[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

Anyone who has made it 65 years without ever experiencing insurance policies that change or providers who accept them is about as unique as a unicorn. Every year people go through open enrollment because circumstances change, and nothing is ever promised past that year. Or do you have something in writing that says VHC would never make changes? If you do, then you may have an argument. If not, it's just complaining and feeling like a victim.

Again, I am talking about two things: what was touted in the beginning to bring people in, and people's right to complain.

[Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Again, I am talking about two things: what was touted in the beginning to bring people in, and people's right to complain.

What was touted at the beginning never said everyone would be served. With 120,000 residents and doctors limited to 1,250 patients, there would need to be almost 100 PCP's not the 37 there are today.

And I really wouldn't have an issue with complaining if it was honest. But all the talk about "grandfathered" and everyone covered sets off the BS meter. If it's true, SHOW IT TO US. I, and others, are still waiting to see that "proof".

[NYGUY]

Originally Posted by inthemindofanurse

....You were told that for the time being you would be taken care of....

Too funny....no one ever said we would be taken care of for "the time being"....did God tell you he would only take care of you for the time being, until I make some necessary changes, did your spouse, did your mother, did your life insurance company, did your nursing school. No, they didn't say that. You let your fingers get carried away with your rant. We know you would like to keep your job and I hope you do!! But, you don't work in the finance department, or senior management. You don't know if what "they" tell you is fact.

[Buffalo Jim]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

As a Canadian with many older friends, I've never once heard of anyone waiting six months for an essential operation.
Or being refused treatment based on age. Never.

I had a lawyer friend from Toronto who was pushed out 6 months for cancer surgery . He came to Buffalo and paid cash .
He would have died if he had waited .

I had a good friend in Buffalo who was also from Toronto . His Dad needed heart surgery but the " system " would not approve the surgery only would offer drugs .
He brought his father to Buffalo for surgery and paid cash and it saved his father`s life .
Another business associate had to bring his daughter into the US to get eye surgery which he could not get approved for her in Canada .
Another good friend had to bring his father to the US for Parkinson`s treatment and special drugs which he was denied in Canada .
In the Buffalo area there are many Doctors who crossed into the US to practice rather than work for the wages they could earn within the Canadian system .
Don`t get me wrong I love Canada but I know many many Canadians and medical professionals who do not like the current state of the government health system .
Please do not be offended I am just sharing the real experiences of several friends and business associates .

[Buffalo Jim]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Again, I am talking about two things: what was touted in the beginning to bring people in, and people's right to complain.

And on a public site such as this people also have a right to point out that a particular post may be factually incorrect or based entirely on emotions and not reason .

For example the Trolly should be called the " sucker bus " ?
Sounds like the remarks of a 12 year old !

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by Buffalo Jim

And on a public site such as this people also have a right to point out that a particular post may be factually incorrect or based entirely on emotions and not reason .

Don't forget to include that a post may also be one from someone who either has a vested interest in trying to deceive those who are legitimately upset, or has even been given orders to protect the one causing all of this anguish.

Just trying to be fair.

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Actually, I think her "rant" was an excellent factual counterbalance to the primarily emotional response that has been dominating the threads on this subject. As rants go, I'll give it a 9.8/10

Agree

[golfing eagles]

Just to point out and discuss another common theme on these threads----that UHC advantage restricts my choices so I cannot go see "the best".

There are 135 pages of participating physicians and just about every hospital in the region their handbook. It should not be all that hard to find a quality specialist. There are some hospitals, such as Shands and Mayo that do not participate. If you are already hooked into that system you have a tough choice

Now for a word about "the best":
Let's pick on cardiology as an example. There are 27,076 cardiologists in the US, 1854 in Florida. Only one can be "the best". But he/she cannot see 330 million patients, so somebody gets "second best", and third best, and so on down to 27,000th "best". There are minimum standards they all have to meet, I think the standard is too low, but I also understand that if the bar is set too high it will affect access to care.

So let's say you are "lucky" enough to get an appointment with "the best" cardiologist in the country. You will probably find that he is a zero personality academic jerk who pawns you off on his assistants as he rushes off to his research lab, or to his office to write his next paper for the NEJM, or to fulfill his teaching responsibilities. So why does he have a practice at all, you may ask:

1) It may be a requirement of his faculty position

2) It is fertile grounds to find new and unusual CASES. Note the word "cases", since in his world, you are not a patient, you are a "case"

3) It is fertile ground for him to find people to sign up for his latest experimental drug or procedure. That now makes you a "guinea pig" instead of a "case"

As far as my own care goes, give me a solid above average caring and personable cardiologist, say number 6 or 7000th on the list. I'll take him over "the best" any day.

I'd be interested if the other retired physicians and nurses agree with this assessment.

[Villageswimmer]

Likewise, has "the nurse" ever come back to give sources for his/her multiple "facts?"

Just sayin'.

