Informal Poll on Recent Debate - Health Insurance

[2BNTV]

There are many threads about the TVH only taking UHC MA plans as their only insurance. Maybe Tricare for Life also.

Many people have stated they were better off with original Medicare with a supplement. They would also need to leave TVH system, for a doctor in 2017.

I just thought I would start a thread asking everyone to vote for their preference.

[villagetinker]

I saw a survey in the unnamed news source, and the last time I saw it, it was at 78% leaving, and 22% staying or changing. We are still undecided, I have the three books (yes there are 3 plans for the VHS insurance), and I am comparing these, HMO1 (Zero cost), HMO2 ($85/month), and a PPO option (not sure of cost). I need to review my thoughts with SHINE. Hate the thought of losing a really great PCP.

[Joejohnson]

My wife and I have Tricare, so we must leave. Tricare is considered the Rolls Royce of medical insurance where United Health care is a Hyundai. We will miss the Villages Health Care as they are wonderful and their doctors are top notch, but United Health care is "...........not good.........

[inthemindofanurse]

I saw a survey in the unnamed news source, and the last time I saw it, it was at 78% leaving, and 22% staying or changing. We are still undecided, I have the three books (yes there are 3 plans for the VHS insurance), and I am comparing these, HMO1 (Zero cost), HMO2 ($85/month), and a PPO option (not sure of cost). I need to review my thoughts with SHINE. Hate the thought of losing a really great PCP.

You are missing 2 more, there are 5 plans. One of them being Medicare AARP Complete

[inthemindofanurse]

My wife and I have Tricare, so we must leave. Tricare is considered the Rolls Royce of medical insurance wher United Health care is a Hyundai. We will miss the Villages Health Care as they are wonderful and their doctors are top notch, but United Health care is "...........not good.........

You sir, are also wrong. Tricare is accepted

[Joejohnson]

You sir, are also wrong. Tricare is accepted

No sir your wrong. Tricare is NOT accepted after you turn 65.
I begged them yesterday to let us be grandfathered because we are existing patients. There answere was United Health Care or get lost.

[Villager Joyce]

My husband feels he must leave because the specialists he has due to medical issues do not accept MA. I have a year to decide. We both enjoyed our relationship with our doctors and the staff. We are leaving only because of his situation.

[villagetinker]

You are missing 2 more, there are 5 plans. One of them being Medicare AARP Complete

AAH!! there was a misunderstanding (on my part), the PPO IS the AARP Medicare advantage. I just called, and apparently this is a $0 per month. So now I need to review all 3 plans.

They could not make this more confusing if they tried. Glad you commented, as I would have missed this completely.

[Villageswimmer]

We'll miss them, too. We'll get over it and move on.

[Happydaz]

My wife and I are leaving TVH. We have already made appointments with an internist. Our new doctor's office said they are already getting many new patient calls. We would never leave our company sponsored BC/BS Plan for any Medicare Advantage Plan. Once we leave my company's plan we can never go back. Three years ago these Medicare Advantage plans were about to be abolished. They were saved by a last ditch effort, but who knows what the future holds. Medicare changes every year. If you have a corporate or government plan think twice before you switch to the United Health Care Advantage Plan. You may not be able to go back to your original plan. There are many good primary care providers around The Villages. The doctor we chose has hospital privileges at Ocala and Munroe Medical Centers. It may be advisable for people to get a new doctor lined up quickly before they all start closing their practices to anymore new patients.

[Bogie Shooter]

Happy that you have finally made your decision.

[Jayhawk]

My wife and I are leaving TVH. We have already made appointments with an internist. Our new doctor's office said they are already getting many new patient calls. We would never leave our company sponsored BC/BS Plan for any Medicare Advantage Plan. Once we leave my company's plan we can never go back. Three years ago these Medicare Advantage plans were about to be abolished. They were saved by a last ditch effort, but who knows what the future holds. Medicare changes every year. If you have a corporate or government plan think twice before you switch to the United Health Care Advantage Plan. You may not be able to go back to your original plan. There are many good primary care providers around The Villages. The doctor we chose has hospital privileges at Ocala and Munroe Medical Centers. It may be advisable for people to get a new doctor lined up quickly before they all start closing their practices to anymore new patients.


