[ROCKETMAN]

Then it's pup for me. With no major health issues, I don't need dr. welby.

[gpirate]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Does anyone remember when Medicare was cut by 500 billion? It sounds like a lot but I believe it's 500 billion over 10 years, which may help to put it in perspective. Because of that cut, I was warned last year, by my agent (the man who signs me up for HMOs), that the monthly premium reimbursement would likely disappear in the future, along with other benefits like SilverSneakers. Well, he predicted it, and it has come true.

But there are other forces at work contributing to this. He told me last night that Preferred Care Partners had a loss (in our area) of $30,000,000.

If you are looking for a replacement HMO with some premium reimbursement, Optimum is the next best, assuming you have no major health issues. If you have a major health issue like heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease, Freedom Health will reimburse about $72. Otherwise, if you don't qualify for that, Optimum will reimburse about $39.00.

With Optimum, primary care will still be free of any charge to the patient. But seeing a specialist will go up to $30. from $25..

I'm not sure if it will offer SilverSneakers or not, but I'm not counting on it.

Great information to have. Thanks for the research.

[Bizdoc]

PCP's business model of giving money back was so successful that ... they basically went out of business in this area. Great business model. Make sure that you pick another equally savvy company.

You get what you pay for.

[RVRoadie]

Originally Posted by Bizdoc

PCP's business model of giving money back was so successful that ... they basically went out of business in this area. Great business model. Make sure that you pick another equally savvy company.

You get what you pay for.

They didn't go out of business. They sold out to UNH for an undisclosed amount. I suspect that they made out very well.

[ActsOfKindness]

please write me or anyone else seeing this post. my husband and i had pcp too ..this has nothing to do with the obama care situation just so you know. this has to do with the villages health care system, and profits imho. united health care has other products and you can go into the stores in the town squares to discuss what options you have. there are two that i know of and both are decent. HOWEVER, if you are like us and looking for a rebate on the premium part b, which preferred care partners did for two years in a row, the only medicare advantage program i found after 48 hours of non stop computer research is PUP (PHYSICIANS UNITED PLAN) AND THE ONE that gives a rebate is pup rewards hmo..for 90$ back in your pocket. very very similar to the preferred care partners program AND HAS THE SILVER SNEEKERS DEAL TOO. I DO NOT CHECK ONLINE TOO MUCH WITH THIS FORUM..so please write me at flowerpower55@gmail.com if you want any more information. right now i am trying to sign up shortly for the PUP medicare advantage program, but there are no agents to assist me. everything is united healthcare here in the villages..its a monopoly somehow. i hate to enroll online , im a bit nervous about doing that and sending it out with the postal mail. thanks for reading this...and if you or anyone else has any suggestions let me know. i do not represent pup in any way....except that i was pcp too and got my letter as well...and want to stay on a similar plan. this is all i could come up with.

[ActsOfKindness]

NOT BEING ARGUMENTIVE HERE.HOWEVER...freedom health has rebate programs...that friends of ours are signing up for...and PUP physicians united plan is very similar to pcp (preferred care partners that is no longer active starting 2014) pup rewards hmo its called. i spent hours on the internet this week after getting my divorce letter from pcp this week....to try to find another plan. i do not know why....people think obamacare has anything to do with insurance company profits. pcp simply did not want to rebate money anymore for premium part b...which for two years in a row they did. when united health care took over...they are all now under the umbrella of the villages health care system, university of south florida..and the developer. there are two specific health plans , one is aarp complete 2, with united health and another one..the villages medicare hmo...i think they just underwrote, and both just take your premium part b. i dont think l04 $ is that expensive a premium for health insurance. and i think freedom medicare advantage and PUP physicians united plan are fantastic for people on a limited fixed income...because both give premium part b rebates...the latter is 90$ just like pcp did. anyhow..my comment is...there are medicare advantage programs out there. there are affordable premiums. my only problem with pup to enroll is ...there are no agents in the villages area it seems to assist me and i hate to do this online and mail it in...i feel more comfortable with an agent..so still searching . thanks for reading this and good luck to everyone out there ....that had preferred care partners..dont panic...THERE ARE other medicare advantage programs...and freedom and pup....are two that rebate still. God bless.