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by inthemindofanurse

It absolutely amazes me the way some people behave. *Begin rant -Those of you that are infuriated about the TVH insurance change should educate yourselves a bit before showing your rear. Hopefully you have kept your letters about how you were grandfathered in for the rest of the existence that TVH has their doors open! Come on folks, be realistic. At the time of that letter there was no plan to go to only UHC MA. You were not conned. You were not lied to. You were not deceived. You were told that for the time being you would be taken care of. Things change. As far as TVH being money hungry devils....well, just an FYI they lose millions, yes plural, of dollars a year by accepting the other insurance carriers. Why, do you ask? Because in order to provide 30 minute appointments, in order to ensure that if you are in the hospital one of the TVH doctors see you, in order to ensure that there are 30 + open appointments available for call ins, in order to ensure that all of your care is coordinated through your primary, in order to ensure that you are taken care of and pampered the way you are-INSURANCE HAS TO PAY FOR IT!! BCBS said heck no, Cigna said not a chance, Humana wasn't biting, Aetna said no thanks. United Health Care said yes. These other insurance plans WILL NOT pay for these things! Please explain how TVH can continue to provide a 30 min appointment and only get paid for 12 minutes of it?! Will you accept being told they no longer offer 30 min appts because your ins will only pay for 10? No, you won't. Will you accept waiting 2 hours for your 10 min appt because the office had to schedule 30 patients for that doctor just to make the money to keep the doors open? Doubt it. At the end of the day you are just being whiney brats. TVH has not changed. They are still the best patient centered medical office in the state of Florida. They want nothing more than to continue to be the best and treat YOU, yes YOU the best. But open your eyes and realize that this kind of care has to be paid for. Like I said, MILLIONS of dollars lost. MILLIONS of dollars in the red! No, it's not so your doctor can drive home in a Mercedes. No, it's not so the medical director can get a yacht. No, it's not so the CEO can go skiing in the Swiss Alps. The whole world can't go into poverty so you can continue to sit pretty on your pedestal getting your butt powdered! - *end rant

Excellent post!!

[Villager Joyce]

Even if the nurse made a good point (not saying she did), I don't want someone speaking as an authority until he/she Reveals his/her sources of information and experience. its easy in this little word of nicknames to be anyone. In my previous life I was an astronaut who walked on the moon therefore I am an authority on everything.

[RedChariot]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

Likewise, has "the nurse" ever come back to give sources for his/her multiple "facts?"

Just sayin'.

Still waiting.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce

Even if the nurse made a good point (not saying she did), I don't want someone speaking as an authority until he/she Reveals his/her sources of information and experience. its easy in this little word of nicknames to be anyone. In my previous life I was an astronaut who walked on the moon therefore I am an authority on everything.

You make an excellent point.


While this is certainly not meant to be a personal attack on the OP, I do believe someone who posted this...

Originally Posted by inthemindofanurse

…should educate yourselves a bit before showing your rear.
…At the end of the day you are just being whiney brats.
…so you can continue to sit pretty on your pedestal getting your butt powdered!

...is open to questions about their credentials.



In doing a search of earlier posts, she freely stated....

Originally Posted by inthemindofanurse

Well, I am born and raised in Lake County. I do not live in The Villages (hope to one day) I am in my 30s and a single mom to a 9 year old son I am not an RN I am technically not a nurse. I am a certified Medical Assistant. I would LOVE to go to LPN school but am unable to make it work right now. I have been working as a CMA for 2 years, before that I was a medical receptionist for 2 years. Unfortunately I do not have a great support system when it comes to being the best I can be because most people now want to cut corners and be lazy.

My point being that a 30 year old, who is unaffected by this change to TVH, is being pretty presumptuous (not to mention disrespectful) in name-calling to people who have obviously been successful enough in life to retire here.

I am also curious as to how this poster, who admits that she's not even a nurse, has become an insider as to the inner workings of the financials and decision making that typically wouldn't be shared with someone at her current level.

I am guessing that she's simply repeating what others who work with her have been telling her and also can't help but wonder if this 'rant,' was precipitated by being told that her job might be in jeopardy if enough people don't switch? Which is perfectly understandable, but whose comments should be taken with that agenda in mind.

So maybe the OP will come back and clear up/explain what I think are some very simple and common sense questions as to her actual knowledge and involvement.

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore2

You make an excellent point.


While this is certainly not meant to be a personal attack on the OP, I do believe someone who posted this...

...is open to questions about their credentials.



In doing a search of earlier posts, she freely stated....


My point being that a 30 year old, who is unaffected by this change to TVH, is being pretty presumptuous (not to mention disrespectful) in name-calling to people who have obviously been successful enough in life to retire here.

I am also curious as to how this poster, who admits that she's not even a nurse, has become an insider as to the inner workings of the financials and decision making that typically wouldn't be shared with someone at her current level.

I am guessing that she's simply repeating what others who work with her have been telling her and also can't help but wonder if this 'rant,' was precipitated by being told that her job might be in jeopardy if enough people don't switch? Which is perfectly understandable, but whose comments should be taken with that agenda in mind.

So maybe the OP will come back and clear up/explain what I think are some very simple and common sense questions as to her actual knowledge and involvement.

Doubtful. IMHO the post was not only full of unsubstantiated conjecture, it was crude and disrespectful. Excellent? Factual? Really?

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

Doubtful. IMHO the post was not only full of unsubstantiated conjecture, it was crude and disrespectful. Excellent? Factual? Really?

Time to play devil's advocate and defend this, well, healthcare worker.

By the terminology and those parts of her post that fit the events, it is likely she is employed by TVH. We had a 7 physician practice with 48 employees, it was naïve to think that everyone, even the file clerks, did not have a pretty good idea of what was going on. That is the nature of a medical office. Even "rumors" weren't usually all that far off the mark. I think we were reading more than "conjecture"

I might have skipped the insulting wording, but is it any more crude or disrespectful than those that called TVH liars, or uncaring, or con artists???

If she is employed there, how could she possibly name sources? Not only would her job be at risk, but also anyone who told her anything.

In all likelihood, there is a lot of truth in her post, and I doubt the head of TVH would come out with the whole story.