[Vladimir]

I joined The Villages Health system two years ago and when they and United Health made a decision to be the only acceptable insurance plan I was told I was grandfathered. Well, I just received my notice to either go with United Health or seek services some place else. United Health is losing too much money so their new business plan is to have The Villages Health accept only United Health, which I think will fail. My health plan is far superior to theirs so now all my medical needs will be met by doctors, specialists and hospitals outside The Villages network. I will be driving to Ocala, Leesburg and Tavares or areas on Rt 441. It's a shame since a turn key health care concept that The Villages Health was espousing sounded intriguing and was a good selling point. If you are not with United Health then expect a call in the future as they transition their patients.

[ahayward65]

There are many doctors located in TV who are NOT part of the Village Health system. You do not have to seek care in other cities.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by ahayward65

There are many doctors located in TV who are NOT part of the Village Health system. You do not have to seek care in other cities.

You are absolutely right. The Villages Health care system is a good idea and we would love to go there but they don't take our always accepted Aetna Insurance. We see a primary care physician and have consulted a dermatologist, a gastroenterologist, an ophthalmologist, a foot doctor, an oral surgeon and an ENT, all here where we live in The Villages. A couple cannot be reached with golf carts but they are a stones throw from the gates.


It takes a while to find a comfortable fit sometimes and we have changed our original PCP once but we are satisfied.

[NECHFalcon68]

Originally Posted by Vladimir

I joined The Villages Health system two years ago and when they and United Health made a decision to be the only acceptable insurance plan I was told I was grandfathered. Well, I just received my notice to either go with United Health or seek services some place else. United Health is losing too much money so their new business plan is to have The Villages Health accept only United Health, which I think will fail. My health plan is far superior to theirs so now all my medical needs will be met by doctors, specialists and hospitals outside The Villages network. I will be driving to Ocala, Leesburg and Tavares or areas on Rt 441. It's a shame since a turn key health care concept that The Villages Health was espousing sounded intriguing and was a good selling point. If you are not with United Health then expect a call in the future as they transition their patients.

You must be turning 65 this year...I got the same letter, and they told me since I was turning 65 I was considered a new patient...although I had been with them for 2 years. I don't want to go to another doctor (it would make it the 5th doctor in 4 years, that's why I switched to the Villages System) so I did sign up with an Advantage plan, to go along with my Tricare for Life.

[2BNTV]

Unless I am missing your point, I stongly agree to disagree.

I just joined the UHC plan that is accepted by TV health care system. Before UHC, I was in Florida Blue and had a doctor located in TV. I don't agree one has to go outside TV to have a PCP or see a specialists. At least, not as far as Ocala or Tavares. All of my specialist were in TV, or on 441, a short drive form TV.

[RickeyD]

Originally Posted by Vladimir

I joined The Villages Health system two years ago and when they and United Health made a decision to be the only acceptable insurance plan I was told I was grandfathered. Well, I just received my notice to either go with United Health or seek services some place else. United Health is losing too much money so their new business plan is to have The Villages Health accept only United Health, which I think will fail. My health plan is far superior to theirs so now all my medical needs will be met by doctors, specialists and hospitals outside The Villages network. I will be driving to Ocala, Leesburg and Tavares or areas on Rt 441. It's a shame since a turn key health care concept that The Villages Health was espousing sounded intriguing and was a good selling point. If you are not with United Health then expect a call in the future as they transition their patients.

Begs one to think what will happen if this new business model fails. They sure will **** off a lot of so called grandfathered people and will forever loose them as customers. Burning old bridges is never a good idea.

[gomoho]

WOW - I wouldn't agree to this simply because I don't want them dictating who I should have for my insurance needs. Currently get enough of that from the government.

[Bonnevie]

wow, I'm turning 65 this year but haven't got a letter yet. I don't intend to give up my Fed. insurance as my supplement so I guess I better start looking for another dr.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by gomoho

WOW - I wouldn't agree to this simply because I don't want them dictating who I should have for my insurance needs. Currently get enough of that from the government.

dictating anything. Don't want to play by their rules, go elsewhere for healthcare. There are plenty of fine doctors within a stones throw of The Villages.

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by photo1902

dictating anything. Don't want to play by their rules, go elsewhere for healthcare. There are plenty of fine doctors within a stones throw of The Villages.

Of course they are dictating who you must choose for your insurance. Paint it any rosy color you want, but if you like your doctor at TV health you won't be keeping him unless you do what they want. Doesn't affect me, but things like this just make my blood boil.

When this health system was proposed it was in an effort to make The Villages the healthiest hometown not fill the pockets of United Health Care. This isn't a case of "if you don't like it move or go to another doctor", but a change of the rules mid-game.

[Vladimir]

I suspect that health care in general is going to be unsettling for quite some time and we will encounter changes with doctors, quality of service, costs, timeliness, etc. I know that earlier in the year I had to go to a gastroentologist in Tavares (Florida Hospital Medical Group - Center for Advanced Surgery) because the few available ones in TV could not see me for three/four weeks. Due to pain I could not wait that long and the doctor in Tavares took me the next day and did a great job - and this doctor is Harvard trained and practiced at Beth-Israel so I don't mind driving to get top notch care.

[golfing eagles]

Did I understand this thread correctly? Are the above patients saying that about 2 months after getting a letter that basically stated, "don't worry about the changes, you're grandfathered in", you now got a letter that essentially states "never mind, change to UHC MA or you're out"????

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Did I understand this thread correctly? Are the above patients saying that about 2 months after getting a letter that basically stated, "don't worry about the changes, you're grandfathered in", you now got a letter that essentially states "never mind, change to UHC MA or you're out"????

I'm shocked. Simply shocked. And United Healthcare has always had such a caring and upstanding reputation.

[RickeyD]

Originally Posted by dbussone

I'm shocked. Simply shocked. And United Healthcare has always had such a caring and upstanding reputation.

[emoji23]

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by gomoho

Of course they are dictating who you must choose for your insurance. Paint it any rosy color you want, but if you like your doctor at TV health you won't be keeping him unless you do what they want. Doesn't affect me, but things like this just make my blood boil.

When this health system was proposed it was in an effort to make The Villages the healthiest hometown not fill the pockets of United Health Care. This isn't a case of "if you don't like it move or go to another doctor", but a change of the rules mid-game.

Really, this is the only place where the rules have changed....you never experienced that in the workplace, at your bank, or any number of places that you deal with in your life. I know a few unions that have changed work rules....and of course governments do that all the time, even those little councils in small towns. Ever have a girlfriend or spouse change the rules in mid-game? It isn't the first rules change in TV and suspect it won't be the last. They owe you nothing.