[Kenswing]

If you have Florida Blue how did you choose what plan was best for you?

I'm looking at all their options and my eyes are starting to cross. The main difference other than deductibles seems to be what doctors are in network. Seeing as we have no clue what doctors we're going to choose, should we just get get the cheapest plan with the deductible we're comfortable with and upgrade if we need to if the doctors we find aren't in network?

What did you do?

Edited: We're not eligible for Medicare for quite a few more years.

[villagetinker]

OP, you might want to state if you are over 65 (medicare and supplemental) or advantage plan, and if you are under 65, big difference on answers. Also, if you are over 65 Florida SHINE (Senior Health Information Network) is an excellent resource for unbiased insurance info. You can do a Google search 'florida shine' and one of the first 2 or 3 items will be the correct website. They also have local meetings, not sure if these are back due to covid.

[tuccillo]

I have a Florida Blue obamacare plan. If you are looking for an obamacare plan there is now another provider in Sumter. I don’t know which county you are in and it does matter. There is a Florida Blue office on CR 101 off of 466 that I would recommend you talk to. I have had good advice from Janet Adam in that office. She can narrow down the best choices pretty quickly. Keep in mind that none of the plans are all that attractive from a cost point of view. You will see high premiums coupled with high deductibles and high out of pocket maximums. You might want to consider a non-obamacare compliant plan for catastrophic coverage if you don’t anticipate needing much care.

To answer your question, I chose a plan recommended by Janet with a network that included the Drs I wanted to be able to see (outside of The Villages).

Originally Posted by Kenswing

If you have Florida Blue how did you choose what plan was best for you?

I'm looking at all their options and my eyes are starting to cross. The main difference other than deductibles seems to be what doctors are in network. Seeing as we have no clue what doctors we're going to choose, should we just get get the cheapest plan with the deductible we're comfortable with and upgrade if we need to if the doctors we find aren't in network?

What did you do?

Edited: We're not eligible for Medicare for quite a few more years.

[Kenswing]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

OP, you might want to state if you are over 65 (medicare and supplemental) or advantage plan, and if you are under 65, big difference on answers. Also, if you are over 65 Florida SHINE (Senior Health Information Network) is an excellent resource for unbiased insurance info. You can do a Google search 'florida shine' and one of the first 2 or 3 items will be the correct website. They also have local meetings, not sure if these are back due to covid.

I must have been editing while you were posting. We're still several years away from being able to go on Medicare. Just looking for regular old medical insurance.

[Bcheval]

I have Florida Blue through the exchange. Very happy with physician choices and coverage here in the Villages.

[PennBF]

We have Florida Blue Plan F which pays anything Medicare does not pay. We have had it
for years and is a little more costly but worth every penny for the comfort knowing that we don't have to worry about medical bills. In the last few years we have had pretty large medical expenses, both Hospital and Medical and have not seen a bill. We can chose any
hospital and doctor and have elected to use Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for all medical care. We use Wellcare for prescription expenses.

[tuccillo]

The OP is not on Medicare.

However, since you brought it up, consider the following. The only difference between Medicare Supplemental Plan F and Plan G is that Plan F includes the approximately $200 Part B annual deductible and Plan G does not. Typically, the Plan F premiums for the year are more than $200 higher than the Plan G premiums. You might want to consider changing to Plan G if you can pass the underwriting as you may very well save money.

Originally Posted by PennBF

We have Florida Blue Plan F which pays anything Medicare does not pay. We have had it
for years and is a little more costly but worth every penny for the comfort knowing that we don't have to worry about medical bills. In the last few years we have had pretty large medical expenses, both Hospital and Medical and have not seen a bill. We can chose any
hospital and doctor and have elected to use Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for all medical care. We use Wellcare for prescription expenses.

[SharonW]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

If you have Florida Blue how did you choose what plan was best for you?

I'm looking at all their options and my eyes are starting to cross. The main difference other than deductibles seems to be what doctors are in network. Seeing as we have no clue what doctors we're going to choose, should we just get get the cheapest plan with the deductible we're comfortable with and upgrade if we need to if the doctors we find aren't in network?

What did you do?

Edited: We're not eligible for Medicare for quite a few more years.

