Received my The Villages Health notice last week
 

I joined The Villages Health system two years ago and when they and United Health made a decision to be the only acceptable insurance plan I was told I was grandfathered. Well, I just received my notice to either go with United Health or seek services some place else. United Health is losing too much money so their new business plan is to have The Villages Health accept only United Health, which I think will fail. My health plan is far superior to theirs so now all my medical needs will be met by doctors, specialists and hospitals outside The Villages network. I will be driving to Ocala, Leesburg and Tavares or areas on Rt 441. It's a shame since a turn key health care concept that The Villages Health was espousing sounded intriguing and was a good selling point. If you are not with United Health then expect a call in the future as they transition their patients.

There are many doctors located in TV who are NOT part of the Village Health system. You do not have to seek care in other cities.

You are absolutely right. The Villages Health care system is a good idea and we would love to go there but they don't take our always accepted Aetna Insurance. We see a primary care physician and have consulted a dermatologist, a gastroenterologist, an ophthalmologist, a foot doctor, an oral surgeon and an ENT, all here where we live in The Villages. A couple cannot be reached with golf carts but they are a stones throw from the gates.


It takes a while to find a comfortable fit sometimes and we have changed our original PCP once but we are satisfied.

You must be turning 65 this year...I got the same letter, and they told me since I was turning 65 I was considered a new patient...although I had been with them for 2 years. I don't want to go to another doctor (it would make it the 5th doctor in 4 years, that's why I switched to the Villages System) so I did sign up with an Advantage plan, to go along with my Tricare for Life.

Unless I am missing your point, I stongly agree to disagree.

I just joined the UHC plan that is accepted by TV health care system. Before UHC, I was in Florida Blue and had a doctor located in TV. I don't agree one has to go outside TV to have a PCP or see a specialists. At least, not as far as Ocala or Tavares. All of my specialist were in TV, or on 441, a short drive form TV.

Begs one to think what will happen if this new business model fails. They sure will **** off a lot of so called grandfathered people and will forever loose them as customers. Burning old bridges is never a good idea.

WOW - I wouldn't agree to this simply because I don't want them dictating who I should have for my insurance needs. Currently get enough of that from the government.

wow, I'm turning 65 this year but haven't got a letter yet. I don't intend to give up my Fed. insurance as my supplement so I guess I better start looking for another dr.

They're not
 

dictating anything. Don't want to play by their rules, go elsewhere for healthcare. There are plenty of fine doctors within a stones throw of The Villages.

Of course they are dictating who you must choose for your insurance. Paint it any rosy color you want, but if you like your doctor at TV health you won't be keeping him unless you do what they want. Doesn't affect me, but things like this just make my blood boil.

When this health system was proposed it was in an effort to make The Villages the healthiest hometown not fill the pockets of United Health Care. This isn't a case of "if you don't like it move or go to another doctor", but a change of the rules mid-game.

I suspect that health care in general is going to be unsettling for quite some time and we will encounter changes with doctors, quality of service, costs, timeliness, etc. I know that earlier in the year I had to go to a gastroentologist in Tavares (Florida Hospital Medical Group - Center for Advanced Surgery) because the few available ones in TV could not see me for three/four weeks. Due to pain I could not wait that long and the doctor in Tavares took me the next day and did a great job - and this doctor is Harvard trained and practiced at Beth-Israel so I don't mind driving to get top notch care.

Did I understand this thread correctly? Are the above patients saying that about 2 months after getting a letter that basically stated, "don't worry about the changes, you're grandfathered in", you now got a letter that essentially states "never mind, change to UHC MA or you're out"????

I'm shocked. Simply shocked. And United Healthcare has always had such a caring and upstanding reputation.

[emoji23]

Really, this is the only place where the rules have changed....you never experienced that in the workplace, at your bank, or any number of places that you deal with in your life. I know a few unions that have changed work rules....and of course governments do that all the time, even those little councils in small towns. Ever have a girlfriend or spouse change the rules in mid-game? It isn't the first rules change in TV and suspect it won't be the last. They owe you nothing.

This is unsettling. The biggest negative for joining UHC Advantage plan vs. a Medicare supplement is that you need "permission" to leave the local network if you are traveling.

This is not appealing to people who often find themselves "out of network." Maybe toward the end of life, it doesn't matter since you're not going to be traveling anyway, but right now it does.

And this is one of the biggest problems in our country today - nobody's word means anything and people are willing to accept that.

Trust no one & check everything. Been happening since the Stone Age.

I have suspected this was going to happen. As I posted previously, when I called to ask about this very specific scenario of being a current patient with them, but not yet 65, they told me that when I reached 65, I am still grandfathered in. I haven't received my letter yet, but I still have several months before 65. And yes, Jomar, they do owe their customers honesty.

There are so many jumping to conclusions based on half-truths and rumors. I'm not yet 65, but I am a patient of TVH and I, like many who have switched or are planning to, will be choosing UHC Medicare Advantage when the time comes. Call one of the centers, ask to speak with a Manager, and ask WHY this is going on. It's very irresponsible to continue to spread nasty rumors.

My suggestion is that anyone concerned should go to the Medicare Store and talk with someone to get correct answers. We are in The Villages Health Program. I asked questions like Could I use Dr Duke in Ocala if I needed a knee replacement. Answe was yes. They will answer all questions

Of course you realize the people at those stores are paid by United Healthcare? The independent source for unbiased information is SHINE!!

