[Philip Winkler]

The Villages Health System is definitely the wave of the future; unique to TV!
Very pleased!

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by Cedwards38

I am happy with The Villages Health System.

Pros
1. Good doctors and PAs.
2. Fantastic facilities.
3. Convenient locations
4. Extremely cordial and customer friendly service.
5. One stop shopping for the most part. (X ray, blood test, etc.)

Cons
1. If you have insurance other than United Healthcare, it could be a problem.

In addition:
1. Very good at follow-up.
2, They give you a written document of your visit.
3. Although I have never had the need to use it, after hours, if the need arises, you get a doctor that answers your call. Concierge type service.

Overall all, I am very impressed with their level of care. UHC has all the specialists I had been going to, when I switched from Florida Blue

Bottom line, you have to decide what plan fits your needs the best!

[mjdollard]

Originally Posted by Cedwards38

I am happy with The Villages Health System.

Pros
1. Good doctors and PAs.
2. Fantastic facilities.
3. Convenient locations
4. Extremely cordial and customer friendly service.
5. One stop shopping for the most part. (X ray, blood test, etc.)

Cons
1. If you have insurance other than United Healthcare, it could be a problem.

I would second this post

[Villager Joyce]

We are extremely pleased. I love our Doctor. There are multiple free classes and programs. I'm not on Medicare yet, but grandfathered in for now. I will do what I need to do to stay with them when the time comes. As was stated earlier, contracts with insurance companies come and go.

[goodtimesintv]

Originally Posted by LuauLinda

I was lucky to be able to sign up before they stopped allowing patients not old enough for Medicare. I will be allowed to participate until I go on Medicare and get on the advantage plan, which my husband has and is happy with. Unbelievable customer service, no waiting, friendly faces, and they will accommodate you for a last minute appointment due to illness. I am still working and they have later in the day hours that help me. My physician Dr. Giavanelli is wonderful as is her PA and medical assistants.

It is not true that TV Health does not accept patients not old enough for Medicare. We are 59, still employed, and have United Healthcare employer-based insurance, and we recently became new patients at TV Health. We are extremely happy about this. They did tell us that when we reach Medicare age, we'd have to have the UHC medicare advantage plan (or whatever requirement like that they mentioned) to stay.

[bob&Gail]

Just got kicked out from my dr. Due to medicare. Went arbor medical. New to the villages accepting patients. Located in laurel manor

[shardiego]

I am a brand new Villager - had a very disappointing "first visit" with Pinellas Center doctor (new to the practice). Wonder if this if the exception or the norm? Did not want to wait 3 months for first appointment so tried doctor new to the practice. I am not on medicare yet and have PPO health insurance, should I try again or find different practice?

[SoHumble]

I was with the Villages UHC plan for a year and really liked it. Very prompt appointments, doctors spent a lot of time with you, blood tests at the office, etc. Then I needed a parathyroidectomy and things changed. My doctor (new to the program) referred me to the Norman clinic in Tampa. That clinic only does this type of operation and they are probably the best in the world. The problem was that they are not in the plan. The doctor then referred me to Shands in Gainesville. Again, not on the plan. The doctor then told me the Villages UHC is a very good plan UNLESS you need something out of the ordinary like I did. He said he was very limited in the hospitals and specialists he could send anyone to. I put off the surgery until the new plan year and changed to a plan that covered me at the Norman clinic. I have since had the surgery and all is good. Now I wonder if I should go back to the Villages UHC plan. What if something else out of the ordinary should happen?

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by SoHumble

I was with the Villages UHC plan for a year and really liked it. Very prompt appointments, doctors spent a lot of time with you, blood tests at the office, etc. Then I needed a parathyroidectomy and things changed. My doctor (new to the program) referred me to the Norman clinic in Tampa. That clinic only does this type of operation and they are probably the best in the world. The problem was that they are not in the plan. The doctor then referred me to Shands in Gainesville. Again, not on the plan. The doctor then told me the Villages UHC is a very good plan UNLESS you need something out of the ordinary like I did. He said he was very limited in the hospitals and specialists he could send anyone to. I put off the surgery until the new plan year and changed to a plan that covered me at the Norman clinic. I have since had the surgery and all is good. Now I wonder if I should go back to the Villages UHC plan. What if something else out of the ordinary should happen?

I sure wouldn't go back. The next time you might have something much more urgent and not be able to go to another highly competent physician who is also out of plan.

[NYGUY]

Originally Posted by SoHumble

I was with the Villages UHC plan for a year and really liked it. Very prompt appointments, doctors spent a lot of time with you, blood tests at the office, etc. Then I needed a parathyroidectomy and things changed. My doctor (new to the program) referred me to the Norman clinic in Tampa. That clinic only does this type of operation and they are probably the best in the world. The problem was that they are not in the plan. The doctor then referred me to Shands in Gainesville. Again, not on the plan. The doctor then told me the Villages UHC is a very good plan UNLESS you need something out of the ordinary like I did. He said he was very limited in the hospitals and specialists he could send anyone to. I put off the surgery until the new plan year and changed to a plan that covered me at the Norman clinic. I have since had the surgery and all is good. Now I wonder if I should go back to the Villages UHC plan. What if something else out of the ordinary should happen?

