 VICAP, in collaboration with the Animal Welfare League, Bridges to Independence, and BU-GATA, recently participated in a Community Care Event at Drew Elementary School in Green Valley which yielded 150 attendees.
Arlington County’s Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program
(VICAP) provides free, in-depth, one-on-one insurance counseling to Arlington
County Medicare Beneficiaries, their families, friends and caregivers.
In honor of Older Americans Month, VICAP will host a virtual program on Services & Resources for Older Adults
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 from 10:00am- 12:00pm
The Arlington Area Agency on Aging (AAA) promotes the maximum level of independence of persons 60 and older and ensures older Arlington residents live as an integral part of society, with dignity and with access to programs and services that meet their needs and preferences.
Join AAA team members to learn about:
- Mental Health & Medicare
- Home & Community Supports
- Resources for Older Adults
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May Is Mental Health Awareness Month
Did you know that 15% of individuals 60 and older have a mental health condition? Some of the most common mental health conditions include anxiety, mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder, and severe cognitive impairment- such as issues with memory, concentration, or learning new things. Minorities continue to experience mental health disparities as a result of multiple factors that prevents attaining their best level of health- such as food insecurity, housing instability, and racial trauma. With the COVID-19 outbreak intensifying issues of mental health, it's important to recognize some of the services available to you.
Medicare covers some inpatient and outpatient mental health services- such as individual and group therapy, substance use disorder treatment, depression screenings and more. To learn more about your Medicare mental health services, use the links below:
Medicare Part A mental health covered services
Medicare Part B mental health covered services
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6 Tales of Real- Life Scams
by Bob Sullivan, AARP, December 7, 2021
I’ve been writing and talking about internet scams for most of the past three decades, and what I know is this: It’s a great time to be a criminal. Thanks to the web, email and social media, it’s never been easier to find enormous pools of potential victims. And thanks to FinTech — financial technology like cryptocurrency, or Zelle, or gift cards — it’s never been easier to move money in untraceable, irreversible ways. That’s why I think the podcast I host, AARP’s The Perfect ScamSM, is so important. (Read More)
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Dear VICAP Team,
I read that depression is more common in older adults and want to make sure I'm not missing the signs and symptoms. Does Medicare cover depression screenings?
Dear Medicare Beneficiary,
If you qualify, Original Medicare covers annual depression screenings at 100% of the Medicare approved amount if the service is from a participating provider. Medicare Advantage Plans are required to cover depression screenings when you see an in-network provider. The annual screening includes a questionnaire that you can complete on your own or with the help of your physician, and is designed to help indicate signs, symptoms or risks of depression.
You can receive your annual depression screening during your annual wellness visit or a scheduled doctor's visit. Your screenings must be conducted in a primary care setting such as a doctor's office in order for it to be covered by Medicare.
If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 (TALK) or visit Speaking Of Suicide to see a list of additional resources.
Did you know that Arlington County's Senior Adult Mental Health Program promotes quality of life for Arlingtonians 60 and over with mental health service needs. Click here to learn more about their individual, group and family counseling.
Finally, depression screenings are an important and healthy part of preventive care for everyone! You can learn more about Medicare's Behavioral Health coverage here.
 Contact the Arlington County VICAP team by phone or email:
703-228-1725
MedicareHelp@arlingtonva.us
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