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.
Making the Most of Medicare Open Enrollment
Monday October 27, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Walter Reed Community Center
2909 16th St S, Arlington VA, 22204
Concerned that prescription costs have increased as your health needs change? Do you have new prescriptions or some not covered by your current Part D Plan?
Medicare plans can make changes every year to the costs and formularies (list of drugs covered). The Medicare Open Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 - Dec. 7) is the time to review those changes and decide if you want to keep your current plan, or switch to one that better meets your health / prescription drug needs.
Join Arlington County VICAP in-person at Walter Reed Community Center on Monday, October 27th to receive information on Medicare Open Enrollment. Learn how to use the Medicare Planfinder and other tools to maximize savings.
Individual counseling sessions will be offered immediately after the presentation.
Registration for the presentation and / or counseling sessions is required. Register by emailing MedicareHelp@arlingtonva.us or call 703-228-1725
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast cancer awareness month is a time dedicated to educating individuals on breast cancer. Each year in the United States, about 270,000 women get breast cancer and 42,000 women die from it. While most breast cancers are found in women 50 years or older, it can also affect women younger than 50. Men can also get breast cancer, but it's not very common. Symptoms can include pain in any area of the breast, nipple discharge other than milk, a lump in the breast or underarm, and any changes in the size or shape of the breast.
Cancer risk factors include being a woman, being older (50+), and any changes in breast cancer genes. If you believe you are at risk or have symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. Medicare beneficiaries can receive screenings and baseline mammograms under Medicare Part B to check for breast cancer. Medicare only covers medically necessary breast ultrasounds when your Medicare-enrolled health care provider orders them. Click here to learn more about breast cancer related costs under Medicare. Review other covered preventive services by reviewing the Medicare Preventive Services Guide.
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That text about an overdue traffic
ticket is probably a scam
Virginia SMP | September 15, 2025
Chances are, you’ve gotten a scam text about unpaid toll charges or know someone who has. Now scammers are going even further and pretending to be the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) from states all over the country. They insist that you pay for an “overdue traffic ticket” and threaten to suspend your driving privileges (among other things) if you don’t. Here’s how the scam works. (Read More)
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Dear VICAP Team,
When is Fall Open Enrollment, and what can I do with my Medicare plan during this period?
Dear Medicare Beneficiary,
What a timely question! Fall Open Enrollment, also known as Medicare's Open Enrollment Period or Annual Election Period, begins October 15th and ends December 7th each year. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries can add, drop, or switch their Medcare Part D or Medicare Advantage Plan for the following year. Even if you are happy with your current Medicare coverage, Fall Open Enrollment is an opportunity to review your current coverage and any upcoming changes to make sure that your needs will continue to be met in the following year.
If you have Original Medicare, you can prepare for Fall Open Enrollment by reviewing the 2025 Medicare & You Handbook to learn more about Medicare benefits for the upcoming year. You should review any changes to Original Medicare Premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance charges.
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or a stand-alone Part D plan, review your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and/or Evidence of Coverage (EOC) for any changes to your plan's costs, benefits and coverage rules, or changes to your plan's drug formulary.
Be sure to also check if your providers and pharmacies are still in the plan's network. If you are unhappy with any of the upcoming changes to your plan, our VICAP team can assist you with reviewing other options and changing your plan. Use the forms below and contact our team to schedule an appointment during Fall Open Enrollment.
VICAP Intake Form_ English
VICAP Intake Form_Spanish
 Interested in joining our team? Click here to complete an online volunteer application or 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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