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.
2026 Community Engagement Forum
Monday, March 16, 2026 | 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Join Arlington County staff, Commission on Aging members, and community partners for an interactive discussion on what matters most to Arlingtonians during The 2026 Community Engagement Forum on Aging. The theme this year is Your Journey Matters where we will focus on safe, accessible, and reliable transportation.
What you can expect:
- Learn about different ways to get around on your own.
- Connect with transit providers serving older adults and people with disabilities.
- Explore tools that make travel easier for everyone.
- Share your ideas to help make transportation better in your community.
- Enjoy light refreshments at our primary and satellite locations.
This event is designed for:
- Older adults
- People with disabilities
- Caregivers
- Service providers
- People interested in creating safe, reliable, and accessible transportation services
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Age with Ease:
Resources and Services for Older Arlingtonians
Monday, March 23, 2026 | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Join us for Age with Ease presented by Arlington’s Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Representatives from Arlington County’s Area Agency on Aging, Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP), and Arlington’s 55+ Program will talk about how Area Agency on Aging services and resources benefit the community!
The goal of the AAA is to promote the maximum level of independence for persons age 60 and older and to ensure that older adults in Arlington live as an integral part of society, with dignity and access to programs and services that meet their needs and preferences.
Registration is required. Virtual meeting details will be sent to participants after registering. Register by Friday, March 20.
Register one of three ways:
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March is National
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The goal of this national health observance is to increase awareness that colorectal cancer is largely preventable, treatable and beatable. In conjunction with National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) remind health care professionals that Medicare provides coverage for certain colorectal cancer screenings. Colorectal cancer affects both men and women of all racial and ethnic groups and is most often found in people aged 50 years or older. And the risk for developing colorectal cancer increases with age. Click here to learn more.
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Spot the scams when fixing your credit
Virginia SMP March 2, 2026
If there’s information on your credit report that’s correct but not so great, it can make it harder to get credit with good terms. But there are things you can do yourself for free to help fix your credit. Credit repair companies also charge to do the same things. Before you consider paying, though, know the rules these companies have to follow — rules dishonest companies and scammers often break. Click here to learn more.
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Dear VICAP Team,
How are Medigap Premiums set?
Dear Medicare Beneficiary,
Medigap plans with the same letter offer identical benefits, but their monthly premiums can differ by insurer. When comparing plans, ask how each company sets its rates. Your premium, and the plans available to you, can be influenced by several factors, including:
- Your location
- Your age
- Your health
- Your gender
- Smoking status
- Marital status
- When you first qualified for Medicare
Insurers may also use age differently when pricing Medigap policies, depending on your state:
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Community-Rated (No‑Age‑Rated): Everyone in the area pays the same premium, regardless of age. These often cost less over time.
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Issue-Age-Rated: Your premium is based on the age you were when you bought the plan. Buying at a younger age typically means lower long-term costs.
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Attained-Age-Rated: Premiums start based on your age at purchase and increase as you get older. These may start out cheaper but usually become the most expensive over the years.
To get the best protections and pricing, it’s generally wise to buy a Medigap plan during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period or when you have a guaranteed issue right—times when insurers must sell you a policy and cannot charge more based on your health. Click here for more information on Medigap policies.
 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
Visit our website to learn more.
Use the QR code or click here.
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