[birdiebill]

We are coming for the month of May to investigate the lifestyle of The Villages as we are considering relocating to The Villages.

We have some concerns about access to medical care. We currently have regular Medicare with Tricare for Life supplement for medical insurance. I have read that the Villages Health Care System only accepts Medicare through one of the United Healthcare programs.

We would like to keep our current medical insurance if possible since it works well for us. Driving some 30 to 40 miles for physician visits is not a concern for us since we currently have to drive 35 miles or so for some of our specialty care here in Indiana. We will need a family practice doc, cardiologist, dermatologist, and orthopedic surgeon specialist. Will we be able to find good practitioners in these medical specialties, who accept regular Medicare, in locations within 30 to 40 miles of The Villages?

Would accept recommendations either in response or through PM. Thanks.

[kansasr]

I have Tricare for Life and am not in the Villages Health Care System....you should have no trouble with any medical care here outside of the Villages System. They aren't the only player in the game!

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by birdiebill

We are coming for the month of May to investigate the lifestyle of The Villages as we are considering relocating to The Villages.

We have some concerns about access to medical care. We currently have regular Medicare with Tricare for Life supplement for medical insurance. I have read that the Villages Health Care System only accepts Medicare through one of the United Healthcare programs.

We would like to keep our current medical insurance if possible since it works well for us. Driving some 30 to 40 miles for physician visits is not a concern for us since we currently have to drive 35 miles or so for some of our specialty care here in Indiana. We will need a family practice doc, cardiologist, dermatologist, and orthopedic surgeon specialist. Will we be able to find good practitioners in these medical specialties, who accept regular Medicare, in locations within 30 to 40 miles of The Villages?

Would accept recommendations either in response of through PM. Thanks.

We have a lot of physicians who practice here in The Villages, accept Medicare and are not part of The Villages Healthcare system. The more I recommend them on this site, the longer I wait in the waiting room.

[billethkid]

We have been here 12 years and have regular medicare and a supplemental policy.

Every doctor, specialist, lab. procedure, opinions, etc we have ever needed has all been covered.

We do not participate in The Villages Healthcare system as we like the flexibility we currently have to go to anybody anywhere we need/want to go.

It boils down to personal choices.

[jblum315]

You do not have to join the Villages Health Care System. There are plenty of independent practitioners, it is not a problem.

[birdiebill]

Thanks for the quick replies. The answers all of you have provided are reassuring. Access to medical care has been a concern of ours if we move. While we would change Medicare programs if necessary, we like the ability to choose our own providers, to not be restricted to a particular network, and to even self refer.

[buzzy]

Originally Posted by birdiebill

Thanks for the quick replies. The answers all of you have provided are reassuring. Access to medical care has been a concern of ours if we move. While we would change Medicare programs if necessary, we like the ability to choose our own providers, to not be restricted to a particular network, and to even self refer.

Can your supplemental plan tell you if they have participating doctors in this area with the specialties that you need? For example, Anthem BCBS has a provided finder feature on their web site.

[laceylady]

We have regular Medicare A and B and Federal Blue Cross and Blue Shield. My husband has numerous medical conditions, most of which require specialists. We have found top notch specialists here in the local Villages area or in Leesburg, just a few miles away. If we go to a doctor Whois not up to our standards, we have had no problem finding one that is. We pay $0 for any doctors/hospitals my husband sees. It was a lot of work to find these doc's. This website is an excellent referral service.

[NYGUY]

While I use The Villages Health, it is through a PPO rather than an HMO. As a result, I can chose any specialists that I want who accepts United Healthcare. The Villages Health is fine for primary care, just don't get stuck with having to accept their specialists.

[Challenger]

Originally Posted by birdiebill

We are coming for the month of May to investigate the lifestyle of The Villages as we are considering relocating to The Villages.

We have some concerns about access to medical care. We currently have regular Medicare with Tricare for Life supplement for medical insurance. I have read that the Villages Health Care System only accepts Medicare through one of the United Healthcare programs.

We would like to keep our current medical insurance if possible since it works well for us. Driving some 30 to 40 miles for physician visits is not a concern for us since we currently have to drive 35 miles or so for some of our specialty care here in Indiana. We will need a family practice doc, cardiologist, dermatologist, and orthopedic surgeon specialist. Will we be able to find good practitioners in these medical specialties, who accept regular Medicare, in
locations within 30 to 40 miles of The Villages?

Would accept recommendations either in response or through PM. Thanks.

We came from MD with Medicare and Tricare for Life, 6 years ago.

Do not belong to TV healthcare system. Have self referred for all physicians including, ophthalmology, dermatology, cardiology, urology, and primary care without a single blip. If you use this forum , you can quickly find advice on who to use and. who to avoid. Not to worry
All of our many providers are in TV. Have not needed to leave the campus

[yabbadu]

Originally Posted by billethkid

We have been here 12 years and have regular medicare and a supplemental policy.

Every doctor, specialist, lab. procedure, opinions, etc we have ever needed has all been covered.

We do not participate in The Villages Healthcare system as we like the flexibility we currently have to go to anybody anywhere we need/want to go.

It boils down to personal choices.

I am with you..........

[BK001]

To birdiebill, OP - I was wondering the same thing since I have Medicare with Humana as supplemental. Thank you for asking the question. Thank you to all posting these reassuring answers.