Your Vote, Your Health: Why Your Choice Matters for Medication Access

When Virginians head to the polls, will healthcare be top of mind?

In just two weeks, Virginia will be electing a new governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Additionally, all 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates are on the ballot. Early voting is well underway for the November general election, with more than 971,000 ballots already cast.

According to the Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), voting IS public health. Voting influences health policies that have the power to improve individual and community well-being. Voting also shapes policies that address social determinants of health such as employment, housing, education, and environmental quality – all directly impacting public health outcomes.

The ASPPH also suggests that voting has indirect health benefits by strengthening civic engagement and social connection, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility. This sense of agency and belonging is associated with improved health outcomes; when people feel empowered and included, communities become healthier and more resilient.

 

As Virginians head to the polls in the next couple of weeks, these healthcare access topics are at top of mind: 

1. Health Insurance Affordability 

Rising health insurance costs are a growing concern for Virginians. According to the Virginia State Corporation Commission, upcoming policy changes may increase premiums for many customers, and some federal tax credits that lower monthly payments are set to expire on December 31, 2025. Without a change at the federal level or state intervention, many Virginians could face higher costs for their marketplace plans. 

Rx Partnership focuses on medication access for uninsured people in Virginia, but we’re concerned that the rising costs for health insurance might push insured people into the uninsured category—adding additional strain on an already fragile health safety net. 

2. High Prescription Drug Costs 

Prescription drug costs continue to rise across Virginia, limiting access to care and increasing financial pressure on families, local pharmacies, and the healthcare safety net. These costs affect consumers directly through higher out-of-pocket expenses and indirectly through higher insurance premiums. Both gubernatorial candidates have proposed solutions for tackling the high cost of prescription medications.  

Rx Partnership knows that one in four people in Virginia cannot afford their prescriptions. Too many already face the impossible choice between paying for groceries or filling a prescription. If medication costs continue to rise, these choices will become even harder – and the need for programs like Rx Partnership will grow. 

3. Medicaid Funding Cuts 

Federal funding cuts threaten Medicaid coverage for thousands of Virginians. The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association warns that reduced funding could destabilize hospitals and limit patient access to care. The candidates for governor hold opposing views on the cuts. 

Rx Partnership is deeply concerned that Medicaid reductions will lead to an influx of newly uninsured patients. Many free clinics across the state are already working at maximum capacity with limited resources. If coverage shrinks, these clinics – organizations Rx Partnership supports with medication access – may struggle to meet increased demand for both clinical and pharmaceutical services. 

4. Access to Healthcare in Rural Areas 

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately 66 million people – about 20% of the U.S. population – live in rural areas where access to care is already limited. Medicaid plays a crucial role in financing rural hospitals, covering one in four adults. While a $50 billion Rural Health Fund has been created, it only partially offsets the estimated $137 billion reduction in federal Medicaid spending in rural areas.  

Rx Partnership works across Virginia to expand medication access to uninsured people across the Commonwealth. We are committed to supporting our clinic partners who serve these underserved populations, especially those in rural areas, but we are concerned that new funding cuts could worsen existing disparities in care. 

Your Vote Matters for Virginia’s Health 

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Rx Partnership is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose any candidate for office. However, we believe that every vote has the power to shape healthcare policy and medication access across our state. We encourage you to do your own research about the issues that matter to you and vote for the candidates that align with your values and priorities.  

You can make a difference. Please make a plan to vote… and remind your friends and family to vote as well! Whether you vote early or wait until November 4th, make sure your voice is heard. Let’s all work together to support public health, medication access, and a brighter future for all Virginians. 

Important Voting Dates: 

NOV 1: Last day to vote early, in person. 

NOV 4: Election Day – polls open 6am – 7pm. Last day to drop off/postmark absentee ballots. 

Visit www.elections.virginia.gov to look up your polling place and ballot info! 

 

Not sure who represents you now, but want to make your voice heard on healthcare issues? Go to https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/ to enter your home address, see who represents you and click the link to send them an e-mail.