I am in a similar situation. What is it exactly about the UHC Medicare Advantage plan that is so unattractive to so many? I've read the plan description and it seems reasonable to me, but I admit to having limited experience in this area as I am fortunate to be in excellent health and rarely need to see a doctor (so far, anyway).
--
Bob C

Nasty rumors? The OP said it happened?! That's NOT a rumor. That's a fact.

Hence, the reason I did not quote the OP. My comment was regarding the TVH/UHC situation, in general.

We've been very satisfied with United Health Care. It,s not either/or. Good idea to go to both SHINE and the United Medicare Store. A good friend works for Shine. He is good, but does not have all the info available as the Medicare store.

You have to compare your individual plans. In my case I have PPO not HMO. I do not pay monthly health insurance premiums and my Medicare Part B is reimbursed for me and my spouse. No deductibles, no co-insurance, $10 doctor visit co-pay, coverage when travelling...to name a few differences and that is why United Health is not for me. Your case may be different. The issue here is that United Health and Villages Health are moving to a closed insurance provider system. Right now new patients and Medicare patients have to be with United Health. Others are grandfathered but who knows for how long - United Health needs a certain % of patients to be with them (with Villages Health) in order for them to make money.

Right! It works for me, as well, but it's clearly not for everyone. Folks need to get all the info, both from UHC and from TVH.

I think the main concern is participating specialists and hospitals. I've seen a lot of posts that make no sense. Financially, if you look at the plan and consider that the out of pocket max is the same on the advantage plans as well as the supplements, you do save about $240/month not having say plan F and a part D plan. From a participation aspect, you can go to UHC's website and look at whether or not YOUR specialist is covered, but I don't see where you can bring up a list of participating specialists, so the info is somewhat vague. If you go to the UHC store to get answers, GET IT IN WRITING. Typically, you can ask 3 different agents on 3 different days and get 3 different answers.

So close. It is certainly worthwhile to make a visit and ask your questions. Make up your mind after gathering all facts.

Medicare Advantage is unattractive to me because I have a heart problem and when I considered switching from my supplement, my cardiologist practice told me that they had been dropped from participating in the UHC advantage plan. It takes a while to create a relationship with a doctor and I did not WANT to jump back on The Villages merry-go-round and seek out a new cardiologist! You are correct about one thing though -- if you are in excellent health, ANY health care plan will be fine!

Village Health System
 

Funny only one person has received a letter like this. Anyone else have one? I did get one that I am grandfathered in.

I got my letter in November. Was told they had negotiated a new contract with UHC and had to clear out those that didn't fit their requirements. Sort of burns me to read glowing reviews of the Villages Health nearly daily in the paper. A great bait-and-switch for the unsuspecting new home buyers.

I am in the process of exploring my Medicare options for turning 65 in May. I am a retired Ohio teacher and have received the STRS information and visited the Medicare store RE: United Health Care. Any Ohio retirees have pros or cons on the two options? I have struggled to find a DR I liked with my Ohio medical mutual and would like to return to The Villages health system. I found out today that would have to be part of United Health Care. Any comments from Ohio retirees?

Very sad that we got them started when they first opened, and now after we have a relationship with our doctors they will be dumping us for a better profit margin. Makes you wonder if this is how we will be treated with the rest of the Morse promises.

I'm 64 and on Social Security and Tri Care. I'm with the Villages Health system. No problems here so far.
Sorry, I meant to say I'm on Medicare.

This is where the elephant in the room is:

From the other thread:

"We are all "invested in" the UHC-AARP bed partnership via the federal bedroom:

"“AARP lobbied for the new health care law and now it stands to profit, lawmakers charged Wednesday as they called for the IRS to investigate whether the powerful interest group deserves to keep its federal tax exemption.

“Three veteran representatives released a report that estimates the seniors lobby could make an additional $1 billion over 10 years on health insurance plans whose sales are expected to pick up under the new law. They also questioned seven-figure compensation for some AARP executives.”

Among the key findings from the Ways & Means Committee report are:

As a result of the new health care law, the Administration estimates more than seven million seniors will lose their current Medicare Advantage plans, resulting in a massive migration of seniors to Medigap plans. AARP is the nation’s leading provider of Medigap plans and has a contract in which AARP financially gains for every additional Medigap enrollee.

Based on low, mid and high-range estimates, AARP stands to financially gain, over and above the millions of dollars they currently receive from United, between $55 million and $166 million in 2014 alone as a result of new Medigap enrollees stemming from the health care law’s cuts to MA, which AARP strongly endorsed.

Under the mid-range estimate and under their current contract, AARP’s financial gain from the health care law could exceed $1 billion during the next 10 years. This is because AARP will see their royalty payments increase as seniors are forced out of MA plans and buy AARP Medigap plans instead.

- See more at: AARP Profits from ACA at the Expense of American Seniors, New Report Shows | Speaker.gov

Other TOTV thread discussing this:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ml#post1174435

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If this offends you make sure you vote in November. Your choices will be to keep the status quo or to change it.

Wait until you are eligible for medicare. That's the issue here.

I was told initially than the plans pay for more of the things that they provide as "standard" care, and Medicare does not, so the issue seems to be whether or not, relative to MY specific health needs, United Healthcare Medicare Advantage will work for ME, and I've found that it will. It's clear that it doesn't work for some, but it feels like lots of folks think that they are the only group of doctors around. I felt no pressure to join the villages health, but that it was one choice. What am I missing?