FAMIS is Virginia's program that helps families provide health insurance to their children. Health insurance is important to make sure that kids are able to get all the help they need to grow up healthy. FAMIS stands for Family Access to Medical Insurance Security.

Services Covered by FAMIS

Ana and Melissa Melendez (Photographed by Sam Hughes, Instructor, TCC) When Melissa Melendez, a freshman in high school and an avid soccer player, walks into a room, people first notice her smile. And what a beautiful smile it is!   Melissa’s mom Ana wanted to keep it that way. Unable to afford dental care, Melissa’s mom contacted outreach worker Julia Melendez and got her daughter enrolled in FAMIS. Now both mother and daughter have plenty to smile about.

Doctor visits Well-baby checkups Hospital visits Vaccinations Prescription medicine Tests and X-rays Dental care Emergency care Vision care Mental health care

Costs to the Families

There are no enrollment costs or monthly premiums for FAMIS. For some services, the family will have to pay a co-payment.  Most co-payments are just $2.00 or $5.00. Some services, like regular check-ups, are free.

Who is Eligible for FAMIS?

Your children may be eligible if they:

• Live in Virginia
• Are under age 19
• Don't have health insurance now and haven't had it in the past 4 months (some exceptions apply)
• Are not eligible for the Virginia state employee health insurance plan
• Are not eligible for FAMIS Plus (also known as Medicaid)
• Live in families meeting FAMIS income guidelines
• Are United States citizens or qualified aliens (other children may be eligible, please call us to find out more

You can also learn more about FAMIS Programs by visiting www.famis.org or calling the following toll free numbers:
1-866-87FAMIS (1-866-873-2647)
TDD users ONLY call, 1-888-221-1590
8:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday - Friday
9:00 am to 12:00 noon, Saturday
 

FAMIS FACES

In observance of national “Covering the Uninsured Week,” the Consortium for Infant and Child Health (CINCH) created FAMIS Faces, a portrait gallery featuring local families who have benefited from Virginia's Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) program. EVMS is the lead agency for CINCH.

CINCH has been instrumental in mobilizing the community to enroll at least 18,000 pregnant women and children through the FAMIS programs. As part of the "Covering the Uninsured Week."  CINCH has also issued a call to action to local businesses to promote FAMIS to their employees.

Here are some of their stories:

Eileen, Elaine, Corey, Adrian, Jonathan, and Porsha Rhoades (Photographed by John Cameron, TCC Advanced Photography Student)

“I felt like a bad mom. I was doing everything I could to keep my children healthy, but sometimes you just need to go to the doctor. With the expense of running my own small business and being a single mother of 5, I was doing all I could to keep us afloat. I don’t know what we would have done without FAMIS.”  The day Eileen Rhoads was notified that her children were approved was the same day she made appointments for all 5 of her children to see the dentist. She has been busy ever since scheduling appointments for other health care needs that had to be put on hold. All of her children share the love of sports, so it is very important that they have quality access to health care. Elaine, 17, a senior at Booker T. Washington, is on the track team as one of the star runners that helped take the team to the state level. Corey, 12, is on the Eagles basketball team. Adrian, 10, loves spring training with baseball teammates, and Jonathan, 9 is on the Eagles flag football team. Porsha, 8, is a cheerleader for yes, you guessed it, the Eagles. FAMIS enabled them all to play and participate in good health.

Carmalita, Tyron, and Cameron Watford (Aaron not pictured) (Photographed by Kalila Watson, TCC Advanced Photography Student)

“It really has made a difference in our lives.” This is the reply Carmalita Watford gives when asked about how things have changed since her three sons, Tyron, 17, Aaron, 15, and Cameron, 12, are now receiving health care coverage through FAMIS. Aaron, a talented artist and short story writer was complaining of swollen lymph nodes. Although at the time he did not know what swollen lymph nodes were, he just knew he was not feeling his usual self. Because Hodgkin’s Disease runs in their family, his mother knew what they were right away and took Aaron to the CHKD emergency room. There, not only did they get the good news that Aaron’s swollen lymph nodes were not due to Hodgkin’s, but they also met with Virginia Jones-Thorpe who enrolled the children in FAMIS. “Virginia,” Carmalita said “was with me every step of the way in the enrollment process.” Tyron, who is preparing for an exciting adventure in Job Corps and Cameron, a gifted student at Dream keepers Academy (where he once read Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream Speech” to an audience that included Gov.Kaine), have also benefited from coverage and have caught up on check–ups and dental work.

To receive help with FAMIS enrollment or applications you can contact CINCH Project Connect at (757) 668-6447 or email at CINCH@EVMS.edu.