Villages Health Plan & Moffitt

[somerset72]

Isn't it odd that the developer raved about Moffitt coming to The Villages a few yrs. ago? Articles in the paper weekly, etc. And now Moffitt doesn't accept The Villages UHC health plan.

[dbussone]

Moffitt is still worth raving about. UHC just doesn't want to pay for it. That is beyond the control of the developer on several levels.

[Avista]

Isn't it odd that the developer raved about Moffitt coming to The Villages a few yrs. ago? Articles in the paper weekly, etc. And now Moffitt doesn't accept The Villages UHC health plan.

I agree 100%. Was treated at Moffitt 12 years ago. They are wonderful! Very sad they aren't on Villages Health Program, especially how happy everyone was when they came to The Villages. it's a shame!

[Villages PL]

Isn't it odd that the developer raved about Moffitt coming to The Villages a few yrs. ago? Articles in the paper weekly, etc. And now Moffitt doesn't accept The Villages UHC health plan.

In my opinion, it's not enough for cancer treatments to be "good", they also need to be within an affordable range. The only thing that was said "a few years ago" is how good they were. They were judged to be the best. Nothing was said about cost. Oops!

It seems likely that UHC has made the decision that comparable care can be had elsewhere for less money. When it comes to healthcare, more expensive treatment doesn't always mean that it's better.

A name like "Moffitt" is a brand that has been promoted quite a bit with the result being that they can charge more for their services. But is it worth it? Evidently, UHC doesn't think so. So who do you trust? Is there any proof that Moffitt obtains superior outcomes?

[Cathy H]

i have a United Health Care Medicare supplement plan that lets me see any doctor. I was treated successfully at Moffitt in Tampa last year at great expense but never had to pay a cent. the "advantage ' plans have distinct limits when they are low cost or free.

[bimmertl]

Moffitt is still worth raving about. UHC just doesn't want to pay for it. That is beyond the control of the developer on several levels.

UHC Medicare Advantage dropped Moffitt along with a lot of other providers.

UnitedHealth Culls Doctors From Medicare Advantage Plans - WSJ (http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303559504579200190614501838)

The developer is well aware Moffitt isn't in the UHC Medicare Advantage plan. Despite that, Villages Health decided the only Medicare Advantage plan they would accept would be UHC. Villages Health placed daily ads in the Sun encouraging everyone to enroll in the UHC plan. They even guaranteed 24 hour appointments to those on the plan. In addition, we received a letter from our Villages Health doctor encouraging us to enroll in the plan and one day there was a letter to the editor in the Sun stating how wonderful the enrollment process was since all the Villages Health facilities had on site sales reps for the plan.

The ads in the Sun clearly stated the Villages received royalties from UHC Advantage for enrolling.

Bottom line, Morse tries to get Villages to fund all the equipment for Moffitt in the Villages a few years back telling us how wonderful it will be. But now, decides to limit Medicare Advantage plans at Villlages Health to only one provider who doesn't have Moffitt in the network.

Form your own opinions as to what drove the decision to use UHC exclusively.

[Villages PL]

Form your own opinions as to what drove the decision to use UHC exclusively.

I vaguely remember a few years ago an announcement stating that UHC was joining The Villages health Alliance. What did that mean exactly? I'm not sure. I believe it was for their experience in running a healthcare system. But it might have gone beyond that; I believe UHC will some day own The Villages Health Care business outright. That would explain why they don't accept other HMOs.