[ActsOfKindness]

i hate to be repetitive..i was not aware of optimum and will check it out..but my posts...i will repeat...PUP which is called physicians united plan.......and available in lake marion and sumter counties now....has a rebate for its medicare advantage plan that is known as pup rewards hmo....for 90$. and very similar to preferred care. the urgent care centers are zero co payment to walk in....in the 2014 plan benefits..doctors are zero. specialists 30$. the hospital stay for the united health care packages are a fortune...the one with aarp complete 2 is 395.00$ a day wow. with pup i believe its 195.00. i will look into optimum. is there an agent...that will come to the house to enroll us.?? pup has a drawback in that i cannot find an agent..and to print out the enrollment or have them mail it out to us..we have to mail it back and i do not feel comfortable with that at all i told them on the phone. still trying to find an agent to assist us. thanks for reading this and please could you write me at my email ...
so appreciate that... flowerpower55@gmail.com
i am feeling very badly for the thousands of villagers that had preferred care partners...and do not know what to do . of course you can on board..with the villages health care system, and enroll in a united health care program. they look decent but take the premium part b.....and the hospital stay is very expensive to say the least. also i want to go on record here..all i heard was hype about how wonderful the villages health care system is going to be. and no waits ..to be seen right away. i have an appt that was scheduled out 3 months into late november with a primary care physician..and my next door neighbor will be waiting 4 months to see a doctor in this system. huh??? that is crazy.

[ActsOfKindness]

i didnt realize someone else knew about pup/ i have been posting a bunch of responses here to other posters. the problem i have and we want desparately to sign up for pup rewards hmo..it gives back the rebate of 90$ for the premium part b .....very similar to preferred care..has the sneekers , and my husbands doctors in their provider list. i cant find a bloomin agent to assist us...to enroll us. it seems it has to be done online...the enrollment form , printed out and mailed to them. or they can send an enrollment packet and you have to MAIL it back which is stressing me out terribly. what if they dont get it or process it or i made a mistake in how i filled it out. i dont have insurance. geeeesh. im not thrilled with the villages health care system at this point. i think its alot of hype. i have to wait 3 months to even see the doctor ...i couldnt get an appointment over at colony care, and insofar as them accepting united health yes..duh...united health care...and the villages health care system, the university of south florida and last but not least THE DEVELOPER ARE ALL TIED TOGETHER....that is why you see the stores thruout the townsquares now...that will be enrolling folks into medicare advantage programs thru united health. united health is THE only medicare advantage plans ...that are accepted thru...the villages health care system.. but there are other insurances that are also accepted....i believe the system will be very inundated..the villages health care system, the doctors that participate in it......and all the hype about getting same day appointments..and a stronger doctor/patient relationship , and less patient overload for the doctors ....im not buying it. i think its going to be overloaded here....not enough doctors and too many people on board. i hope im wrong.

[Mimivillager]

Yes,your initial appointment is 3 months out to meet the dr but if you need to see the dr sooner, you can get in same day.

[rockyisle]

I've said it before, I'll say it again. The Villages Health Care System takes MANY more insurance companies than United Health Care. Look at their website. It's there in black and white type! And I'll say this again, while Harvard Pilgrim is not on their site, they take it.

[gomoho]

PUP is giving the $90 rebate this year, but will discontinue in 2015. It will be difficult to find an agent to write the policy because there is no commission for them on this policy. You might be able to call and enroll over the phone if you are not comfortable doing so via the internet.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by gomoho

PUP is giving the $90 rebate this year, but will discontinue in 2015. It will be difficult to find an agent to write the policy because there is no commission for them on this policy. You might be able to call and enroll over the phone if you are not comfortable doing so via the internet.

I went to their website and tried to find a primary care doctor in Sumter but it didn't work. I believe I looked at their plan in previous years but didn't join because of a lack of doctors in this area. Anyway, I got their toll free phone number from their website and will check it out to see how far I would have to go to get to a primary care doctor. For an extra $50, over and above the others, it might be worth it. I seem to remember that most of their doctors are in the Ocala area.

No commission explains why my agent didn't mention it.

[Villages PL]

Google the following: Physicians United Plan reviews

Then read the "Ripoff Reports" and tell me what you think.

[RVRoadie]

Originally Posted by rockyisle

I've said it before, I'll say it again. The Villages Health Care System takes MANY more insurance companies than United Health Care. Look at their website. It's there in black and white type! And I'll say this again, while Harvard Pilgrim is not on their site, they take it.

There are a number of Medicare Advantage plans available, however The Villages Health Care System doesn't take any of them except for United Health Care. So... "if you wan't to keep your doctor..." forget it unless you pay up to United Health Care.

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Google the following: Physicians United Plan reviews

Then read the "Ripoff Reports" and tell me what you think.

I took your google suggestion and wasn't overly alarmed by the two reviews I found. I think I was more alarmed people with complicated physical issues would choose a plan that doesn't offer a wide range of providers.

Insurance is a gamble and you better understand what you are getting into before signing on the dotted line. I believe my husband and I will go with PUP this year to take advantage of the $180 we save monthly as a result of their rebate. However we are 64 and 66 with no health issues so we are willing to take the gamble and hope for the best. His doctor currently takes PUP and we will contact him for his opinion on their service.