[Bucco]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Uncle.

Why would you not want to be involved in a discussion of such a subject.....?

One that is extremely vital in our community.

May not clear the weeds or get you a better restaurant, but my guess is that in a retirement community, HEALTH CARE and HEALTH COST are talked about quite a bit and should be.

[JoMar]

My final comment is that this could have all been fixed years ago if your elected officials had chosen to do so. Also, the the loss of the trust fund doesn't mean benefits will stop (there is always the general fund) but it will mean that your elected officials may actually need to address it but they will wait, as always, until it becomes a crisis. As I remember, none of these programs were meant to take our individual responsibility away, but were meant to supplement and cover those that needed it. We have, as a society, seem to have changed that to mean we should all be taken care of regardless of financial situation and taken care of the way we want to be taken care of, not how we should be taken care of. We get what we allow.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Uncle.

I think Uncle is probably a good choice you made, Gracie. It may be could be construed as political, but I really think it's more pertinent to our lifestyle then it is to our political leaning. We all have to be concerned about the future funding of our medicare and social security.



I used to be concerned that we were drawing off our children's earnings for that. I'm still concerned, but also worry about current reductions that might apply.


From your previous posts, I know you have some kind of supplementary health care that allows you not to have to take an advantage plan. We do too, but many in TV do not.



I have a friend who has several skin cancer issues that have always been taken care of by Dr. Casper. This is probably for four years. She has an advantage plan that will now force her to try to find another dermatologist.


I wonder why Alliance is doing this, and if they're planning to putt out of The Villages. I certainly hope not.

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by JoMar

My final comment is that this could have all been fixed years ago if your elected officials had chosen to do so. Also, the the loss of the trust fund doesn't mean benefits will stop (there is always the general fund) but it will mean that your elected officials may actually need to address it but they will wait, as always, until it becomes a crisis. As I remember, none of these programs were meant to take our individual responsibility away, but were meant to supplement and cover those that needed it. We have, as a society, seem to have changed that to mean we should all be taken care of regardless of financial situation and taken care of the way we want to be taken care of, not how we should be taken care of. We get what we allow.

First, MY elected officials are the same as YOURS.

Second, I, with great respect, suggest you do some reading on this country's financials straites, how they just got worse and how we stack up with the rest of the world regarding healthcare who we simply demean but they have worked it out somehow by suggesting that their citizens were worthy no matter what it took

[villagerjack]

I do find it curious that when I come for treatment in The Villages, the likelihood of MOHS sutgeries is much greater than when I am in NY which is most of the time. I used to go to Dr TRAN until I changed insurance plans and had up to 7 biopsies each time, resulting in many MOHS surgeries. In that short time with Allient I had 3 MOHS and when I got back to NY I had no biopsies and no surgeries in my last two visits. The NY doctor is still in the Plan while Tran and Allient are not in the Plan. Could there be a correlation? Perhaps it is the medical practices doing all the damage and not insurance companies or politicians that it is suggested don’t care about grandkids. Until anyone knows why this practice was dropped, everything posted is pure speculation

[Moderator]

The topic of this thread is the specific change in dermatology providers by United Health Care. If you wish to start a new thread about health care plans/policies in general, please do so. Further off topic posts will be deleted.

Thank you.

Moderator

[jojo]

Originally Posted by champion6

The specialists in TV Health do NOT restrict insurance providers for patients over 65. They take essentially all insurances, most importantly Medicare. So, your "rival specialty practice" example is meaningless.

This is not the same for TV Health primary care physicians, as we all know.

I can state this from first-hand experience.

Yes the quotes are accurate (and I thought well known), but irrelevant to the fact that The Villages Health plan has reduced the availability of dermatologists in the network that they accept. This should be concerning to those on that Advantage plan (which we used to be).

[rivaridger1]

Originally Posted by champion6

The specialists in TV Health do NOT restrict insurance providers for patients over 65. They take essentially all insurances, most importantly Medicare. So, your "rival specialty practice" example is meaningless.

This is not the same for TV Health primary care physicians, as we all know.

I can state this from first-hand experience.

