Arlington County’s Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program
(VICAP) provides free, unbiased, in-depth, one-on-one insurance counseling to Arlington County Medicare beneficiaries, their families, friends and caregivers.
Consumer Scams Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries
Tuesday, April 19, 2022 | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Join Arlington County VICAP to learn:
- Misleading Sales Tactics & Scamming Practices
- Medicare Marketing Violations & Enrollment Fraud
- Consequences to Beneficiaries
- Best Practices to Protect Older Adults from Scams
To register: Email MedicareHelp@arlingtonva.us, or call 703-228-1725. Meeting details will be shared with participants the Friday before the presentation.
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When an old high school friend popped up on Facebook Messenger recently, Sue was delighted. When the friend mentioned a $50,000 government grant she’d just received, Sue wanted in. With $18,000 in home repairs looming, why miss out when others were getting help? “The government seemed to be throwing out all sorts of stimulus funds,” she says. “And now, a friend got money.”
Sue clicked on a link, typed in her Social Security number and date of birth, and then saw the scam. “They wanted $500,” she says. “You shouldn’t have to give money to get money.” Fraudsters had impersonated her friend and almost scammed her out of her money by eliciting a powerful emotional state called FOMO — fear of missing out. (Read More)
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Dear VICAP Team,
What vaccines are covered under my Part D?
Dear Medicare Beneficiary,
In many cases, vaccines that are recommended to you by your provider will be covered under Medicare Part D. Most commercially available vaccines like the vaccine for shingles (herpes Zoster) must be included in the formularies of Part D plans. The only exceptions are flu, pneumonia, COVID-19, and hepatitis B vaccinations, covered under Part B.
The amount you pay for your vaccines may differ depending on where you get vaccinated. You typically pay less for your vaccine when you use:
- In-network pharmacies
- A doctor's office that coordinates with a pharmacy to bill your Part D plan
- A doctor's office that can bill your plan directly for the vaccination process using an electronic billing system
If your provider cannot coordinate with a pharmacy to bill your Part D plan or cannot bill your plan directly for the injection using an electronic billing system, then you may find yourself paying more for your vaccination or receiving a bill from your provider for the entire cost of the vaccination. Keep in mind that your provider may charge you more than the approved Part D amount.
If you have Extra Help, you can visit any provider or in-network pharmacy to get your vaccine. You will be covered for your vaccine and will only be responsible for your Extra Help copay. However, in the event that your provider does not bill your plan directly, you may be expected to pay the entire bill and will need to request reimbursement from your plan.
Best,
VICAP Team
Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month!! To our dedicated volunteers; your passion and energy are unparalleled. Thank you for your spirit of volunteerism and for being selfless in serving Arlington County beneficiaries. With your support, we make a difference every day! Want to join our team? Apply HERE!
Contact the Arlington County VICAP team by phone or email:
703-228-1725 -OR- MedicareHelp@arlingtonva.us
We would love your feedback!
Please use the link below to complete a brief survey.
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