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.
Medicare Preventive Services
Wednesday, January 08, 2025 | 10:30AM to 12:00PM
Did you know that Medicare’s Preventive Services are free and available to help you prevent illness, detect medical conditions, and keep you healthy? Eligibility requirements and guidelines for preventive services apply.
Join Arlington County VICAP to learn:
- Tips to stay healthy, live longer and delay or prevent diseases
- Medicare’s Preventive Services (e.g., Flu Shots, Cancer Screenings, Diabetes Screenings, etc.)
- Medicare’s Summary Notices and how to read them
Click here to register online. You can also register by emailing Medicarehelp@arlingtonva.us, or by calling 703-228-1725.
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Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
The Medicare Advantage (MA) Open enrollment period is January 1st - March 31st, each year. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan and missed the Fall Open Enrollment period, this is a chance for you to switch out of your current MA plan to a new MA plan or drop your MA plan and switch back to Original Medicare.
If you currently have Original Medicare, you cannot switch your plan during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period. If you'd like to review or change your Medicare Advantage plan, email Medicarehelp@arlingtonva.us, or call 703-228-1725 to schedule an appointment with one of our SHIP counselors.
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Telehealth Resources
For people with Medicare, Telehealth is available. This includes services like common office visits, mental health counseling, and preventive screenings. For most services, the payment will be the same as an in-person visit. For example, if you have original Medicare, then like office visits, your deductible will apply and your copay will be 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
Medicare also covers patient-initiated virtual check-ins, which are short communications with a provider. These may happen over phone, video, or other means. If you are also covered by Medicaid, Medicaid may help with your costs. Note: Coverage of services delivered via telehealth under Medicaid vary by state. Learn about the types of care available through telehealth and how you and your family can use this technology for quality care.
TELEHEALTH: WHAT TO KNOW FOR YOUR FAMILY
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Phishing scams can be hard to spot
Virginia SMP | December 13, 2024
Scammers love a good disguise. One day they show up texting you about a delivery you missed, the next they say you need to sort an issue with your Netflix account. Here’s how to avoid these phishing scams.
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. Maybe it’s an unexpected email or text message pretending to be from a company you know or trust, like a utility company asking you to make a payment. Or maybe it’s an unexpected party invitation that looks like it’s from a friend or family member. (Read More)
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Dear VICAP Team,
What additional benefits can I get from a Medicare Advantage plan?
Dear Medicare Beneficiary,
Medicare Advantage plans may offer additional benefits that are not covered by Original Medicare, such as:
- Dental care
- Vision care
- Hearing aids
- Gym memberships
There may also be other benefits like transportation or meal delivery services offered through Medicare Advantage plans. While these benefits may be offered, it is important to check if limitations apply. Dental plans for example, may cover routine dental cleanings but not fillings. Some may also increase or decrease their annual maximum cost the plan will pay towards the benefit, or adjust their cost sharing for services. For these reasons, it is important to assess them.
If you find that a Medicare Advantage plan advertises additional benefits that are appealing to you, ask about coverage details. Not all Medicare Advantage plans are the same. Click on the link below to review a list of questions you can consider asking before switching your Medicare Advantage plan:
 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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