[jojo]

I just came from the UHC office and was told that indeed the Villages Health System will not accept United Health Care Supplement (or any supplement) for new patients although they will for current patients. When queried about providers having to accept supplements if they accept Medicare they said it was because Medicare Advantage is a replacement for Medicare. ugh.

[looneycat]

Originally Posted by Schneil

We are so disappointed in the healthcare program and restrictions. The advertising which sold us on TV while house hunting was and continues to be misleading. I particularly love the following advertisement that "health care is just a short golf cart ride away...." There is no disclaimer of: "only if you belong to UHC! Shame on the Morse family!

Copied from the Village Website:

An important part of a great retirement lifestyle is convenient access to wellness facilities and quality health care.

The Villages Health and USF HEALTH, a major academic health resource, are partnering to make The Villages America's Healthiest Hometown.

Staying healthy is easy in The Villages. Neighborhood fitness centers and health care facilities are located throughout The Villages -- just a golf car ride away. The Villages Healthcare Centers, The Villages Regional Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center, VA outpatient clinic, senior living facilities, and a long term acute care hospital are all located here.

actually it is accurate as there are plenty of doctors in and around TV who are not part of vhc. they were all dropped by UHC if they were not part of the villages health care system. I certainly don't expect the villages health care system to take care of me, I take care of me and my medical choices. personally I have the aarp/uhc supplement. an advantage plan is out of the question as I have occasional hospital visits that would be financially crippling if I were on an advantage plan.

[TheVillageChicken]

Originally Posted by Fredwms

My fiancé's ex was a Navy captain and she qualified for Tricare under their 20/20 program (20 years in service and 20 years married). I personally have Humana Advantage under Medicare as I am not military and not eligible for Tricare.

Actually the program is 20/20/20 and she will lose the benefit when you marry her.

[TV MAN]

Loonycat why do you think that you would lose coverage under advantage vs aarp suplemnetal ??

"I have the aarp/uhc supplement. an advantage plan is out of the question as I have occasional hospital visits that would be financially crippling if I were on an advantage plan."

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by looneycat

actually it is accurate as there are plenty of doctors in and around TV who are not part of vhc. they were all dropped by UHC if they were not part of the villages health care system. I certainly don't expect the villages health care system to take care of me, I take care of me and my medical choices. personally I have the aarp/uhc supplement. an advantage plan is out of the question as I have occasional hospital visits that would be financially crippling if I were on an advantage plan.

If I may give some advice----re-read the advantage plans thru UHC and look at the plan details, use the link thru TV Health page.

If I'm reading correctly, plan 1 has an out of pocket max of $4500 with 0 premium, and plan 2 has a max of $1900 with an $85/mo. premium= $1020/year
Assuming you will be paying about $178/ mo. UHC supp. and $51/ mo. part D in 2016, that's $229x12= $2748/yr.
So, with plan 1, your exposure would be $1752/ year.
If you know you will exceed $2748 in out of pocket costs, then with plan 2 you'll have $1020 in premium and a max of $1900, = $2920, or exposure over your current cost of $172/yr. The prescription co-pays look identical in the advantage and supp. plans.

If I'm reading it right......

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

If I may give some advice----re-read the advantage plans thru UHC and look at the plan details, use the link thru TV Health page.

If I'm reading correctly, plan 1 has an out of pocket max of $4500 with 0 premium, and plan 2 has a max of $1900 with an $85/mo. premium= $1020/year
Assuming you will be paying about $178/ mo. UHC supp. and $51/ mo. part D in 2016, that's $229x12= $2748/yr.
So, with plan 1, your exposure would be $1752/ year.
If you know you will exceed $2748 in out of pocket costs, then with plan 2 you'll have $1020 in premium and a max of $1900, = $2920, or exposure over your current cost of $172/yr. The prescription co-pays look identical in the advantage and supp. plans.

If I'm reading it right......

Based on discussions with a UHC rep, I believe you still have to pay for your medicare part b, which is $105 per person. So that would add another $1260 per year.

