I forgot to mention UHC has this thing called Passport, so when you travel or are gone for a long period of time you just call them and they transfer your coverage to where ever you are. Obviously it has to be in a bigger Metro. area.

I would suggest getting a Supplement G plan. That way you can go to any doctor in the US that accepts Medicare and there are no co-pays and only a $185 deductible for next year.

We have a Humana PPO plan
 

My wife and I have Humana, a PPO plan. H5216-074 It is a plan that you can get in Sumpter, Marion and Lake counties. We get the $134 taken out of our check and there is no extra cost for the plan at all. It includes Silver Sneakers and our dentist is covered for 2 checkups, xrays and cleanings twice a year, and also fillings, no co pay for dental. We got this plan as we wanted to be covered when we travel the U.S. and when we spend the summers up north. We are covered anyplace in the U.S. that takes Humana, which is a huge network. We previously had an HMO with Wellcare, we were happy with them but we were not covered out of the area except for emergency and urgent care, so that's why we switched. So now even when we are up north for the summer, we are covered in network just like we are covered in network down here.

The passport plan is only covered in certain states and certain areas. If you travel a lot to various areas not sure this would be good. Michigan I know in not covered at all for the passport plan. Checked into this myself before and would not work for us.

I agree it's very confusing but worth spending the time to make the right decision for yourself. I am an RN and have been working in the healthcare system and observing the quality of healthcare services all my life. I also recommend speaking to SHINE. I also did when deciding on a plan when I reached 65. The safest and most comprehensive coverage you can get is with traditional Medicare. There are thousand's of scenarios with different healthcare consequences and everybody has their story. My opinion, after seeing many many many scenarios was that I would never ever choose an Advantage Plan over traditional Medicare. Ask SHINE and also ask anyone else that has been in the healthcare system. I tell people as long as you're healthy and don't really need your insurance, the Advantage plans seem fine but when you start getting health problems your level of care WILL BE DIFFERENT! Trust me, I know whereof I speak! And it's very difficult to switch back to Medicare after you develope problems, they can not accept you or change a higher premium. Ask SHINE.

First, the Advantage plans are really Medicare Part C which is both parts A and B but instead of billing through the Medicare centers they are administered by a private insurance carrier. They may or may not include drug coverage, which you must have. You have to know if the plan is a PPO or HMO. The latter have prescribed doctors (a form of in-network) that you must use to be covered. PPO you can choose your doctor. But, even then, they may have lists of preferred doctors (in-network) who contract for payable rates. SHINE can explain all of this. The Medicare and You book you should receive every year has the information, but there is a lot to read through. Add all the choices for supplement plans (with individual required coverages) and which ones are currently offered to new enrollees, and you have a lot of info to digest. It's enough to give you indigestion!!

Rusty, I was not talking about obtaining out of the area coverage. I was talking about a non-participating doctor being asked to participate and then wait and hope that he would accept the United Healthcare payment . When you're recovering from some operation I don't think you want to be foraging around trying to solicit doctors or PT Clinic into signing up for a HMO plan. If willing, I think they would have done that in the first place. Shouldn't UHC be the ones to do that?

It's not clear to me what you are trying to describe. I don't know how you can protect yourself against assuring you have in network doctors everywhere you go. Like I said if you go to the emergency room you have no idea what doctors will be assigned to you even though the hospital is in network. I had it happen to me. Maybe this will help - The insurance company will pay the non participating doctor their out of network rate. If that doctor wants more than that (not likely) you can negotiate with him/her. This falls under out of network OOP which for 2019 has been reduced to $7500 max. To me I find it difficult to believe one can not find qualified doctors that accept TV UHC. The place is surrounded by them plus the same for specialists. I look at it this way worst case I get burned for $7500. Most negative posts here about TV UHC is because their doctor takes a different insurance. That does not make TV UHC bad. I'm sure there are plans their doctor does not accept. Also all doctors are not required to take medicare. They probably will around here if they want to stay in business.

Rusty, read notes 3 and 12 above that describe what UHC wants you to do if you want to use an out of Network Dr. or Clinic.

What plan are you going with for 2019 ?

I would first ask why any advantage plan. With traditional Medicare and a Supplement, you essentially guarantee that you have universal coverage anywhere, cap your out of pocket and have no co-pays for any visit or procedure. What could be better than piece of mind and complete freedom at our age?

We have had terrific service from United Health Care Medicare Advantage PPO plans.

In addition to my earlier post asking why ANY Advantage plan, I forgot to mention my Supplement plan has no annual deductible as well as no co-pays. Also, the Villages UHC Advantage plan is not accepted by Shands Healthcare/UF Health, arguably the premiere health care center in the Southeast. Yes there are other options but I’m unwilling to eliminate what is likely the best local option.

Medicare with BlueFlorida Plan F supplement , it's not cheap though , it costs me $ 207 per month, plus they force me to have a Rx plan which costs anther 28.00 per month.

Medicare with BCBS supplement F and SilverScripts part D. Peace of mind.

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