About Inova Health System
Inova Health System is a nonprofit health system and the largest provider of healthcare services in
Northern Virginia. The system operates five hospitals: Inova Fairfax Medical Campus (the flagship,
one of the largest hospitals in Virginia and the region’s busiest Level I trauma center),
Inova Alexandria Hospital, Inova Fair Oaks Hospital (Fairfax County), Inova Loudoun Hospital
(Leesburg), and Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. Inova also operates extensive outpatient and urgent
care networks across Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William counties.
Northern Virginia Insurance Market Complexity
Northern Virginia is part of the Washington, DC metro area and therefore has access to Maryland-based
carriers (like CareFirst BCBS) in addition to Virginia-based plans. This creates a more complex plan
landscape than most Virginia markets. Inova participates in networks for Anthem HealthKeepers, CareFirst
BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Kaiser Permanente (which operates its
own facilities separately from Inova).
Inova vs. Kaiser Permanente in Northern Virginia
Kaiser Permanente operates its own medical centers in Northern Virginia (Tyson’s Corner,
Reston, Springfield, and others) and is a major alternative to Inova in the region. Kaiser members
generally receive care at Kaiser facilities, not Inova. If you enroll in a Kaiser plan, your primary
care will be at Kaiser facilities — Inova is typically out-of-network for Kaiser members
except in emergencies.