Medicare Counseling is provided through the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) at VPAS. VICAP is part of a nationwide network of health insurance assistance programs that provides unbiased, confidential, Medicare counseling. Trained and certified counselors assist Medicare beneficiaries to understand benefits, assist with enrollment, and compare plans. VICAP counselors are not associated with any insurance company and do not sell insurance products.
Counseling is offered by appointment at various locations
throughout the VPAS service area.
Important Notice Regarding Medicare Counseling Appointments
Due to the high volume of requests during Medicare Open Enrollment,
VPAS is currently unable to schedule additional Medicare counseling appointments.
For assistance with Medicare questions, prescription drug plan comparisons, or coverage options, please call:
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
Representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide assistance.
If you are currently on our appointment waiting list, we encourage you to call 1-800-MEDICARE for assistance rather than continue waiting for an appointment.
Reminder: Medicare Open Enrollment ends December 7, 2026.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Medicare Open Enrollment Period The Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is October 15 – December 7. This is the annual time for considering changes to coverage for Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans.
Additional Resources
Medicare.gov: The official U.S. Government site for Medicare. Extensive information on Medicare benefits. Helpful for finding health and drug plans available in local area by zip code.
https://scc.virginia.gov/pages/Senior-Resources: Virginia's State Corporation Commission site offers many helpful resources about Medicare plans and Medigap plan choices and premiums.
Medicare.gov/coverage/long-term-care: This site is managed by the US Department of Health & Human Services. It offers objective information on long-term care insurance and provides valuable tools to help people begin a process of planning.
Links to licensed long-term insurance carriers: This site lists long-term care insurance carriers authorized to sell in Virginia by the Virginia Bureau of Insurers.
Senior Medicare Patrol
SMP programs, also known as Senior Medicare Patrol programs, help Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries avoid, detect, and prevent healthcare fraud. Volunteers are trained to help disseminate SMP information or provide group education and community outreach and information.
SMP is a grant-funded program by the Administration on Aging (AoA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
For more information on volunteering or to schedule a training, contact Medicare at (800-633-4227) or email us and ask about the SMP program.
If you suspect health care fraud you can call the Virginia SMP Program toll-free at 1-800-938-8885. Consumers can also make anonymous calls to this complaint line.
Learn more about Virginia SMP at virginiasmp.com
This service is offered at no cost to the participant, but voluntary and confidential contributions are always accepted and appreciated.