[mrsstats]

My husband is 72 and I am 71. We are coming down in August to visit the Villages to see if this is a right move for us. A concern is medical care in the area. We have not serious issues other than blood pressure issues and minor things. We have medicare and supplemental insurance.

How are the doctors in the area?

[Topspinmo]

Ever since I got kicked out of village health due to there insurance changes (turned 65 and went on Medicare) I can’t find family doctor close that takes Medicare with tricare for life. To get inTo village healthcare you have to have United health care policy/supplement. If this problem continues I will probably be moving as I get older and will need health care close. IMO Ocala not close enough for me. Depending on what supplements you have it can be mine field IMO. Maybe this will spark some replies or rebuttals for you?

As far as doctors, I haven’t meant one I didn’t like. But I don’t have to go that often.

[Babubhat]

Excellent. Just sign up at villages health. One stop shopping

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by mrsstats

My husband is 72 and I am 71. We are coming down in August to visit the Villages to see if this is a right move for us. A concern is medical care in the area. We have not serious issues other than blood pressure issues and minor things. We have medicare and supplemental insurance.

How are the doctors in the area?

Its a crapshoot. Lots of doctors but reputations vary. The one I have is competent enough (though arrogant as h3ll) but his support staff stinks! On my annual physical they transposed two numbers of my weight (147 instead of 174), then claimed that they can't change it once it is entered. Plus, you can't call 'em. All phone calls are routed offshore (Bahamas, I think) to a call center, that then notifies the doctor's office (in theory anyway) and they call you back. Except that they almost never do. pretty odd, considering that I live only three miles away from the Doctor's office, and usually end up going there in person to straighten things out rather than play the phone game with them. Oh--and if you need labs they send you across town to a lab...pretty different from what most of us were used to: clinics with all services on-site.

Another thing: many of the doctors seem to be from third-world countries. That is not any slam against their abilities, but it may indicate that practicing in TV may be their "foot in the door" for practicing in America.

Best thing I can recommend is to read some past TOTV posts about doctors. And shop around.

[Djean1981]

Judging from the many posts about health on this site, it's s horrifying.. I would plan on having to leave The Villages for healthcare.

[Smalley]

We are older than you and spent six months in TV last fall/winter. We found an excellent opthomologist (Ocala eye; office in TV), excellent orthopedic docs at UF Health. Less good luck finding a gynecologist; had to go to Ocala. As for an internist, we found a qualified internest and we joined the practice but we have yet to meet him. So, in summary, you have work to do to find good docs and must use trial and error but I believe that there are some excellent doctors working in TV.

[villagetinker]

We use Central Florida Health Care, route 27 just south of Lake Harris, we have been with for several years and very pleased with their care. They accept Medicare and supplementals, 352-360-0400.

[Inexes@aol.com]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Ever since I got kicked out of village health due to there insurance changes (turned 65 and went on Medicare) I can’t find family doctor close that takes Medicare with tricare for life. To get inTo village healthcare you have to have United health care policy/supplement. If this problem continues I will probably be moving as I get older and will need health care close. IMO Ocala not close enough for me. Depending on what supplements you have it can be mine field IMO. Maybe this will spark some replies or rebuttals for you?

As far as doctors, I haven’t meant one I didn’t like. But I don’t have to go that often.

I am astounded by your response that you cannot find a doctor accepting Medicare/Tricare for Life. Forty years in Florida, 20 in St Pete, 20 in TV and never once turned down when I stated Medicare and Tricare For Life.... it is one of the most widely accepted combinations in the area. FYI, if any help to you, Dr Del and Del Care in Summerfield accepts this combination and he is an excellent diagnostician.

[billethkid]

Finding a family doc is not all that difficult....lots of choices.

We use specialists at Gainesville (Shands), Ocala, Orlando and even Tampa. (in my opinion the so called Shands in TV is really not the same).

One hours ride gets to any of them.....to us, it is worth the time/trip.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Its a crapshoot. Lots of doctors but reputations vary. The one I have is competent enough (though arrogant as h3ll) but his support staff stinks! On my annual physical they transposed two numbers of my weight (147 instead of 174), then claimed that they can't change it once it is entered. Plus, you can't call 'em. All phone calls are routed offshore (Bahamas, I think) to a call center, that then notifies the doctor's office (in theory anyway) and they call you back. Except that they almost never do. pretty odd, considering that I live only three miles away from the Doctor's office, and usually end up going there in person to straighten things out rather than play the phone game with them. Oh--and if you need labs they send you across town to a lab...pretty different from what most of us were used to: clinics with all services on-site.

Another thing: many of the doctors seem to be from third-world countries. That is not any slam against their abilities, but it may indicate that practicing in TV may be their "foot in the door" for practicing in America.

Best thing I can recommend is to read some past TOTV posts about doctors. And shop around.

And why, oh why, do you continue with this doctor? You can do better.

[HIgolfers]

Originally Posted by Inexes@aol.com

I am astounded by your response that you cannot find a doctor accepting Medicare/Tricare for Life. Forty years in Florida, 20 in St Pete, 20 in TV and never once turned down when I stated Medicare and Tricare For Life.... it is one of the most widely accepted combinations in the area. FYI, if any help to you, Dr Del and Del Care in Summerfield accepts this combination and he is an excellent diagnostician.

Wooh! That’s a relief. Got worried when I read Topspinmo’s post because I turn 65 next year and will go on Medicare and TFL so will be looking for a doc who takes them without a Supplemental or Med Advantage.

[birdiebill]

We also are on Medicare and Tricare for Life. We have primary care and specialty care doctors that take it. The Villages Health Care system only takes the Villages United Health Care Advantage plan for primary care for Medicare eligible patients. Plenty of non-Villages Health Care System doctors here. Finding the right one that takes new patients is not always easy.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by Djean1981

Judging from the many posts about health on this site, it's s horrifying.. I would plan on having to leave The Villages for healthcare.

Keep this in mind: Those that are happy and satisfied tend not to feel a need to speak. Those that are unhappy and unsatisfied tend to speak out. Human nature, and it applies to many topics.

[champion6]

Originally Posted by mrsstats

My husband is 72 and I am 71. We are coming down in August to visit the Villages to see if this is a right move for us. A concern is medical care in the area. We have not serious issues other than blood pressure issues and minor things. We have medicare and supplemental insurance.

How are the doctors in the area?

When you begin to look for a primary care physician, feel free to use this to start.

[mrsstats]

Originally Posted by champion6

When you begin to look for a primary care physician, feel free to use this to start.

Thank you.