The Villages Health - Survey
 

Today I received a letter from the so called " leadership" of The Villages Health. They start off by saying they are sorry for the disruptive decisions they made last year. TVH has contracted with a research firm out of Tampa to help them improve their services.

I am an Original Medicare patient who sought care elsewhere when they decided to exclusively accept only United Healthcare Medicare Advantage. They are running negative cash and losing millions. Could it be that they are looking for a diplomatic way to again accept Original Medicare Insurance?

Not a chance.

BTW, you KNOW they are running a negative cash flow and losing millions, how????

Received the same letter and you did not mention the fact they also actually apologized which is a first. They asked for " candor and honesty " in responding to the survey. Since they gave the " boot " to both myself and my wife, they will receive a most candid response indeed. Okay " Golfing Eagles ", the perennial skeptic, why do you think they are apologizing and surveying all the pains in their posteriors they thoroughly irritated with their prior actions ? I am really quite curious.

My husband and I both also got the survey and "the boot". He's champing at the bit waiting to be contacted to give his "candor and honesty".

I'm not at liberty to say

It's all about the money...

BTW - Where is The Villages Heath?

So why say anything at all? I know that when people complain about a company/doctor/dentist, etc., others chastise them for not naming who they're talking about. IMO, this is a similar situation.

If you know something, say something. I think you should tell these people why they should or should not fill out the surveys, based on what you know.

And if you know in advance you can't give an explanation, then maybe don't say anything at all. JMO

Thought I read a couple months ago that they hired a pediactric physician... I couldn't figure out why, since Villagers don't have young children. Then someone said they are taking patients from the surrounding areas. Ironic, since the health system was started for Villagers, and now a large portion of us are excluded.

Is a maternity ward in TV's future?

I had actually suggested before that if necessary, they (VHS) could offer a 2 tier care system, one based on Advantage plans and one based on Supplemental plans, no idea if this is a good idea or a practical idea. Anyway, after we both had to leave our PCP, who we really liked, we are looking forward to the survey with the hope that this will be opened to more insurance plans. Colony Plaza is much closer than Leesburg.

:thumbup:

It is located where all of the best things and smartest people in the world are located ...

in New Jersey !

Well,:agree: since I was born in NJ I can hardly disagree!

I am eagerly looking forward to learning what the outcome will be. Unfortunately, my husband and I were affected by The Villages decision to only accept Medicare Advantage. We now have another primary physician outside of The Villages. Would we return? You bet!! In a heartbeat. I am anticipating a favorable result after the survey is completed!! PLEASE

Although we really like our new doc, we'd likely return as well. We would want to feel fairly certain that history won't repeat itself, however.

Seriously?

The only rational reason you would no longer serve "regular Medicare" residents (Thousands) is that under the so called "Marcus Welby" concept they were losing money and apparently a lot of it because of what Medicare would pay under that concept. I am only stating the obvious. Needless to say health care is a top priority for TV residents and to be told you are no longer welcome in the TV health care program was a major blow to many TV residents. Maybe this could have been handled better is an understatement.

Of course you would . And that`s why you chose the handle you are using -- perfect example . Having lived there for several years of my career I hold a much different opinion and now " they " are invading us here --- sadly !

Pushy , loud , over-opinionated , inconsiderate and oh so much more !

I try to live a life that is RESPECTFUL of others in all ways but it is difficult given the species which are growing rapidly in the Villages .

Interesting....can anyone post a copy of the letter?

Yes, seriously, and no, this is not a know something say something situation, not without betraying a longstanding friend. Also, I didn't want to write a book, but now.......

First of all, NO ONE, NOT ONE PATIENT was "booted" out of TVH. They made a change in the insurance they would accept, and now YOU, THE PATIENT had a choice. You could keep your primary care doc and change to UHC MA, or you could change your doc. YOU COULD NOT HAVE BOTH. This is the same choice millions of Americans have EVERY January 1st, as providers decide which insurers they will continue to accept, and insurers decide which providers they will keep in network. This was not done as a personal affront to Villagers, it was a business decision. For those people who had a supplemental policy as a retirement benefit, there was a financial reason to leave.

