Virginia
A populous mid-Atlantic state with no state estate or inheritance tax (since 2007), a distinctive military-retiree concentration in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia, and a Medicaid program (Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services) that has expanded HCBS waiver capacity meaningfully in the last decade.
Hampton Roads (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News) and Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Arlington) host hundreds of thousands of military retirees. The interaction of TRICARE-for-Life, VA benefits (Aid & Attendance), and Medicare is the central healthcare question for many Virginia families — and one most adult children outside Virginia don't fully understand.
Virginia repealed its state estate tax effective 2007 and has never had an inheritance tax. State income tax is graduated to 5.75%, with limited subtractions for retirement income — federal Social Security is partially exempt, and there's an age-65 deduction (~$12,000 with income phaseout). For most Virginians, estate planning is about probate avoidance and family coordination, not state-tax minimization.
Virginia relies on federal FMLA (12 unpaid weeks at employers with 50+ employees). The state has no paid-family-leave program and no state-level caregiver tax credit. Working caregivers in Northern Virginia sometimes benefit from federal-government employer leave programs more generous than the private sector.
Medicare in Virginia
TRICARE-for-Life interaction with Medicare, Northern VA vs Hampton Roads Advantage markets, rural southwest access.
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Medicaid & LTC in Virginia
VA DMAS Medicaid, the Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (CCC+) waiver, 60-month look-back.
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Care Settings & Costs in VA
Virginia cost-of-care by metro; Adult Care Residences (ALF), Adult Day Centers, the urban-rural cost spread.
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Legal & Financial — VA
Virginia Uniform Power of Attorney Act, advance medical directives, probate, the Virginia Trust Code.
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The Caregiver's Life — VA
Federal FMLA only, no state PFL, the AAA Family Caregiver Support Program, military-family caregiver context.
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For when you don’t want to dig
Medicaid agency, Area Agency on Aging, Adult Protective Services, free Medicare counseling, legal aid, official forms, and every statute we cite. All in one page.
OCT 15 → DEC 7
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period
Switch Advantage, Medigap, or Part D plans. Northern Virginia has one of the most competitive Advantage markets in the Mid-Atlantic.
APR 15 ANNUAL
Virginia income tax filings
Virginia state income tax is due May 1 (not April 15). Property-tax relief application deadlines vary by locality (some Virginia counties offer elderly/disabled real-estate tax relief).
ANNUAL
Virginia Medicaid annual review
Virginia Medicaid recipients undergo annual redetermination. Watch for the renewal packet 60-90 days before the anniversary date.
Recent from Virginia
Reviewer TBD · May 21
Reviewer TBD · May 14
Reviewer TBD · May 7
Caregiving rules differ meaningfully across state lines. If you’re weighing where to relocate your parent, these comparisons matter.
How we research Virginia-specific guidance.
Every state page is built from three sources: the state’s own statutes and regulatory filings, federal CMS and SSA documents that apply, and direct input from at least one credentialed reviewer who practices in or is licensed in that state. We re-review every state page quarterly. Virginia was last fully reviewed on May 21, 2026 by Reviewer to be assigned.