[Jimmydoodlebug]

I ran into this the other day. I have Medicare and United Health Care for a supplemental, but when I went to join the Villages Health system they said they don't accept Medicare. I would need to give up Medicare and my United plan and join their HMO instead. That puts restrictions on who you can see and when you can see him, so it would be a big step down. If you need to see a doctor while away from the Villages, good luck.

I've never had my current Medicare/United plans refused until now, so why give up the freedom to go anywhere I want!

I would join the Villages system for a matter of convenience, but I'm not trading steak for hamburger.

[virgind]

I have a Humana Medicare PPO Advantage plan and it is accepted every where. I pay only the Medicare cost and thats it. Every thing is covered. It sounds like United health owns The Village health.

[Doro22]

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.

Their policies made my blood boil also several years ago when they first started opening clinics. I had been to their P.R. seminar @ Savannah & was fully prepared to join. So I called up to join & was told that I didn't live in the "right" village to belong to one of their clinics. It was only open to the new areas. I said "What is this...Communist Russia?" I had all the right insurance....and sure enough, about 9 months later I began to receive their phone calls & letters practically begging me to become a member. I said no way would I join now.

[spuds51]

Originally Posted by Jimmydoodlebug

I ran into this the other day. I have Medicare and United Health Care for a supplemental, but when I went to join the Villages Health system they said they don't accept Medicare. I would need to give up Medicare and my United plan and join their HMO instead. That puts restrictions on who you can see and when you can see him, so it would be a big step down. If you need to see a doctor while away from the Villages, good luck.

I've never had my current Medicare/United plans refused until now, so why give up the freedom to go anywhere I want!

I would join the Villages system for a matter of convenience, but I'm not trading steak for hamburger.

Smart man. Here is a chart comparing Medicare and Medicare Advantage.



https://medigapseminars.org/wp-conte...vs-medigap.png

[spuds51]

Another link I found very interesting plan F



https://medigapseminars.org/2015/03/...orida-seniors/

[avillager]

I heard yesterday that if you don't have the United health advantage plan the villages HMO- PPO then you would no longer be able to go to one of the 5 (I believe) health centers they have built but as far as I know it doesn't apply to the Docs who practice within the villages but not in their centers.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by avillager

I heard yesterday that if you don't have the United health advantage plan the villages HMO- PPO then you would no longer be able to go to one of the 5 (I believe) health centers they have built but as far as I know it doesn't apply to the Docs who practice within the villages but not in their centers.

You are correct and there are many. Our insurance is not a match for the very nice Villages Health Care but we have found several doctors that we are comfortable with. In fact we see THEM now more than we see our children, lol.

[Bonnevie]

I, too, am being kicked out of Villages Health. I asked about this last month before a scheduled appt and was told they will keep me due to having Fed. BC/BS. Then just last week someone called to ask if I'm taking the advantage plan and professed no knowledge of previous call. Had I known I was out, I would have scheduled my March appt. with someone else. It's a pain because I got my hearing aids thur Villages Health. I talked to the doctor in charge and he spent considerable time trying to convince me the advantage plan was better than Medicare A&B and my BC/BS. I figure if it was that good, he wouldn't have to try so hard to convince me. I've been told to never give up my federal health insurance, so now I'll have to find another doctor.

[dbussone]

I find this discussion very interesting. Here we have The Villages Health essentially limiting its patient base to a particular Advantage plan. And the Feds have been talking about eliminating Advantage plans over the next several years. Obama Proposes Eliminating Medicare Advantage, Ousting 9 Million Seniors from Their Health Plans | Cato @ Liberty

[gerryh1943]

I have been going to the Village Health since it started with Blue Cross. I am over seventy they also told me that I was grandfather in. I am wondering because I was grandfather in when I was 69 or 70 does that mean I also will be getting the LETTERRRRRR

[Bonnevie]

you might be ok because you were already 65 when you joined. I turn 65 next month and they told me they weren't keeping anymore people like me.

[goodtimesintv]

Like AARP receiving royalities from United Healthcare for use of the AARP name, The Villages, Inc. is receiving royalties for intellectual property (brand name recognition) from United Healthcare.

Here is the page to access the four Advantage plans accepted at TV Health (I put in Sumer County and Zip 32162). And the fine print says it.

https://ma.uhcmedicaresolutions.com/...T.mc_id=881806

"Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. UnitedHealthcare pays royalty fees to Holding Company of The Villages, Inc. (The Villages) for the use of its intellectual property. The Villages and its affiliates are not insurers."


https://www.uhcmedicaresolutions.com...ent-plans.html

"The AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans carry the AARP name and UnitedHealthcare pays a royalty fee to AARP for use of the AARP intellectual property. Amounts paid are used for the general purpose of AARP and its members. Neither AARP nor its affiliate is the insurer."

It seems to me that "the playing field is being leveled" by giving AARP some competition. In terms of these two entities reinvesting in our community here in TV, I would much rather have such revenues go to The Villages, Inc., than AARP.

[champion6]

Originally Posted by dbussone

I find this discussion very interesting. Here we have The Villages Health essentially limiting its patient base to a particular Advantage plan. And the Feds have been talking about eliminating Advantage plans over the next several years. Obama Proposes Eliminating Medicare Advantage, Ousting 9 Million Seniors from Their Health Plans | Cato @ Liberty

All I can say is the article you link to is over seven years old. A LOT has changed with healthcare in that time.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by champion6

All I can say is the article you link to is over seven years old. A LOT has changed with healthcare in that time.

I can find a similar link for every year since the current admin came into office. Just contributing to the body of knowledge - Forbes Welcome

Eliminating Advantage plans has been a stated goal of CMS for a number of years now. I think I have a good handle on what's going on in healthcare, thank you.

[trichard]

Can anyone confirm that The Villages Health will no longer accept patients who were so called "grandfathered" with their original Medicare Insurance? Starting next year you either change to Medicare Advantage or seek care elsewhere.