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.
What We Should All Know About Medicare
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 | 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM
Are you, your loved ones, or your clients approaching age 65 - whether still working or retired? Join the Arlington County VICAP team for a discussion on the complexities of Medicare and Retirement planning hosted by the Positive Aging Network. Whether you’re planning for yourself, a loved one, or advising clients, this webinar will provide the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about Medicare and retirement health coverage.
What You’ll Learn:
- Coordination of Benefits: Understand what coordination of benefits means and learn the difference between primary and secondary insurance.
- Employee Insurance & Medicare: Find out when your current employee insurance pays primary or secondary to Medicare.
- COBRA, Retiree, and FEHB Coordination: Get clarity on how COBRA insurance, retiree insurance, and Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) work with Medicare.
- Timing Medicare Enrollment: Receive expert advice on when you may or may not want to delay Medicare enrollment.
Led by Arlington VICAP's Certified Medicare Counselors
Registration is required. Use the link below to register.
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June Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and Pride Month!
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is June 15th! It was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.
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Celebrate PRIDE with Arlington’s 55+ Programs! PRIDE Month is significant for older adults in the LGBTQ+ community as it recognizes the historical contributions and ongoing struggles for equality. Join Arlington’s 55+ Programs to celebrate stories and accomplishments of older adults in the LGBTQ+ community! Click here to register and learn more.
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It’s Medicare Fraud Prevention Week!
The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is hosting the upcoming 2025 Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (MFPW) June 2 through June 8. During Medicare Fraud Prevention Week:
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Medicare beneficiaries can monitor their insurance statements to make sure products and services received match what is on the statements and request free My Health Care Trackers from their local SMP.
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Caregivers can help by reminding their client or loved one to never give out their Medicare number or other personal information over the phone or through email.
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Families can help by talking to their loved ones about protecting their Medicare number just as they would a credit card number.
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Partners and professionals can help by sharing SMP information on social media, referring clients and consumers to the SMP, and inviting the SMP to speak during a shared event.
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Health care providers can help by talking to patients about health care-related scams such as those related to durable medical equipment and genetic testing schemes. They can remind them that products and services should only be ordered by physicians they regularly see.
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Community members can help by encouraging those they know to talk to a trusted source about their Medicare questions and tell neighbors about the most recent Medicare scams.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in collaboration with the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI and non-profit and private sector organizations will lead a virtual panel discussion on Relationship Investment Scams. Register here.
Interested in receiving monthly fraud updates? Click here to subscribe to VICAP's newsletter.
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Dear VICAP Team,
Does Medicare cover durable medical equipment?
Dear Medicare Beneficiary,
Durable medical equipment (DME) is equipment that serves a medical purpose, can withstand repeated use, and can be used in the home. Medicare Part B covers some medical equipment like crutches, patient lifts, walkers and more. Click here to review the types of Medicare covered DME.
Medicare does not cover equipment that is mainly for use outside the home, items intended for convenience or comfort like grab bars, items that can be thrown away or are not used with equipment, or modifications to your home such as ramps or widened doors.
To obtain DME and have it covered by your insurance, it must be medically necessary and ordered by your provider. You must also be sure to obtain your DME from suppliers who contract with Original Medicare or your Medicare Advantage Plan. Click here to learn more.
To find out if Medicare covers the equipment you need, or to find a Medicare approved DME supplier, visit medicare.gov or contact your State Health Insurance Provider.
 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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