OhioBuckeye
 

I go to Dr. Fairborz Delbakhsh, they just call him Dr. Dell, he's internist & he does have a great General Practitioner working for him & as far as I know he is taking new patience. I'm on Medicare & my secondary Ins. is BC/BS. He's on 441/27.

I owned a medical practice management company for years and could see the handwriting on the wall when we received the change or else notice last year. When the notice came this year to change or else I found a new physician with Florida Heart Specialists. They have internal medicine physicians as well as heart and sleep disorder physicians. There are several offices in and close to TV and, as of a week ago, they still had some new patient openings. I'm sure those slots will fill up when the snow birds arrive so I wouldn't wait too long before finding another physician.
This move will probably hurt The Villages Healthcare system for a while but eventually newcomers to the area will fill the appointment books. Personally I feel this has placed a blemish on the reputation of TV.

I wish I understood this issue a little more about what's going on with this Ins. thing. Can someone put it in a nutshell & make it simple about why these Dr. won't except these 10,000 people. Sorry I'm so out of touch about these things. I guess since I'm not one of them, maybe that's why I never took more interest in it.

The 10,000 retirees on Medicare plus a supplemental plan used to be part of The Villages Health system, but they had different kinds of insurance than TVHS wants to accept as of January 1. Those people now must either change to the Medicare Advantage plan TVHS will accept or find a new doctor outside of TVHS's system who will accept their insurance.

We have lived in The Villages for almost five years and have looked long and hard for a good GP. We had to kiss a few "frogs " before finding the wonderful, compassionate, and experienced Dr. Martinez- Cruz. We have been under his care for two years. I have had to see him for more than just general reasons, and when I met him for the first time, I found him to be a doctor who takes his time to listen carefully. He gave me his business card and pointed out his personal email address which he checks at least twice a day and qiuickly resonds to questions (I have written to him and he responds as promised); his cell phone number is also on the card, and if he doesn't answer immediately, he calls back quickly. His willingness to be available to his patients is amazing in this day and age. He has his own practice and has a an office staff who are just like him: committed to the patient's needs and very responsive to any requests. His office hours are Monday- Saturday....7:30-2:30 ( not sure about the Saturday hours)

This is his information: 352-750-6650. 781 Highway 466. Lady lake ( Summit Plaza. Near intersection of Rolling Acres and Rt 466)

I have Medicare B and TFL, but got the boot when I turned 65. I think if you are already "in" with TFL you are being grandfathered.

Dr. James Brown in Belleview
 

A VERY GOOD DOCTOR
We had the same situation -- healthcare coverage through a retirement benefit. I was able to find an excellent doctor in Belleview -- Dr. James Brown. He told me that his practice is starting to get very, very busy because of the changes to The Villages Healthcare System. Good luck finding a good one!

[QUOTE=PTennismom0202;1295728]I have Medicare B and TFL, but got the boot when I turned 65. I think if you are already "in" with TFL you are being grandfathered.[/QUOTE]

Not unless you switch to medicare advantage.

[QUOTE=outlaw;1295770]Not true. We have Medicare and TFL and we are OK without UHC through 2017. We'll see what happens after that, though.

It seems like many/most of the doctors recommended are graduates of low ranked or foreign medical schools. The typical comments are "He listens", or "He spends a lot of time with me", He's always on time, I never wait more than 10 minutes." Does anyone bother to check these doctors credentials? One of the highly recommended doctors graduated from Nigeria medical school. Others are from from schools in Peru, India, Mexico, etc. One doctor (a couple of posts up) graduated from a school ranked 167 out of 174! I'm not impressed with the quality of doctors' credentials in this area. Lots of DOs versus MDs. BTW, many of the lower ranked schools are DO schools (with corresponding low median MCAT scores). But my previous doctor in north Florida did warn me about central Florida. So far, I have found ONE doctor in this area from a top three school (Johns Hopkins). But no one mentioned him.

Doctor
 

When we first moved here 4 years ago, we started with Dr. Paiano.we changed to Village Health Care. Since we got "kicked out" we went back to him. He is very thorough. My husbands specialists stayed the same. :clap2:

Actually, yes, we did check ours out. He passed, on all counts, just not being a nice guy.

[QUOTE=Mikeod;1295783]You are correct. You were already on medicare. In my case, I get the boot Dec 31 2016, because I became medicare eligible during 2016. Those who were already on medicare when the decision came down in 2015 get to stay until dec 31 2017.

You are so right. I am not concerned about the bed side manners as much as I am about the credentials and his skills.