The second problem was the misperception that the UHC MA plan had an extremely limited panel of specialists. This was simply not true, with over 20,000 doctors in network and over 150 hospitals. Shands and Moffitt are NOT in network, but there is nothing special that cannot be obtained in network. Also, the insurers are generally very liberal with approving out of network referrals with a good reason and a call from the primary care doctor. If you were already under treatment by a provider out of network, it would almost universally be approved. IMHO, many jumped to conclusions regarding UHC MA and specialty availability.

Third, someone posted that TVH is losing "millions". I'm not sure how this person would know that, I certainly don't. However, they are building a new primary care center at Brownwood and actively recruiting doctors, so that doesn't sound like they are cash poor.

Fourth, I got the same letter, although mine was a thank you for staying with them and an invitation to participate in the survey. I doubt the purpose was to change direction and start accepting traditional MA again; I'm not sure they could if they wanted to depending on the terms of the deal that was made

Being qualified because of 58 years in NJ I do agree with "Pushy , loud , over-opinionated , inconsiderate and oh so much more!" because now I have others to compare us Jorsey people against. We are Crude, Rude and Vulgar not because we want to be it is because it is a survival skill there. Pointing out these shortcomings of others is not being respectful to others. I have no beef with you whatsoever.

Jack Nicholson, "I don't want to be a product of my environment, I want my environment to be a product of me.":posting: I want to turn over a new leaf and be a product of my new community but it's a slow process. Someone signs their posts pardon my edge I'm from NJ....I understand.

So far I like my UHC insurance. I had great advisors.

What about the family villages?

A previous poster states that patients of The Villages were not "booted" out of The Villages healthcare needs to get off his high horse. My husband and I were skeptical of joining The Villages healthcare. A friend of ours encouraged us to join because of her positive experience. After having The Villages for our care for approximately a year we were given the option to either join Medicare Advantage or leave the network. After careful investigation we opted to leave. That choice was very difficult. We had developed a trust in our Primary Physician that I found difficult to replace. For someone to state that those of us who chose to leave did so easily is to minimize the heartbreak that some of us experienced. My husband and I trusted our Primary Physician. Unfortunately, we were given information that was totally a lie. A year prior to being "booted" out I received a letter stating that because we currently had healthcare through The Villages we were "grandfathered" into their system. I for one am hoping that The Villages is possibly reconsidering their decision and will open the door for all of us to return.

No "high horse" involved, just reality. YOU WERE NOT KICKED OUT, YOU HAD A CHOICE. What's so hard to understand about that. No one said it was "easy", at least I didn't. In fact, from the other side, the hardest thing we ever did was to drop Empire insurance, because we knew it was the only insurance for a thousand or more of our patients. But Empire had dropped their reimbursement so low that we were actually losing money by seeing their enrollees. It was a BUSINESS decision.

Also, 2 years ago when these threads started, I challenged anyone, ANYONE to produce, in writing, from TVH a letter that essentially said---"No matter what the future brings, no matter changes in insurance company policies, no matter changes in national health care policy, that they would forever in perpetuity accept your specific insurance plan" I'm still waiting. I received that very same letter about "grandfathering", and didn't take it to mean my current insurance was locked in forever. I took it to mean I could be their patient forever, but not as a guarantee that I wouldn't have to change insurance.

You speak of trust in your PCP, and how it was heartbreaking to leave----Are we to take it you had even more love for and trust in you insurance plan???? Because that is the choice YOU made.

Seems this thread has strayed off topic. Why beat a 2-year old dead horse? (Or a high one)

The OP posted about the survey and the letter of apology. I think the question is: why would they send this letter and survey to FORMER clients for feedback? There's got to be a reason?

Unless I really missed something, this is mystifying (even if they're making tons of $ and don't want anyone back).

Would someone please post the letter? Like the farewell letter of times past, it will probably not be forwarded to us up North.

Namaste.

