Yes — Virginia Medicaid covers speech therapy for children, and Stoa Therapy accepts it. Many practices don’t take Medicaid; we built Stoa so that a child’s insurance never decides whether they get help. For most Medicaid families, therapy costs $0 per visit, delivered online by Virginia-licensed speech-language pathologists.

How Cardinal Care covers speech therapy

Virginia Medicaid operates under the unified Cardinal Care program, with coverage delivered through managed care health plans and fee-for-service. For members under 21, the federal EPSDT benefit guarantees coverage of medically necessary services — including speech-language evaluations and therapy — which makes children’s speech therapy one of Medicaid’s most solidly covered benefits.

Cardinal Care managed care plans include Aetna Better Health of Virginia, Anthem HealthKeepers Plus, Molina Complete Care, Sentara Community Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. We confirm your child’s specific plan and coverage for free before your first appointment. Virginia families with Anthem HealthKeepers Plus should note we’re also in-network with Anthem on the commercial side — see our Anthem Virginia page.

What’s covered

• Speech-language evaluation — the comprehensive assessment that identifies your child’s needs and establishes medical necessity
• Ongoing therapy sessions — typically weekly, delivered by live video with a licensed SLP
• The full range of conditions — speech and language delays, late talkers, articulation, apraxia, communication support for autistic children, stuttering, and more

How to start speech therapy with Virginia Medicaid

1. Book a free consultation (or call (517) 997-8198) and share your child’s Medicaid information.
2. We verify coverage for free — plan, benefits, and any authorization requirements — and tell you your expected cost (usually $0) before anything starts.
3. Evaluation and weekly sessions begin — online, from home, usually within days. We handle authorizations and billing directly with the plan.

Frequently asked questions

Does Virginia Medicaid really cover online speech therapy?

Yes — telehealth is a covered delivery method for speech therapy under Virginia Medicaid, and it’s how we serve families statewide, including areas with no local pediatric SLP.

Do we need a referral from our pediatrician?

You can start with us directly. If your child’s specific plan requires a physician’s order or authorization for ongoing therapy, we identify that during verification and handle the paperwork with your pediatrician.

Is there a waitlist for Medicaid patients?

No — Medicaid families get the same access as everyone else. Most families complete a consultation within a couple of days.

My child also gets speech services at school. Does Medicaid therapy affect that?

No — school IEP services and medical therapy through Medicaid are separate systems, and many families use both. We’re glad to coordinate goals with your school team.

Ready to use your Virginia Medicaid benefits? Book a free consultation — we’ll take it from there. More: speech therapy in Virginia · Medicaid overview · all insurance.