[Avista]

Originally Posted by Mimivillager

We will not stay with PCP in Jan. They keep dropping drs that we use,but we cannot drop them in the middle of the year. unfair. They dropped our wonderful eye dr and our great dentist. Had to go home to Pa to get a second opinion and get the necessary work done ($600 instead of $4,000.)Dr Fisher said 5 crowns were needed and Our Pa dentist said none were needed(only a few fillings).
We have been ok with medical dr though. Prescriptions are OK.
You could try them for 6 months if you want to and change if necessary in Jan if you don't care about dentist or eye dr.

We don,t use PCP dentists as we have Delta Dental. Other docs,have worked out for us.

[franco]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

Yes...but MFE is NO longer a part of Preferred Care Partners AS OF MARCH sometime! I'm not shouting just using this for emphasis! So the new question is....has anyone had experience with "The Villages Eye Institute". It's located across 441 from the WalMart...take a left turn I think, at the light past Billy's.

I made an appointment for the first visit and arrived 20 min. early. After waiting for well over and hour I questioned the long wait. "Well, we have elderly patients who may not know they have problems and that takes extra time" - That's YOUR problem - don't make it mine! Why not call me and tell me to arrive an hour and half later? No appology - nothing. Waited another 15 min and the patients before me still weren't called (same doctor) - I canceled my appt. and will NEVER go there again!! Plus, the bathroom was filthy - overfilled wastebasket with papers strewn all over the floor, empty toilet paper rolls under the holder. Tells you the quality of the place - stay away!!!!!

[Avista]

I am with Preferred Care Partners and have long standing Glaucoma. I called Mid Florida Eye to see how to get a referral. They said since I already had my diagnosis, I did. not need a referral. So, I made an appointment with Dr Panzo. I then called Preferred Care Partners at Sumter Landing. They said that was correct. No need for referral if you have an established diagnosis.

[NotGolfer]

This is good to know! It's refreshing to get a positive response re: a post on here.

We've been VERY happy with PCP so far.

[Avista]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

This is good to know! It's refreshing to get a positive response re: a post on here.

We've been VERY happy with PCP so far.

Thanks. We also are very pleased with PCP. Husband had hernia surgery last year. Wonderful surgeon and wonderful recovery.

[franco]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

Yes...but MFE is NO longer a part of Preferred Care Partners AS OF MARCH sometime! I'm not shouting just using this for emphasis! So the new question is....has anyone had experience with "The Villages Eye Institute". It's located across 441 from the WalMart...take a left turn I think, at the light past Billy's.

Don't go there unless you don't mind waiting for hours and don't mind using filthy bathrooms!!!

[jimmy D]

Originally Posted by JenAjd

bump

Lets talk a minute, Mid-Florida eye has opthalmologist and you need a referral from an Optomtrist. This is in your Book of Benefits. PCP is a good choice, but it is a HMO and will have some rules. If you signed up on the phone, they are your agent. If you signed up thru an Agent they should help you. You will not be able to change on a whim, it may take awhile. good luck and read the book

[Avista]

Originally Posted by jimmy D

Lets talk a minute, Mid-Florida eye has opthalmologist and you need a referral from an Optomtrist. This is in your Book of Benefits. I am an Agent and PCP is a good choice, but it is a HMO and will have some rules. If you signed up on the phone, they are your agent. If you signed up thru an Agent they should help you. You will not be able to change on a whim, it may take awhile. good luck and read the book

If you are on PCP and have an eye diagnosis as glaucoma, you do not need a referral at Mid Florida eye opthomologists.. Check with folks at Śumter landing

[franco]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

Yes...but MFE is NO longer a part of Preferred Care Partners AS OF MARCH sometime! I'm not shouting just using this for emphasis! So the new question is....has anyone had experience with "The Villages Eye Institute". It's located across 441 from the WalMart...take a left turn I think, at the light past Billy's.

If you don't mind waiting hours to get called (no apology) and filthy bathrooms, this is the place for you!

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by franco

If you don't mind waiting hours to get called (no apology) and filthy bathrooms, this is the place for you!

I used Ocala Eye before we signed with PCP...there too you will wait and wait and wait...long hours. The PCP optometrist also makes you wait. It's just the way things work I guess. Take a book and relax!! We're retired!!

[jimmy D]

I. too am an Independant Agent since 1981 and most everyone on this post is wrong, or is not telling the full story. You can go back to Med Supp etc, etc, etc. Drs get paid quicker with med sup and it is the cadillace at the moment. You should talk to someone who knows and who does not guess. Find an agent who in business year around and not just 3 months in the fall

[Barbara Meissner]

Yes, I am having the same problem, and preferred care is telling me "try to take care of the problem yourself". I have visited Mid Florida eye, and The Eye Institute, and I am getting more confused by the day.

[jimmy D]

Originally Posted by JenAjd

Thank you Wendyquat.....Your comments are appreciated. We all have to be our own advocates with the medical profession. This was the case before moving here (at least for me) so I haven't minded it, really! Though I already had established myself with providers and now have to change over to new ones again. The savings will be worth it probably! IF for some reason I don't like it I'll change to something different for 2013. With your heart issues I can see why you wanted to stay with your present situation. Dr. Elmalleh has been my eye doctor as well and I think he's very good!! Unfortunately Ocala Eye isn't a part of PCP and won't be....I checked!!! I'd have preferred to remain there, truth be told.

Just a short note. I did not here you say you talked to your agent or did you sign up on the internet., Some of this confusion is not reading the info correctly a HMO is not for everyone. Most doctors do not like them because they can not just bill bill bill but must be a Primary Physician. Sooooo here goes Call your agent and I am sure they will and can help you.

[happy1]

Originally Posted by JenAjd

I signed up for PCP for the coming new year. Today I learned something I didn't know before. Went out to Mid-Florida Eye as I wanted to make a future app't. Was asked if I live in Lake County (I don't) so then was told that they ONLY take patients from Lake County....and I believe they're located in Marion Cnty. Isn't this strange?? I thought that as long as the practices were "in network" one could choose from anyone within it! I should calle the PCP 800# and ask what gives. Has anyone else run into this issue??

Call Advantica 1-877-488-5131 and asked to be assigned there. It is something new...being assigned to eye provider based on zip codes

[NotGolfer]

This thread is about a year and a half old. I'd say "some" of the information is no longer true so why keep it going?? I know for a fact JenAjd did not sign up over the phone, but with the Preferred Partners folks at their office, as did we---just to clarify.