[andyc]

I will be retiring at the end of the year and hopefully my wife and I will be living in TV by that time. I have a dilemma with my health insurance since both my wife and myself will not be eligible for Medicare until 2 more years since we are not 65. I can take COBRA with the company I'm currently working for which we all know is quite expensive or can also seek health insurance on my own.

We currently are living in Pa. where we are familiar with the insurance companies and the various plans they offer and what doctors will take what. But we are not familiar with the Regional Hospital and doctors in TV and Leesburg areas as to what insurance plans and providers they take that they participate in. I know most will take the insurance, but are they active particpants in the plans?

I would appreciate names of health insurance providers that the hospitals and doctors in the TV area service and who are active participants. Thanks!

[dianerk]

We have Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and have never had a problem. Everyone seems to happily take them. However, it is expensive. I am actually looking forward to being eligible for Medicare.

[samhass]

Hi Andy. We hail from Pa as well. I had to give up my Aetna USHC when we moved to Fl.
Seems BC/BS is the best in this area. We got ours from the Gump Agency in Tavares. My husband had a 5 way bypass the first month that we switched. It was an insurance nightmare because Pa Blue Cross had not taken my husband out of their system, but Robin Gump from that agency handled everything. She has given us hours of her time. The agency is amazing in terms of how they care for you after they have your business. I appreciate that.

[iaudit]

Usually, if a provider participates in the local area Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan, they will accept the negotiated payment from the local BC/BS plan. The local plan will then bill your local BC/BS plan through something that they call the "Blue Card network". Pennsylvania is unique in that there are a variety of BC/BS plans throughout the state, Highmark (formerly BC/Bs of Western PA), Capital, Northeast and Independence. At one time they each covered a geographic region but now there is some overlapping of areas. I also heard that Highmark and Independence were merging.

I have gone to some health providers in Florida and my Pennsylvania Plan (Capital) has covered the fee just as they did with Pennsylvania providers. In fact, four years ago I was treated for prostate cancer at the Dattoli Clinic in Sarasota for three months and all of the doctor, hospital and miscellaneous expenses were billed through the local plan and paid by my Pennsylvania plan, subject to normal deductibles and co-pays.

Since there are a large number of providers in the area, your best bet is to look up and call some the specialists that you may need and inquire whether they accept the BC/BS Allowance.

[andyc]

Thanks for everone's input. Seems like BC/BS is the way to go which I presently have through Independence Administrators. As I get closer to retirement, I'll make a comparison in premiums between the two to see which way I'll go. Hope to see all of you in TV soon.