You are talking about affordable health care, correct? Not sure which agent you are talking with but Renata with MidFlorida Agencies is the most knowledgeable agent I know who writes affordable health care. Talk with Renata at 352-321-1856. Network is most important in my opinion.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I picked Florida Blue plan #1443B. Though we're on the ACA marketplace, we still pay a modest premium (under $100/month). There's a 0 copay for the first three office visits (not including yearly physical, which is covered 100%), and $1 per visit after that. Prescriptions (generic) are $2 for a 30-day supply at Walgreen's, you can get mail-order 90-day for $6 (no savings, but plenty convenient). Out of pocket max is $1800/year per person, $3600/couple. Typical/routine exams and bloodwork are covered, all vaccines are covered. No vision, no hearing, but they have discounts available on both. You can basically pick your own doctor; mine's at the Villages hospital campus since it's right across the street from us. Referrals for specialists not required (though it's in your best interest to get one anyway, because continuum of care is important).

FloridaBlue also participates with Better You Strides, which offers up to $500/year toward premiums if you answer a couple of surveys, watch a couple of videos, and choose to do a couple of minor projects (every day for 7 days in a row, log in, click "yes, I DID cook at least one meal at home today" for example). It's $50 per project, up to $500 total per benefit year. Last year, our premiums were only $48/month so we basically got the whole year of health care at no cost to us. This year our premiums doubled, so we'll pay around $300 for the entire year, for the two of us this year.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I think it should be mentioned - since most folks on this forum already have Medicare and might not have any idea about how the ACA works:

If you are under qualifying age for Medicare and not eligible for Medicaid (via disability or abject poverty) or VA health, you really really REALLY should go to healthcare.gov and apply for ACA subsidies. While yes, it is a hand up, it's not a hand-out. Your tax dollars pay for it.

Most folks will earn too much through pensions and social security benefits (if you took the early option at 62) to qualify for a full 100% subsidy. But some of you might end up paying only half your current premium. Or less.

[G.R.I.T.S.]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

If you have Florida Blue how did you choose what plan was best for you?

I'm looking at all their options and my eyes are starting to cross. The main difference other than deductibles seems to be what doctors are in network. Seeing as we have no clue what doctors we're going to choose, should we just get get the cheapest plan with the deductible we're comfortable with and upgrade if we need to if the doctors we find aren't in network?

What did you do?

Edited: We're not eligible for Medicare for quite a few more years.

We had individual fl blue policies before becoming eligible for Medicare. High deductibles. Useful for catastrophic coverage because we had no ongoing health issues that required anything other than yearly checkups. Paid out of pocket costs at urgent care centers.

[kkingston57]

I have Florida Blue(PPO Plan) and not yet 65 years old. Have no complaints and getting good service. Was eligible for an ACA credit. Premium is +/- $200. Old COBRA plan(with higher dedutibles) was over $400. Spoke to at least 2 different agents and was told that they are the only health insurance company who does business in Sumter County if you are under 65.

[tuccillo]

That is not exactly true. If you are considering obamacare compliant plans, there are two providers in Sumter County: Ambetter by Sunshine Health and Florida Blue. Previously it was only Florida Blue. See Healthcare.gov for a list of the plans from both of these providers.

I have no issues with my Florida Blue obamacare plan (a PPO) except for the costs. My previous COBRA plan had much lower premiums and a much lower out-of-pocket maximum.

Originally Posted by kkingston57

I have Florida Blue(PPO Plan) and not yet 65 years old. Have no complaints and getting good service. Was eligible for an ACA credit. Premium is +/- $200. Old COBRA plan(with higher dedutibles) was over $400. Spoke to at least 2 different agents and was told that they are the only health insurance company who does business in Sumter County if you are under 65.

[jnafix]

Originally Posted by Kenswing

If you have Florida Blue how did you choose what plan was best for you?

I'm looking at all their options and my eyes are starting to cross. The main difference other than deductibles seems to be what doctors are in network. Seeing as we have no clue what doctors we're going to choose, should we just get get the cheapest plan with the deductible we're comfortable with and upgrade if we need to if the doctors we find aren't in network?

What did you do?

Edited: We're not eligible for Medicare for quite a few more years.

Thank You very much for asking these questions. I have learned a lot from the replies and also took the time to print them for future reference. Thanks again to all and hope to also retire soon.