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.
Choosing a Medicare Plan: Pros and Cons
Tuesday, September 26 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Join Arlington County's Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) for an online presentation on Choosing Traditional Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan: Pros and Cons. This course, led by state certified SHIP (State Health Insurance and Assistance Program) Counselors, will focus on the differences between Traditional Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage and is designed for Medicare beneficiaries and individuals below or above 65 who are Medicare eligible.
Agenda topics include:
- Traditional Medicare (Part A & B)
- Medicare Advantage (Part C)
- Medicare Supplemental Insurance
- Medicare Open Enrollment Period
Click here to enroll in the program.
Meeting details will be sent to participants the Friday afternoon before the presentation.
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Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Ovarian cancer is a growth of cells in the ovaries that may cause symptoms such as abdominal bloating, pelvic pain, or a frequent need to urinate. Roughly 18,518 Ovarian cancer cases were reported among women in the U.S. In 2020, an article written by the National Cancer Institute reported that African American women with ovarian cancer, on average, do not survive as long as non-Hispanic White patients with the disease. As women age, their risk for ovarian cancer increases. Women should be aware of common symptoms and consult their doctor if they suspect they might have Ovarian Cancer.
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Don't Pay for COVID Tests You Didn't Order
Virginiasmp | August 11, 2023
Unordered COVID-19 tests – and bills – are arriving on doorsteps around the country. After May 11, when the COVID-19 health emergency officially ended, Medicare and other health insurance plans stopped paying for many at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests. Once Medicare denies payment, companies could come back with a bill in your name. Read a story from the Federal Trade Commission to learn what to do if you get billed for unordered COVID-19 tests.
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Dear VICAP Team,
What is a Medigap policy and when can I purchase one?
Dear Medicare Beneficiary,
Medigaps, also known as Medicare Supplemental insurance, are health insurance policies sold by private insurance companies, and designed to cover items like your deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Medigaps only work with Original Medicare.
Medigap enrollment rules differ from Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage enrollment rules. Rules Vary by state and in most cases, insurance companies selling medigap policies are only required to sell you a policy during certain times. You have the right to purchase a Medigap policy under federal law if you:
- Are 65 and enrolled in Medicare.
- And you purchase a policy during a protected enrollment period.
There are two federally protected periods to purchase a Medigap policy:
- Open Enrollment Period: you have a six-month open enrollment period to purchase a medigap, that begins the month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. You need both parts A and B in order to purchase a Medigap policy. This enrollment period is different from your Initial Enrollment Period which lasts 7 months and begins 3 months before your 65th birthday.
- Guaranteed Issue Right: If you miss your Open Enrollment Period, you can purchase a Medigap policy within 63 days of losing or ending health coverage.
During these two protected enrollment periods, an insurance company cannot deny you medigap coverage or charge you more for a medigap policy because of any medical conditions.
You can still purchase a medigap policy outside of the two protected periods but note that the insurance companies may charge you a higher price because of your health issues or status. To learn more about open enrollment and guaranteed issue rights, click here.
 As our team prepares for Medicare's Open Enrollment Season, below you will find a link to access an Open Enrollment Intake form which is a requirement prior to scheduling a one-on-one counseling session with a VICAP Counselor.
By November 8th, please complete and submit the intake form via email to MedicareHelp@arlingtonva.us or via fax to 703-228-1174, ATTN: VICAP.
Click here to complete a form in English
Click here to complete a form in Spanish
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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