Change happens and it IS NOT PERSONAL. It is a CHOICE you get to make.

[CFrance]

Change happens and it IS NOT PERSONAL. It is a CHOICE you get to make.
Actually, I think it's a choice that's forced upon you.

[Jayhawk]

Actually, I think it's a choice that's forced upon you.

Actually it's not. You want to keep your insurance, find a provider who accepts it. Prefer to stay with VHC, utilize insurance they accept.

Simple.

[CFrance]

Actually it's not. You want to keep your insurance, find a provider who accepts it. Prefer to stay with VHC, utilize insurance they accept.

Simple.
Totally disagree.

[NYGUY]

I have a UHC Medicare Advantage PPO and plan to stay with TVH. But, I believe TVH was wrong to get in bed with UHC in the first place and the changes by TVH amount to classic bait and switch for those that would like to stay.

[Joejohnson]

TVH is losing those with the best insurance plans and keeping those that feel United Health Advantage is better. There will be more Doctors setting up practice in our tri county area that like the idea of having patients with the best primary and supplement policy combinations. There will be doctors leaving TVH to open their own practice to fill the vacancies due to this decision by TVH. So, my fellow Villagers, we will do fine. If anyone should be worried, it is TVH Doctors as they will have to absorb lower payment per patient ratio that is inevitable with UHC style companies.

[CFrance]

I have a UHC Medicare Advantage PPO and plan to stay with TVH. But, I believe TVH was wrong to get in bed with UHC in the first place and the changes by TVH amount to classic bait and switch for those that would like to stay.
That's what I was trying to say on the nurse's thread. You've said it well.

[outlaw]

You sir, are also wrong. Tricare is accepted

Not as a supplemental to medicare. Only as a supplemental to medicare advantage. You will still be in an HMO type system, with limitations on specialists that will be provided/paid by UHC.

[golfing eagles]

TVH is losing those with the best insurance plans and keeping those that feel United Health Advantage is better. There will be more Doctors setting up practice in our tri county area that like the idea of having patients with the best primary and supplement policy combinations. There will be doctors leaving TVH to open their own practice to fill the vacancies due to this decision by TVH. So, my fellow Villagers, we will do fine. If anyone should be worried, it is TVH Doctors as they will have to absorb lower payment per patient ratio that is inevitable with UHC style companies.


How so???? They are all on salary.

[spuds51]

It looks like the numbers align with the national average here. If a earlier poster was correct in 22%. The national average is getting close to 3 out of 10 going with Medicare Advantage. When polled as to the reason they chose to leave Medicare most stated for financial reasons but being uninformed was up there too.
We will be leaving..we can afford to pay for supplements so it was really a easy choice. I don't want someone a thousand miles away deciding if a treatment is Medically Necessary.

[djl8412]

I immediately smelled a rat with the developer getting into the healthcare business, just like I did with the Moffitt fiasco. I have UHC Advantage Villages Complete. I don't like HMO plans but all primary and specialist MDs I already used were in the plan and WERE NOT part of the Villages Health Care system. If they decide to bail out of this advantage plan I will change plans. I have always been of the mindset that only patients should choose their doctors. Convenience should not be the sole reason for making medical decisions.

[RedChariot]

We are both leaving TVH. We are accepting what we cannot change. Due to my husband's pension benefits we receive free NJ BC/BS supplemental insurance for both of us. Primary is Medicare. With that is a drug plan for medication coverage that we pay minimal for each drug. We don't want to change but we must. Morally I feel TVH should have grandfathered us in. Just as golfing eagles stated his medical practice did when making insurance changes. But it is not to be.

