Arlington County’s Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program
(VICAP) provides free, unbiased, one-on-one insurance counseling to Arlington County Medicare Beneficiaries, their families, friends and caregivers.
ABC's of Medicare
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
About the Program: Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug Coverage, and Medigap Policies are choices in the Medicare program. Join Arlington County's Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) to learn:
- Medicare Coverage Choices (Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D Prescription Drug Coverage, and Medigap Policies
- What Medicare Does and Does Not Cover
- Programs for People with Limited Income
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Immunization Awareness Month
August is National Immunization Awareness Month which observes the importance of routine vaccinations throughout the year. As we age, our immune system and its ability to fight infections weakens. Routine vaccinations help to prevent illness and the severity of the symptoms. It is important to be cautious of misinformation on vaccines and to speak with your doctor about questions or concerns you may have to make an informed decision.
Medicare Part D covers most vaccines and immunizations. However, there are certain vaccinations that are always covered by Part B:
Part B also covers vaccines after you have been exposed to a dangerous virus or disease. For example, Part B will cover a tetanus shot if you step on a rusty nail, or a rabies shot if you are bitten by a dog. Click here to take an assessment and see which vaccines you need.
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Medical Equipment CEO Sentenced
Virginiasmp | April 10, 2023
Tanya Grant will serve 80 months in prison for a health care fraud scheme in which she purchased lists of Medicare patient names from companies overseas. She then billed Medicare for purportedly supplying these patients with durable medical equipment. In many cases, Medicare was billed even though no equipment was shipped. Grant forged physician orders if no such order existed in her files to support her billings. Read a story from WRAL and a Department of Justice press release.
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Dear VICAP Team,
Does Medicare cover ambulance services?
Dear Medicare Beneficiary,
Emergency and non-emergency ambulance services are covered under Medicare Part B. These services are covered at 80% of the Medicare-approved amount. There are limited instances when non-emergency ambulance services are covered. An emergency situation is any instance when your health is in serious danger, and you are unable to be transported safely by other means. If your health is not in immediate danger, then it is not considered an emergency.
Medicare Part B covers emergency ambulance services if:
- It is medically necessary: It is the only safe way to transport you
- The trip is needed to receive a Medicare-covered service or when returning from receiving care
- You are being transported to and from certain locations
- Or if the transportation supplier meets Medicare ambulance requirements
Medicare may pay for emergency ambulance transportation in an airplane or helicopter if you need immediate and rapid transport that ground transportation can’t provide. To be eligible for non-emergency ambulance service coverage, you must:
- Be confined to your bed
- Or in need of medical services that are only available in an ambulance (such as vital monitoring or administration of medications
To learn more about Ambulatory services covered under Medicare, click here.
Here we GROW AGAIN! We are pleased to announce Michael Schuster as the newest team member on VICAP's team! If you are interested in being a part of our team, visit the Volunteer Arlington website and search "insurance" to find VICAP volunteer opportunities.
 Contact the Arlington County VICAP team by phone or email:
703-228-1725
MedicareHelp@arlingtonva.us
This project was supported, in part by grant number 90SAPG0064, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy
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