Healthcare Insurance Information and Assistance

Virginia CommonHelp

https://commonhelp.virginia.gov

Virginia CommonHelp is a partnership with the Virginia Department of Social Services and serves as a "guide for navigating and applying for assistance" including health benefits, and also assistance with things like food and fuel. You will need to create an account the first time you seek assistance through the website. 

Cover Virginia

www.coverva.org

On this website, you can learn about Virginia’s Medicaid, FAMIS programs for children, pregnant women, and adults. You can also get information about health insurance choices through the Federal Marketplace.
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Medicare - Federal Insurance

www.medicare.gov
800-633-4227
The official Medicare website of the United Stated of America.
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Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. You’re first eligible to sign up for Medicare 3 months before you turn 65. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease). 

• Apply for Medicare
• Get basic information to understand what Medicare is and what it offers
• Get costs
• Find local help
• Get your Medicare card
• Find care providers,
• Get forms
• Talk to someone
• and More!

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​Medicare
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, as well as people with disabilities .

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Helps pay for inpatient hospital care, psychiatric hospital care, medically necessary short-term skilled nursing facility care following a hospital stay, home health care and hospice care.
 
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)
Helps to pay for doctors’ services, outpatient hospital  services, and various medical services and supplies. Voluntary program with a monthly premium - assistance may be available for individuals with low income.
 
Medicare Part C  (Medicare Advantage Plan /MAP)
Type of Medicare health plan offered by a private insurance company that contracts with Medicare to provide all Part A and Part B benefits.  A MAP manages the healthcare of members. The company  helps pay for medical care by doctors and hospital that the member needs.
 
Medicare Advantage Plans include:

• Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO)
• Preferred Provider Organization Plans (PPO)
• Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
• Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans (MSA)
• Medicare Specialty  Plans

 
With Medicare Advantage Plans most Medicare services are covered and are not paid for under original Medicare. Most plans offer prescription drug coverage. In addition to a monthly premium  one may be responsible for out-of-pocket costs such as annual deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance for office visits, hospital stays and outpatient services such as physical therapy.  One may need a referral from a primary care physician.  Doctors outside the provider network may be partially covered but it would cost more to use them.
 
Medicare Part D (prescription Drug Coverage)
Adds prescription drug coverage  to original Medicare and other Medicare plans. Offered by insurance companies and other private companies that are approved by Medicare.
 
For more information about benefits visit www.medicare.gov. 

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What's the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
​Medicare is federal health insurance for anyone age 65 and older, and some people under 65 with certain disabilities or conditions. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage for some people with limited income and resources.  Medicaid offers benefits, like nursing home care, personal care services, and assistance paying for Medicare premiums and other costs.

Healthcare Marketplace

www.healthcare.gov
A federal government website managed and paid for by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
​Learn more about how to get affordable health insurance coverage. You can enroll in health plans anytime if you have certain life changes or qualify for Medicaid or CHIP.

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Learn more about the 2010 Affordable Care Act from the US Department of Health & Human Services ​HERE. 

Insurance Counseling

VICAP (Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program)

540-825-3100
VICAP is offered regionally through Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services and is a FREE assistance program. Contact them at the phone number above to find a representative near you.

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Long Term Care Insurance

For assistance with long term care insurance, see VICAP above

What is Long Term Care Insurance?

Visit  longtermcare.gov for information on what long term care insurance is, and who needs it. 

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What is long-term care?
You may have heard of long term care insurance for coverage of long-term care, but what is long-term care?  
It is a blanket term for services that can help you meet medical and non-medical care needs if age, injury, illness, disability or cognitive impairment affect your  ability to take care of those needs yourself. Many Americans will need some form of long-term care at some point in their lifetimes, which is why it’s important to learn about it - preferably before you actually need it.

What types of services does long-term care provide?
A lot of people automatically think of nursing home care when they think about long-term care. But the truth is, long-term care can cover almost any service that helps you maintain your quality of life. In fact, most long-term care has nothing to do with  medical care. The term for this is “custodial care,”  meaning services that help with everyday living activities.

Common Long-Term care services:

• In-home medical care
• Personal health and hygiene 
• Housework assistance
• Meal preparation
• Pet Care services
• Money management

​- and more!

From AARP.com

Click for information on Prescription Drug Coverage