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.
Arlington VICAP’s Health Benefits Tours Receive National Recognition at USAging’s 50th Annual Conference & Tradeshow
About the Conference | USAging Conference
USAging is the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs. USAging members help older adults, caregivers and people with disabilities throughout the United States live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities.
This month, Michelle Thomas, VICAP’s Program Coordinator will speak about her proposal Engaging Underserved Communities Through the Promotion of Health Benefits Tours. Within her presentation, she will share insight into VICAP’s work that ensures older adults, persons with disabilities, non-English speaking, and underserved and minority communities receive equitable access to programs, benefits, and services that maintain or improve their quality of life.
Learn more about USAging here: USAging.
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July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Also known as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to bring awareness to the unique challenges that racial and ethnic minorities in the United States face when it comes to mental illness. There are many resources available to support outreach for BIPOC Minority Mental Health Awareness, including the 988 Partner Toolkit offered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The 988 Partner Toolkit is a resource center for social media, video, print, radio, FAQs, messaging, and other marketing materials that can be used to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It is designed for states, territories, tribes, crisis centers, communities, emergency service providers, and other partners to speak with one voice so there is a clear understanding about the 988 Lifeline and how it works.
Did you know Medicare covers the following mental health services?
- Telehealth counseling services – click here to learn more.
- Outpatient depression screenings, individual and group psychotherapy, and family counseling – click here to learn more.
- Outpatient counseling and therapy services from a Medicare-enrolled opioid treatment program (OTP), for individuals being treated for a substance use disorder – click here to learn more.
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How to Steer Clear of Customer Service Scams
Virginia SMP
Whenever we have a problem with a charge or a purchase, it’s comforting to talk to a real person on the phone to resolve the issue. Unfortunately, criminals know that too, and are eager to take advantage of it. In customer service scams, criminals lure their targets into calling phony customer support numbers for payment apps and e-commerce retailers (often Amazon), then impersonate helpful staffers to steal money and sensitive personal data from their targets.
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Dear VICAP Team,
What documents do I need to plan my future health care?
Dear Medicare Beneficiary,
Below are a few documents you can put together to help prepare for your health care wishes, in the event you are unable to make a decision:
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Health care proxy: Sometimes called “durable power of attorney”, your health care proxy is someone you trust to make decisions about your health, if you can’t.
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Living Will: This describes which treatment(s) you want if your life is threatened, including dialysis, breathing machines, resuscitation, and tube feeding. It also states if you want your organs or tissues donated after you pass.
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Advance directive: This can be a combination of a living will and a health care proxy document.
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Power of attorney: This names someone you trust as your agent to make legal decisions for you and is usually prepared by a lawyer.
You can choose the same person to be your proxy and power of attorney, but you will need to put this on two separate documents. Once you have decided which documents you will put together, make sure they cover all the issues that are important to you, and that the documents comply with state rules.
Be sure to discuss your future care documents with your loved ones and health care providers. If possible, bring copies of your documents to share with your providers each time you are admitted to the hospital.
Below are a few resources to help you create these documents and ensure they comply with state guidelines and rules.
 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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