I have two "leftover" appointments. One with Helen Aisenstat who is gone and one with the endocrinologist. Interesting to see how TVH handles this. I have made appointments for us with a new internist. I am moving on. Sadly.

[Uberschaf]

I'm kinda a math nerd and I still can't figure out whats going on. I have seen on line with over 25 letters to the editors on the other site. I don't understand the insurance debate that is going on.If someone could explain it that would help me.And by the way a new prime number has been found.It's 2^74,207,281 – 1.

[Bonnevie]

We are both leaving TVH.

I have two "leftover" appointments. One with Helen Aisenstat who is gone and one with the endocrinologist. Interesting to see how TVH handles this. I have made appointments for us with a new internist. I am moving on. Sadly.

I, too, am leaving. I liked everything there but I don't pay anything with what I have. Sure it's costly, but I'm paying for the peace of mind should something serious happen to me.

I had appointments scheduled, but they cancelled them.

[jojo]

We loved the Villages Health system but also are moving on because we want the freedom and security of a supplement plan. Unfortunately for us we are paying the whole bill for supplements.

[TomOB]

I looked at joining TVH but I wasn't impressed. Decided to stay with the coverage that I have and the Drs that I have.

[raynan]

I switched from BC/BS when I turned 65 in March to UHC and Medicare Advantage to stay with TVH because I love my primary. It was an emotional decision that came when I was blindsided at my appointment in Feb. I thought I was grandfathered in and had disregarded the letter that was sent because I had been with this firm when they were Family Physicians of Bellview even before they became TVH. Now that I have investigated it further and now that my husband has to make a choice also, I will finish this year with TVH and will return to BC/BS and Medicare under his plan in Jan. I hate losing my primary but it's more important that I keep my specialists that are not under TVH because of my health issues. I made a rash decision and thankfully found out that I can change back. I really feel let down by a firm that I had built a relationship with over a period of 6 years.

[trichard]

I'm out!

[villagetinker]

I switched from BC/BS when I turned 65 in March to UHC and Medicare Advantage to stay with TVH because I love my primary. It was an emotional decision that came when I was blindsided at my appointment in Feb. I thought I was grandfathered in and had disregarded the letter that was sent because I had been with this firm when they were Family Physicians of Bellview even before they became TVH. Now that I have investigated it further and now that my husband has to make a choice also, I will finish this year with TVH and will return to BC/BS and Medicare under his plan in Jan. I hate losing my primary but it's more important that I keep my specialists that are not under TVH because of my health issues. I made a rash decision and thankfully found out that I can change back. I really feel let down by a firm that I had built a relationship with over a period of 6 years.

Before you get blindsided again, call SHINE and discuss your health issue, ASAP. My understanding, if you leave the advantage early, you may be able to get back into your old plan with no health questions or underwriting. If you wait until the year is up, you may be forced into health questions and underwriting. We did this and just managed to get changed over from the advantage plan to supplemental at week 50. This is very important, SHINE will be able to give you the up to date info, but I would start exploring this now, even to the point of changing ASAP.
Hope this helps

[OCsun]

I am out!

After working in the health insurance field for 30 years, I would not choose a Medicare Advantage Plan, unless financially that was all I could afford. Luckily that's not the case.

When a young family needed guidance, I would help them understand that an HMO should meet their families needs at a price they could afford. I even helped my brother decide on a Medicare Advantage Plan when he became eligible since finances were as important to him as his health. It took a great deal of effort on my part to get him some care he needed through his Advantage Plan and some compromise on his part, but necessity is the mother of invention.

I hope I will always be in control of the medical care I receive and pray that I will not need it. That's why they call it "insurance".

[ukbill70]

My wife and I looked into 'Advantage Plans' several years ago and apart from cost could find no advantage in them. We decided to stay with traditional Medicare and BC/BS supplemental Plan F and have never been tempted to change.

If the Villages Healthcare system is so good why do they have to take out what amounts to full page ads in the newspaper every week ?.
I would have thought word of mouth would have had people lining up at the doors to sign up !

Just my thoughts.