[waynegbrown]

Nov 9, 2015. We are enrolled with The Villages Health, using Medicare and Tricare For Life. The Villages Health sent us a letter telling us they will continue to care for their existing 1700 patients covered by this combination, but will no longer accept new patients so covered. TVH suggested we get an insurance checkup with UHC Medicare Store at Sumter Landing and consider adding UHC Medicare Advantage coverage since there may be no cost additional benefits available such as dental, vision and hearing aids. We have an appointment to hear their pitch.
To clarify one issue, I believe UHC Advantage does not require you get your care from The Villages Health, but the only Medicare Advantage program accepted by
TVH is UHC.

[looneycat]

$4500 out of pocket for COVERED services. As the villages hospital twice sent me elsewhere because of prior health issues I would be outside covered services in Shands and financially impacted beyond $4500. If a UHC Villages rep can tell me differently i would listen, looking for facts not opinions.

[PTennismom0202]

I've started with The Villages Healthcare for primary care a few months prior to my 65th birthday. They (The Villages Healthcare) told me good thing I got in before I was 65, because I'll be grandfathered in without United Healthcare Medicare Advantage when I hit Medicare age. Today I got the call -- 1 month before I am Medicare eligible. They changed their policy. They will not allow me to stay in the practice unless I change from Medicare B + Tricare for Life to a United Healthcare Medical Advantage plan + Tricare for Life. I stand to have a poorer Rx benefit and limit my provider choices if I do as they want. Don't think I'll do it. It's hard to find PCPs around here -- there seems to be a revolving door for them.

[NYGUY]

Originally Posted by PTennismom0202

I've started with The Villages Healthcare for primary care a few months prior to my 65th birthday. They (The Villages Healthcare) told me good thing I got in before I was 65, because I'll be grandfathered in without United Healthcare Medicare Advantage when I hit Medicare age. Today I got the call -- 1 month before I am Medicare eligible. They changed their policy. They will not allow me to stay in the practice unless I change from Medicare B + Tricare for Life to a United Healthcare Medical Advantage plan + Tricare for Life. I stand to have a poorer Rx benefit and limit my provider choices if I do as they want. Don't think I'll do it. It's hard to find PCPs around here -- there seems to be a revolving door for them.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive..

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by PTennismom0202

I've started with The Villages Healthcare for primary care a few months prior to my 65th birthday. They (The Villages Healthcare) told me good thing I got in before I was 65, because I'll be grandfathered in without United Healthcare Medicare Advantage when I hit Medicare age. Today I got the call -- 1 month before I am Medicare eligible. They changed their policy. They will not allow me to stay in the practice unless I change from Medicare B + Tricare for Life to a United Healthcare Medical Advantage plan + Tricare for Life. I stand to have a poorer Rx benefit and limit my provider choices if I do as they want. Don't think I'll do it. It's hard to find PCPs around here -- there seems to be a revolving door for them.

Sounds like the hammer just dropped. So much for TV Healthcare. It's HMO or hit the road.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by outlaw

Sounds like the hammer just dropped. So much for TV Healthcare. It's HMO or hit the road.

Not only HMO.....also PPO. Both are plans under the AARP United Healthcare plans.

[jamougel]

We are new to the Villages, and went looking for a primary care physician, kept reading about the Villages Health, so we went to make an appointment. We were told the woman that was to interview us was at lunch, so we were told she would get back to us within 24 to 48 hours. She did call, the next morning, only to inform us they accept nothing but Medicare advantage plans. One, they should have told us that when we went for the appointment, two, that should be in all their advertisements and brochures. Seems to me with TV being almost all medicare, doctors should accept all national supplemental plans....just my opinion. Never ever thought finding a doctor in the Villages would be so problamatic

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by jamougel

We are new to the Villages, and went looking for a primary care physician, kept reading about the Villages Health, so we went to make an appointment. We were told the woman that was to interview us was at lunch, so we were told she would get back to us within 24 to 48 hours. She did call, the next morning, only to inform us they accept nothing but Medicare advantage plans. One, they should have told us that when we went for the appointment, two, that should be in all their advertisements and brochures. Seems to me with TV being almost all medicare, doctors should accept all national supplemental plans....just my opinion. Never ever thought finding a doctor in the Villages would be so problamatic

Call Angel Tafur, MD if you are looking for a highly competent primary care physician. My wife and I both worked in healthcare before retiring, and both are very pleased.

His office number is: (352) 350-6241

[PTennismom0202]

I have Tricare for Life and was invited to leave in January before my 65th birthday. I think this has been in place for quite some time. This is a concierge practice.