[MSGirl]

I have an HMO insurance. Village Healthcare is on my list of approved physicians. My husband has Medicare and supplement plan AARP United Healthcare F. He chooses The Villages Healthcare for his PRIMARY dr. We have our own specialists that take our insurance. If you need to see your primary dr, as a follow up to an emergency, then I feel the primary should be available. BUT isn't this a scheduling issue with the front desk?

[drritaw]

We have also joined at Pinellas Center. Been very pleased with thoroughness of initial visits.

[skyelav]

We are newbies and live in Piedmont. We are both Medicare people and would love a physician who is smart and caring as well as some advice on plans.

[FloridaShrimp]

I have a great doctor at Creekside. However, seeing her is the problem. I called for an appointment late in November and was told that she does not have an opening until the end of first week in January. I saw the nurse the next week who did not solve my problem. By now the next opening is mid January. Before choosing a center, I would check first your chances of seeing your doctor when you need to. My husband goes to Premier Medical and sees only his doctor, not a nurse, within a week.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by FloridaShrimp

I have a great doctor at Creekside. However, seeing her is the problem. I called for an appointment late in November and was told that she does not have an opening until the end of first week in January. I saw the nurse the next week who did not solve my problem. By now the next opening is mid January. Before choosing a center, I would check first your chances of seeing your doctor when you need to. My husband goes to Premier Medical and sees only his doctor, not a nurse, within a week.

What insurance do you have.....that could be one of the issues. My wife had the same experience until I signed up for UH Advantage, Regional PPO. When I did that her appointments were all moved up. We are back north for the holidays and I have seen two specialists and my old family doctor and all took my plan so up to this point I have had no issue. I took the Regional PPO as I am not fan of HMO's.

[salferg]

Why does a medicare advantage plan make you a second class citizen?

[salferg]

Originally Posted by FloridaShrimp

I have a great doctor at Creekside. However, seeing her is the problem. I called for an appointment late in November and was told that she does not have an opening until the end of first week in January. I saw the nurse the next week who did not solve my problem. By now the next opening is mid January. Before choosing a center, I would check first your chances of seeing your doctor when you need to. My husband goes to Premier Medical and sees only his doctor, not a nurse, within a week.

I currently use Premier Medical and love Dr, Gegaj. However, on Dec 2 I needed to see the doc and could not get an appt before Dec 16! When I complained I was told to go to urgent care. This is not the first time this has happened . This, and their back office is why I am examining other options.

[Yorio]

Very happy with Village Health. When my wife could not see her doctor at Lake Sumter, they referred her to a PA in Colony. She was able to get proper treatment the same day. I believe the data will be made into the system so in the future Lake Sumter doctor will know what treatment was done at Colony. Recently I had to go to Village Regional Hospital and my data was already in so no need to file new information. I was a new patient there. Overall, we are very pleased with the service. One question I have is why doctors here recommend Medicare Advantage. Since we travel both in and outside the U.S. rather frequently, we have to have a different insurance. Perhaps if we are Village bound, Medicare Advantage will be better.