is projected to help 200,000 Virginians save hundreds of dollars on average on their health insurance premiums - and encouraged families to see if they qualify through Virginia's Insurance Marketplace.

Established by the Governor and the General Assembly through Virginia's bipartisan budget, the investments were expected to lower premiums by as much as 70 percent, but new estimates are showing that premiums are decreasing by more than 90 percent for some Virginians. Additionally, more than 50,000 Virginians could access a $0 monthly premium.

The new state investments come after President Trump and Republican leadership in Congress let federal tax credits expire that made healthcare coverage on the Marketplace much more affordable. In the aftermath of this decision, nearly 100,000 Virginians did not reenroll in Virginia's Insurance Marketplace.

Virginians can start browsing plans now to see if they are eligible for the savings. Virginia's Marketplace Open Enrollment period begins on November 1, 2026, and runs through January 29, 2027.

Read below for coverage from across the Commonwealth of Governor Spanberger's focus on making healthcare more affordable:

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13 News Now [Norfolk]: Governor Spanberger Celebrates New Program to Save Money on Health Insurance

Tonight, Governor Abigail Spanberger announced a new state-funded affordability initiative for healthcare. As health insurance costs rise and thousands of Virginians lose marketplace coverage, the Commonwealth is putting 150 million dollars toward a new program to help people afford their monthly premiums.

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Behind the new affordability initiative is a growing concern that some Virginians are being priced out of health insurance. Governor Abigail Spanberger says the state is stepping in after enhanced federal subsidies expired, leaving people with higher marketplace premiums.

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The state committed 150 million dollars in general funds to help bring down those costs, with potential savings ranging from 65 dollars to 360 dollars a month, depending on income and household size. State officials say as many as 200,000 Virginians could qualify.

WAVY [Norfolk]: Gov. Spanberger rolls out program to lower healthcare costs

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger chose the Gethsemane Community Fellowship Baptist Church in Norfolk to roll out Virginia's Insurance Marketplace on Wednesday morning.

She explained that the $150 million Virginia Premium Savings Program was created to significantly lower healthcare premiums, and she encouraged Virginians to see if they qualify.

"For years, federal tax credits helped make coverage on our Marketplace much more affordable. These credits had been extended for years and years because they work," said Gov. Spanberger. "But last year, the President and his allies in Congress made the decision to let those credits expire - and people felt it. Virginia's Insurance Marketplace lost nearly 100,000 enrollees in 2026, and the skyrocketing cost of monthly premiums was the biggest driver."

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"The overall purpose, the point, the value of this is that we will, to get people back into health insurance rolls to the positive benefit of our community, certainly families, but Virginia overall," Gov. Spanberger said.

WTKR [Norfolk]: Virginia launches $150 million program to lower health insurance premiums

Virginia is putting $150 million toward a new program designed to help residents afford health insurance through the state marketplace.

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Miriam Valentin and her sister, Myra Lyons, came to Gethsemane Community Fellowship in Norfolk on Wednesday morning to learn more about their healthcare options.

"To have something like this come to our church and get people informed about what they can do at this particular time in this country is very important because the needs are real and they are wide and vast," Lyons said.

Spanberger said she hopes the new assistance will help bring people who lost coverage back into the insurance market and improve health outcomes for Virginia families.

WHRO [Norfolk]: After federal cuts, Spanberger mounts health insurance enrollment push with new state subsidies

Gov. Abigail Spanberger, other state officials and community leaders rallied at Gethsemane Community Church in Norfolk to tout efforts to decrease health insurance costs ahead of the start of the state exchange's open enrollment period.

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Under the Virginia Premium Savings program, monthly premiums could be reduced by up to 70% for eligible households. Single residents earning $22,025 to $39,900 annually and families of four with incomes between $45,540 and $82,500 qualify. Officials said 45% of Virginians who lost coverage in 2026 fall within these income brackets.

The monthly savings will average out to $65 to $90 per person, officials said.

Keven Patchett, the Exchange's executive director, noted there are no extra forms to fill out for the program and savings can reach as high as $360 per month depending on household size and income. Up to 200,000 Virginians could be eligible under the criteria, including 55% of current marketplace enrollees in Norfolk.

"You don't need health insurance until you do. And when you need it, you need it," Spanberger told the crowd at Gethsemane Wednesday. She asked residents to tell friends, family and neighbors to compare 2027 plans and see whether they qualify, noting that tens of thousands of Virginians could even qualify for a zero-dollar monthly premium.

CBS19 [Charlottesville]: New Virginia program could help residents save on health insurance

Thousands of Virginians could soon see significant savings on their health insurance premiums through a new $150 million state program.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger highlighted the Virginia Premium Savings Program on Wednesday, saying it could help up to 200,000 residents save hundreds of dollars on health insurance.

According to the governor's office, new estimates show some eligible Virginians could see their monthly premiums decrease by more than 90%. More than 50,000 residents could even qualify for health insurance plans with $0 monthly premiums.

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