I do not know the reasons why The Villages Healthcare System (the PCPs) only accepts UHC Medicare Advantage Plans and Florida Blue Medicare Advantage Plans once you become eligible for Medicare. They give you a choice of two companies, not one. Before Medicare age, they accept most insurances. I was a patient with them for a number of years but had to leave once I turned 65 and opted to go with Medicare and a Supplemental Plan. I was very satisfied with The Villages Healthcare system and would have stayed if it was possible. Their company, their rules, and, fortunately, there are other PCPs in the area. The Villages Health Care System was, however, very convenient and well run - always taken on time and visits were never rushed.
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Originally Posted by Summit Medigap
People should be very skeptical of any doctor/hospital or healthcare system that ONLY accepts Medicare Advantage. There is no reason for this other than they are somehow benefiting from forcing their patients to one company.
Medicare is accepted at 99.9% of all doctors and hospitals in the U.S. Therefore, you have to question the motives of an institution that requires someone to pick their Medicare Advantage Plan of choice.
Most of the time it's the opposite....a provider will only take Medicare and not Medicare Advantage because billing for them is so much more complicated.
Medicare Advantage and Medicare is billed differently. With Medicare...they bill Medicare, Medicare pays it's portion and then sends the balance on to the Medicare Supplement carrier. There are very strict rules on how quick the turn around needs to be for Medicare Supplement carriers. That is why most doctors don't even know who a good Medicare Supplement company is because they never have to deal with it or worry about it. Unlike Medicare Advantage.
We have reached a new low in healthcare when a heathcare system/ hospital tells you that must take their suggested Medicare Advantage plan or else.
United Healthcare has been in the news a lot lately and lots of law suits. Here is an article about it...
Report says UnitedHealth Group was top recipient of questionable Medicare payments - StarTribune.com
It would be much easier for them to also accept Medicare and give their patients freedom to choose. It makes you wonder how much they are making from the Medicare Advantage Plan.
Here is a recent article I did comparing Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement Plans. The differences they don't mention in all the commercials...
What is the difference between Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage? - Summit Medigap Medicare Supplement Insurance |