Medical care and health insurance help for uninsured West Virginia residents
Many West Virginians without health insurance may qualify for free coverage and do not know it. While there are several programs listed below, one key one to keep in mind is that West Virginia expanded Medicaid, which means adults can now qualify based on income alone — not just children, seniors, and people with disabilities. The programs on this page, explained in straightforward terms, may pay for doctor visits, medicine, cancer screening, vaccines, and more.
Most state health programs use one application, so applying once checks you for several benefits at the same time. And if hospital or doctor bills have already arrived, see the page on how to get help with existing medical bills while you work on getting covered.
West Virginia Medicaid
Medicaid is the largest source of free health coverage in West Virginia. Adults age 19 to 64 can qualify based on income alone — the limit is 138 percent of the federal poverty level, and there is no asset test for this group. Coverage may pay medical care including doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, mental health care, and substance use treatment.
Children on Medicaid also receive HealthCheck, the state's name for regular free checkups and screenings for anyone under 21. Pregnant women often qualify at higher income limits than other adults, and their coverage now continues for a full year after the baby is born.
Apply online at https://wvpath.wv.gov/ or in person at your county Department of Human Services office. To find your local office, call 1-877-716-1212. People with high medical bills whose income is a little over the limit may still qualify as "medically needy," so apply even if you think you earn too much.
WVCHIP: low-cost insurance for children and pregnant women
The West Virginia Children's Health Insurance Program, or WVCHIP, covers children from birth through their 19th birthday in families that earn too much for Medicaid. The income limit is much higher than the Medicaid limit, so a family with a moderate income can still qualify. Coverage includes doctor visits, checkups, dental and vision care, immunizations, prescriptions, and hospital stays.
West Virginia is also one of only a few states that uses CHIP to cover pregnant women who earn too much for Medicaid. Some families pay small copays or premiums, but many pay nothing at all.
Call the WVCHIP helpline at 1-877-982-2447 with questions. Apply at wvpath.wv.gov, at healthcare.gov, or at your county Department of Human Services office.
Free sign-up help and marketplace plans
People who earn too much for Medicaid can buy a private plan through the federal marketplace at https://www.healthcare.gov/. Tax credits based on income lower the monthly price, and many people qualify for plans that cost very little per month.
WV Navigator provides free help with all of this. Its trained staff can check what you qualify for, help you apply for Medicaid, WVCHIP, or a marketplace plan, and answer insurance questions year-round. Call 304-356-5834 or visit https://wvnavigator.com/. The service is free, and staff do not earn commissions on anything you choose.
Help for people living with HIV
The West Virginia Ryan White Part B program provides medical case management for residents living with HIV, and it runs the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program, or ADAP. ADAP pays for HIV medications for people with low incomes who are uninsured or whose insurance does not cover enough. The program can also help pay health insurance premiums so a person does not lose coverage after losing a job or work hours.
Medical case managers located across the state are the entry point for these services. Find the program through the West Virginia Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services at https://oeps.wv.gov/.
Free breast and cervical cancer screening for women
The West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program pays for mammograms, Pap tests, breast exams, and follow-up testing for women who are uninsured or whose insurance does not cover screenings. Most screening starts around age 40, and income limits apply. Services are provided at participating clinics and health departments across the state.
A woman diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through the program can qualify for full Medicaid coverage during her treatment. Women in the screening program can also join WISEWOMAN, which adds free blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar checks along with support for heart health. Call 1-800-642-8522 to get started, or read more at dhhr.wv.gov/bccsp.
Specialized care for children with serious conditions
The Children with Special Health Care Needs program, called CSHCN, serves West Virginians under age 21 who have certain chronic or disabling medical conditions. It may pay for specialized care, including but not limited too doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery, therapy, lab tests, medications, hearing aids, and medical equipment. Staff also provide care coordination, which means they help families arrange the treatment their child needs. Families must meet both medical and financial rules. Call 1-800-642-9704 to ask about eligibility and apply.
Free and low-cost care for coal miners with black lung
West Virginia has a network of black lung clinics that screen, diagnose, and treat coal workers' pneumoconiosis and other breathing problems. Current and former miners get priority, fees follow a sliding scale based on income, and clinic staff help miners apply for federal black lung benefits. Once approved, those federal benefits may pay for medical treatment of the disease.
The federal government also offers free, confidential black lung screenings for coal miners, including a mobile unit that travels to mining communities. Call the state black lung clinics program at 304-352-6035 to find the clinic nearest.
Free vaccines for children
The Vaccines for Children program aims to provide free vaccines to West Virginia children age 18 and younger who are uninsured, enrolled in Medicaid, or American Indian or Alaska Native. Children whose insurance covers only some vaccines can get the rest at a community health center or rural health clinic. The program covers the full recommended childhood schedule, including measles, whooping cough, and the yearly flu shot.
Vaccines are given at doctors' offices and local health departments. Contact your local health department to find a participating provider.
Help for seniors with medicine costs and Medicare
West Virginians age 60 and older can get a free Golden Mountaineer Card from the state Bureau of Senior Services. One side of the card gives discounts at participating pharmacies, which lowers the cost of prescription drugs, and the other side gives discounts at businesses across the state. Call 888-968-4462 to request a card.
Seniors on Medicare with low incomes should also ask about Medicare Savings Programs, which pay Medicare premiums and, in some cases, deductibles and copays. Apply through your county Department of Human Services office. For free, unbiased help understanding Medicare, drug plans, and these savings programs, call the West Virginia State Health Insurance Assistance Program, known as WV SHIP, at 1-877-987-4463.
Free clinics and community health centers
Free clinics and community health centers treat patients across West Virginia whether or not they have insurance. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale based on income, and volunteer-run free clinics charge nothing. The directory of West Virginia free community clinics lists locations and services, and the Find guide to free dental clinics in West Virginia covers cleanings, extractions, and other dental care.
Adults on Medicaid can also read about getting free dentures with Medicaid. The federal locator at https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/.gov shows sliding-scale health centers by ZIP code or see the West Virginia free community clinics guide page.
A note about this information: NeedHelpPayingBills.com is not a medical provider and does not offer medical advice. The health care information on this site is provided for informational purposes only, to help people locate assistance programs and understand what may be available to them. Program eligibility rules, income limits, and enrollment periods change regularly — sometimes more than once a year. Always verify current details directly with the program before applying or making any health care decisions.
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