The Villages Health Center - insurance???

[EPutnam1863]

We have Medicare and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield. We are thinking of moving to TV but need to be sure we will have health coverage. I vaguely recall about a yr ago the Health Center said they would no longer accept Medicare but instead will accept Medicare Advantage and United Health Care plan or whatever.

Has anyone with pre-existing conditions had any problems switching over?

[graciegirl]

We have Medicare and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield. We are thinking of moving to TV but need to be sure we will have health coverage. I vaguely recall about a yr ago the Health Center said they would no longer accept Medicare but instead will accept Medicare Advantage and United Health Care plan or whatever.

Has anyone with pre-existing conditions had any problems switching over?

There are many doctors and specialists in The Villages that are not part of The Villages Health Care. The Villages Regional Hospital and the Leesburg Regional Hospital are not associated with The Villages Health Care System and available to all. It SOUNDS confusing, but very simple. You will be able to use your insurance just the same as when you are in your home up north.

Our insurance will not cover The Villages Health Care, but we have only heard good things from our friends who use them.

[Dan9871]

We have Medicare and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield. We are thinking of moving to TV but need to be sure we will have health coverage. I vaguely recall about a yr ago the Health Center said they would no longer accept Medicare but instead will accept Medicare Advantage and United Health Care plan or whatever.

Has anyone with pre-existing conditions had any problems switching over?

Villages Health PCP's only accept Medicare Advantage for over 65 patients. As far as I know there is no problem with pre-existing conditions, when we stitched from Medicare to Advantage my wife had pre-existing conditions and there was no problem.

Village Health care Specialists accept all the usual insurances.

My wife and I are very satisfied with Villages Health and feel it is better health care than what we had back in MA because of the way the approach Villages Health approaches it.

Since we've been in Villages Health my wife has had major surgery and it went very well including the followup.

Of course your milage may vary.

[mjdollard]

I agree with Dan9871 completely

[Mudder]

Agree with Dan also.

[New Englander]

I didn't have a serious pre-existing condition when I moved to TV. I chose Villages health advantage plan and so far I'm very pleased with it.

[Mleeja]

It is great that so many of the posters are happy with their Villages Health Care coverage. However, that is not the original poster’s question. GG’s reply is correct. There are numerous health services/providers that are not part of the Villages Health Care system where other Medicare insurance is accepted. Like the OP, we have Medicare and Florida Blue as our supplemental insurance. We have experienced zero issues in finding all types of health care.

[Dan9871]

It is great that so many of the posters are happy with their Villages Health Care coverage. However, that is not the original poster’s question.

The original poster asked if pre-existing conditions would prevent them from switching to Advantage.

"Has anyone with pre-existing conditions had any problems switching over?"

[2BNTV]

I would call them and get your answer, directly.352.674.1740

BTW - I have UHC Medical Advantage and I like it.

[aaffmom]

Call Mid Florida Insurance in the Palm Ridge Plaza on CR 466. They are local BCBS and can advise you about best plan for you.

[Mleeja]

The original poster asked if pre-existing conditions would prevent them from switching to Advantage.

"Has anyone with pre-existing conditions had any problems switching over?"

Point is there is no need for the OP to switch to The Villages Health Network. There are plenty of providers that will accept the OP’s current Medicare Supplement Insurance. Makes the pre-existing conditions question moot.

[EPutnam1863]

The original poster asked if pre-existing conditions would prevent them from switching to Advantage.

"Has anyone with pre-existing conditions had any problems switching over?"

The reason I asked this is because up here in Minnesota United Health Care rejected our applications due to our pre-existing conditions so I wanted to make sure we don't get slapped again down in TV. I am happy to hear that there are other health service providers that will accept what we already have.

[villagetinker]

OP, be sure to contact Florida SHINE, SHINE - Home (http://www.floridashine.org/), 1=800=963-5337. They provide unbiased health care info. Also note: once you change to an ADVANTAGE plan you may be subjected to underwriting if you try to get back to Medicare and a supplemental, be sure to discuss this. We had the villages health plan and had to leave due to either a shortage of specialists or very long wait times for appointments.

[2BNTV]

OP, be sure to contact Florida SHINE, SHINE - Home (http://www.floridashine.org/), 1=800=963-5337. They provide unbiased health care info. Also note: once you change to an ADVANTAGE plan you may be subjected to underwriting if you try to get back to Medicare and a supplemental, be sure to discuss this. We had the villages health plan and had to leave due to either a shortage of specialists or very long wait times for appointments.

I agree SHINE is your best option for unbiased advice on medical coverage.

[2BNTV]

OP, be sure to contact Florida SHINE, SHINE - Home (http://www.floridashine.org/), 1=800=963-5337. They provide unbiased health care info. Also note: once you change to an ADVANTAGE plan you may be subjected to underwriting if you try to get back to Medicare and a supplemental, be sure to discuss this. We had the villages health plan and had to leave due to either a shortage of specialists or very long wait times for appointments.

I agree SHINE is the best option for unbiased medical advice.

[vintageogauge]

I like having he Blue Cross supplement as I can go just about anywhere and do not need referrals to see specialists.

[Arlington2]

The reason I asked this is because up here in Minnesota United Health Care rejected our applications due to our pre-existing conditions

Seems strange. Per the HHS gov site, that is not allowed since Jan 1 2014. Pre-Existing Conditions | HHS.gov (https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/pre-existing-conditions/index.html) .There may be more to the story. We switched over to to The Villages Advantage with pre-existing conditions with no problem. Totally pleased with the level of care and doctors. And referrals are not required to see a specialist.

Alternate care is available, but not within The Villages Health System (which is a subset of the much larger UHC medicare network).

It appears talking to SHINE is an essential move on your part.

[jimnc]

Be careful. If you are healthy and do not need a lot of care now you will be OK. However should you become ill and need specialist services out of the immediate area you may be limited in your choices. Not all health care facilities accept The Villages Medicare Advantage (United Health Care). Particularly some of the major Hospitals that offer special services.

[Mleeja]

Contacting Shine is an excellent suggestion!

[playgolf06]

We have been members of UHC TV since it started and are very pleased with it.

[jojo]

Check carefully to see what skilled nursing facilities are included in The Villages Health. My mother has a Humana advantage plan which has been fine until she needed skilled nursing. Very limited choices. We liked The Villages Health system very much but we would not switch to the advantage plan so we had to find a new provider. With the supplement plans, you have a full range of choices which becomes critical not only for specialists but particularly in instances such as when you need skilled nursing care.