Going back doesn't sound like a good idea!! You learned that you were sold a poor plan, what you also should have learned was that rural areas like ours do not attract highly skilled specialists. Good luck in the future.

[goodtimesintv]

Originally Posted by SoHumble

I was with the Villages UHC plan for a year and really liked it. Very prompt appointments, doctors spent a lot of time with you, blood tests at the office, etc. Then I needed a parathyroidectomy and things changed. My doctor (new to the program) referred me to the Norman clinic in Tampa. That clinic only does this type of operation and they are probably the best in the world. The problem was that they are not in the plan. The doctor then referred me to Shands in Gainesville. Again, not on the plan. The doctor then told me the Villages UHC is a very good plan UNLESS you need something out of the ordinary like I did. He said he was very limited in the hospitals and specialists he could send anyone to. I put off the surgery until the new plan year and changed to a plan that covered me at the Norman clinic. I have since had the surgery and all is good. Now I wonder if I should go back to the Villages UHC plan. What if something else out of the ordinary should happen?

I hope everyone is seeing that like with everything, "you get what you pay for". It's worth it to spend a couple of hundred dollars a month to be able to go elsewhere in a crisis, which happens more with aging.

[CritterLover]

Originally Posted by shardiego

I am a brand new Villager - had a very disappointing "first visit" with Pinellas Center doctor (new to the practice). Wonder if this if the exception or the norm? Did not want to wait 3 months for first appointment so tried doctor new to the practice. I am not on medicare yet and have PPO health insurance, should I try again or find different practice?

What was disappointing about your experience, if you don't mind me asking?

[rexxfan]

Originally Posted by shardiego

I am not on medicare yet and have PPO health insurance, should I try again or find different practice?

I don't understand how you even got an appointment in the first place. It is my understanding that unless you got an appointment before the middle of last October (when the rules changed) that the system was no longer going to accept any insurance other than UHC Medicare Advantage (effectively freezing out all those not yet eligible for Medicare).

I am also not on Medicare (3 years to go before eligible) but I made my first appointment (for a November date) last year at this time and so, was grandfathered in (at least until I am eligible for Medicare, at which point I have to decide if I will go with the UHC Advantage plan or not).

Perhaps your disappointment was that you were told they would not accept your insurance?
--
Bob C

[rockyisle]

Well, here's what I know from someone "in the know". This person was a member of the focus group that met this Spring to discuss the next round of changes to VHS and the possible impact and reaction of those of us who joined the program 3 years ago. Our primary care doctor has confirmed that current plans mean we will be out on January 1st if we don't move over to the VHS HMO plan.

I'm in the process of writing a letter to Jeffrey Lowenkron at the VHS (he's their Chief Medical Officer) protesting this latest move. So much for the Doctor Welby approach to medicine that was advertised by VHS. For whatever reason, it appears that they are not making money on their grand plan - or not making enough money. What I do know is that they have created a program with United Healthcare - much like AARP - that will pay them royalties for everyone who moves over to this new program. The rest of their financial plans are a mystery to me.

So, with that said... I will be very sad to leave VHS as I came over with my doctors from Family Doctors of Belleview (which no longer exists as a private care practice)... It's now part of the VHS system. VHS was very convenient for us and we felt we received great medical care. We will be looking for another primary care doctor who is willing to take the Medicare and United Healthcare Plan F reimbursements.

The curious part of all this (for me) is wondering how they think they will make money on any program only funded through Medicare and out of pocket payments by those who get sick and have to have tests and hospital stays at the VHS hospital. A well balanced family medicare practice relies on - Self Pay, Insurance from those who are still working, and Medicare Supplements. It seems to me that they will be putting all their business eggs into one basket source.. never a good idea. Wondering out loud what they will do when the Feds change the reimbursement program for Medi Gap programs and they get less reimbursements? I know their are Medical Insurance experts who read TOV... Would love to read your thoughts on all of this...

Always grateful that we have TOV to work through life changes in TV....

[kittygilchrist]

Suggest go to Blue Cross ofc at southern trace, get explanation of plans from Robin Gump, who is nitpickingly careful to educate you, not sell you, Follows medicare rules, which The Villages do not.

I know bc I took the Medicare class at Learning college, where the instructor was a United salesman and broke many rules of mcare in his slick presentation, and provided a handout that obfuscated options with no challenges but mine.

I surmise many people left with no clue what their true options were, not suspecting that The Villages cut a quid pro quo deal with United, and receives a form of kickback.

If you use blue cross, you have no problem getting specialist and hosp. care at the best, Shands/UF in Gainesville, as well as local doctors through SIMED.

Impressive:
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