It takes us 20 minutes but we found a wonderful well versed doctor in Tavaras, Dr. C. Onyon. Glad now we made the switch. Also, he is connected with TV hospital, Leesburg and Florida hospital so you don't have to go to TV hospital if you don't like or need it.

Why not just get the Medicare Advantage plan from United. There is no extra charge other than the SS deduction that all Medicare people pay, and the doctors are great in The Villages Health Care System.

Tricare
 

First of all, having Tricare for Life is the holy grail of insurance plans. We would never give that up for an HMO with no advantage and plenty of restrictions. We've had numerous medical sources and Veterans Services Officers assure us that what we have is far superior.
Second, why should we "switch" when we EARNED our coverage by serving our country?
My hubby is on Tricare Standard and he got his 'dumped by TVH' letter because he doesn't get Medicare/Tricare for Life until after DEC 31. He has already found and seen his new pcp and he likes him.
I already have Medicare and Tricare for Life and my letter stated that I don't have to change anything. So, I'm 'safe' for now. However, it's only a matter of time before we TFL people get dumped as well and I'm not waiting around. I also have lined up a new pcp already.
If hubby isn't good enough for TVH, then I don't want to stay there either. It was nice while it lasted, but we are moving on. We know we'll be covered whenever we travel and we get to choose our doctors and specialists. No preauthorization required.
My advice for folks who have TFL and use TVH; run, don't walk, in the opposite direction.
Hope this helps clarify a few things.
Sorry if I ranted. I thank my lucky stars for our benefits and for the VA, who has always treated me very well. Peace.

Disgraceful action on part of The Villages Health. No longer a beautiful day in the Villages. Now a SAD DAY IN THE VILLAGES .
Lets all start answering our phone with ITS A SAD DAY IN THE VILLAGES, or ITS A TERRIBLE DAY IN THE VILLAGES.
When people ask us about The Villages lets focus on this huge negative.

Time they published the peer review study that shows The VIllages are the healthiest home town or stopped using the phrase.

Some refer to it as the Medicare Disadvantage plan...that's why not.

Great! Please share with your fellow TVers.

This is my understanding:

TVH system made a business decision to only use UHC MA plans and Tricare for life and not accept original Medicare with a supplement. They want to practice medicine by giving more time for each patient, (30 minutes a visit), as opposed to original Medicare, (10 minutes a visit). They think it's a better way to practice medicine as people would receive better health care and would save more money per year.

Those with original Medicare with a supplement need to find a doctor outside of TVH system.

Bottom line is this model would allow them to stay in business with a profit.

BTW - Don't come after me, as this is TVH's point of view on the way healthcare should be handled, going forward.

Good Doctor
 

Try Florida Heart & Vascular Multi-Specialty Group. My husband and I have been seeing Dr Florian Gegaj, MD for five years. We love him. We have Medicare and Tricare. No co-payments and no extra out of pocket expenses.

I have United heath care and pay no monthy or prescriptions, never had a problem my Drs visits cost nothing if I go to a specialist i pay 30 dollars. i have had it for yrs. My husband has freedom same for him

We have the same insurance coverage. My husband considered The Villages system, but I vetoed it. When we read that TV system would not accept Medicare and Tricare For Life in The Villages newspaper, hubby was very happy that I had vetoed it.

I also have a ny state insurance plan from a government employer.under my plan if i leave i am banned for life. Was advised by tv health insurance agent not to take tv health medicare advantage plan 2017 version. Plan has many hidden costs & they are already planning a 2018 plan. Of course members of the 2017 plan are not privy to these changes as they may be detrimental & cost them more money. $0 dollar co-pay falls under the saying if is sounds too good to be true it is.

So the original poster asked for recommendations to fill their needs. Why do we go down the path, again, of rehash and speculation? Can anyone here help the OP?

We are residents of the The Villages and live in Buttonwood. We started seeing Dr Aisenstat (Helen) when we moved here 3 years ago. We hated to see her go not that it would have mattered as my husband turned 65 and would have been booted if he did not join TV's plan.

Our adult son was born with spina bifida 38 years ago and lives at home with us. He has many health issues and is followed by a pediatric neurosurgeon in Gainesville, urologists here in TV, dermatologist here in TV but we need an internist who is willing to be extra attentive because of his needs. Dr Aisenstat was wonderful and accommodating.

Would you give me any information on who is a good doctor and more importantly, who is not? We have been through many specialists during Jon's life but finding an interested internist has been a challenge at times. Happy New Year!