I know that. My post references the possibility other practices might no longer to be able to bill the Villages Health " plan. It would force the individuals that opted for their " Advantage Plan " to only use Villages Health for all their care including all specialty care if they want to " stay local ".

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by villagerjack

I do find it curious that when I come for treatment in The Villages, the likelihood of MOHS sutgeries is much greater than when I am in NY which is most of the time. I used to go to Dr TRAN until I changed insurance plans and had up to 7 biopsies each time, resulting in many MOHS surgeries.

Is it your feeling that Dr. Tran does unnecessary MOHS surgeries?
I'm curious because I just had a MOHS surgery with Dr. Tran for squamous cell carcinoma.
I'm Canadian so it was a self pay.

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by villagerjack

I do find it curious that when I come for treatment in The Villages, the likelihood of MOHS sutgeries is much greater than when I am in NY which is most of the time. I used to go to Dr TRAN until I changed insurance plans and had up to 7 biopsies each time, resulting in many MOHS surgeries. In that short time with Allient I had 3 MOHS and when I got back to NY I had no biopsies and no surgeries in my last two visits. The NY doctor is still in the Plan while Tran and Allient are not in the Plan. Could there be a correlation? Perhaps it is the medical practices doing all the damage and not insurance companies or politicians that it is suggested don’t care about grandkids. Until anyone knows why this practice was dropped, everything posted is pure speculation

I think your point is well taken. I don’t know whether the large number of non melanoma surgeries are “unnecessary” or if the docs are just very conservative. I wish I knew. No doubt some of it is necessary. Maybe not all.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

I think your point is well taken. I don’t know whether the large number of non melanoma surgeries are “unnecessary” or if the docs are just very conservative. I wish I knew. No doubt some of it is necessary. Maybe not all.

I wish I knew also.
When a doctor says "You have skin cancer", I think it's a natural reaction to want it removed ASAP!

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

Are you suggesting that Dr. Tran does unnecessary MOHS surgeries?
I'm curious because I just had a MOHS surgery with Dr. Tran. I'm Canadian so it was a self pay.

I could not know that for sure however he does a lot of surgeries on a daily basis and based on my experiences with Dermatologists over 30 years I do find that the chances of having a MOHS surgery even for basil cell have been much greater with the Dermatologists in The Villages and that cost, justified or not, could be a prime reason why they are no longer accepted by the Plan and not greed of insurance companies or some nefarious scheme cooked up by the Villages Health Plan. Point is no one knows why they were dropped, except perhaps Allient but no reason was Disclosed as far as I know. I am sure Medicare does not just pick names out of a hat.

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

I wish I knew also.
When a doctor says "You have skin cancer", I think it's a natural reaction to want it removed ASAP!

I agree with that. Since it is usually minor same day surgery second opinions are usually not sought. I remain somewhat skeptical but I still have the surgeries. I had planned to schedule more visits with my NY doctor and fewer in The Villages but this has now made that decision a little easier.

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by CFrance

I think Uncle is probably a good choice you made, Gracie. It may be could be construed as political, but I really think it's more pertinent to our lifestyle then it is to our political leaning. We all have to be concerned about the future funding of our medicare and social security.



I used to be concerned that we were drawing off our children's earnings for that. I'm still concerned, but also worry about current reductions that might apply.


From your previous posts, I know you have some kind of supplementary health care that allows you not to have to take an advantage plan. We do too, but many in TV do not.



I have a friend who has several skin cancer issues that have always been taken care of by Dr. Casper. This is probably for four years. She has an advantage plan that will now force her to try to find another dermatologist.


I wonder why Alliance is doing this, and if they're planning to putt out of The Villages. I certainly hope not.

Alliant is not “doing this.” UHC is dropping Alliant. Not vice versa. See the link upstream on the thread to Alliant’s website. The thread title wording is a bit misleading.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

Alliant is not “doing this.” UHC is dropping Alliant. Not vice versa. See the link upstream on the thread to Alliant’s website. The thread title wording is a bit misleading.

Thank you. I am still confused. We have United Health Care Insurance which is used by Dr. Casper's office. Still valid.

This is the health insurance that the Villages Health Care uses which is a small Florida Firm???? Oh please explain someone.