Yes, yes, I was booted out! If I choose Medicare Advantage I would have to drop my New York State Empire Plan. If I did that, and changed my wife (who is not 65) would be dropped from the Empire Plan, and I would have no secondary insurance. So, saying that, some people don't do their homework or don't know what they are talking about. Do your homework before making a post!

No, No, you were NOT "booted out" You had a choice, and amazingly, you laid out your choice in your own post! You just didn't like the choice. Speaking of homework---you don't need a secondary insurance with a MA plan, so you should hit the books again. Your problem is that your wife would have to go out and get insurance in the individual marketplace, which would cost $500-900/ month. So, as I stated in the previous post, there are people who have insurance as a retirement benefit and therefore a financial incentive to leave TVH. I happen to think you made the right choice, but it was a CHOICE. Not knowing what I am talking about?---I thank you for a good laugh.

The Villages Heath - Survey
 

Well, GE, he doesn't understand how Medicare Advantage works does he. The economics of healthcare is complicated, and too many pretend to understand it. You are among the few who does.


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The Villages Heath - Survey
 

All over The Villages

Easy to find: The Villages Health | America's Healthiest Hometown

If you don't know where they are, how do you know what "it's all about?"


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Would someone please post the letter about the survey? I believe that is the topic of this thread.

I've only one thing to add with respect to Golfing Eagles never ending fervent defense of The Villages Health Systems prior actions. Horse Manure! It appears more than a few people disagree with you. We are not trying to change your mind on the topic. Why do you persist in enlightening the rest of us ?

As they say on Fargo, "ok, then."

The topic is the recent Villages Health Survey letter, Please stay on topic and do not direct comments at other members or the thread will be closed.

Moderator

Thank you, Mod.
Could someone please post the letter re the survey?

Here's a question for all those who agree with that premise---when you go to get your car fixed, do you argue with the mechanic over what is wrong and how to fix it? When you get a golf lesson, do you argue with the pro about the proper way to swing a club? Between DB and myself you have 2 experts on this subject with over 80 years experience as well, yet people want to argue the facts. It's not a case of changing OUR minds on the topic, very simply we're RIGHT and you're WRONG. Period. Now I can understand people having an emotional reaction to a change that affects their lives and their pocketbooks, but that's just what it is---an emotional reaction, one that does not hold water as a rational argument in a debate. This is like getting a speeding ticket and arguing with the radar gun or being told you're 15 minutes behind on the golf course by an ambassador and arguing with the clock. Except here people want to scream at the cop or the ambassador and call them names.

As far as "enlightening" anyone goes, I really don't care if some people want to wallow in ignorance, but if we can educate just a few of them, mission accomplished. And I hardly "fervently defend" TVH, I don't have a dog in this fight, but when they are right, they right. I do think they completely botched the rollout of the insurance change---THEY needed to educate their patients as to why the change, and what exactly their coverage would be, especially regarding specialty care. I don't think providing representatives from UHC and pointing to the UHC website was enough, especially in retrospect.

Sorry if this post comes off rather harsh, but sometimes the truth hurts, especially when it comes up against erroneous preconceived notions of a situation. Now, I guess I'll go feed my "high horse", do my "homework" and learn what "I'm talking about"---you see, this works 2 ways.

Back to the letter, I would also like to see a copy that people who left TVH received.

Here is the letter in question:

Thank you for posting this, Carla B!

The question remains WHY?
Why would they incur expenses related to this survey, not to mention admitting mistakes??
I think feedback from the survey could very well result in major changes or policy reversals wrt accepted insurances. Many will be watching this closely.

I don't think anyone on this board knows. Period.

Wonder why there is no mention of this letter/survey on the unnamed online newspaper? Or did I miss it?

Very interesting topic. Thanks, OP.

That is the best statement on this thread so far!!!!

But now for just a little reality checking:

This is the letter according to the link in the previous post:

"We understand that you may have found decisions made by The Villages Health last year to be disruptive. We sincerely apologize for this.
As we continuously look to improve our overall performance, including our customer service and business operations as well as a range of other issues, we humbly request your participation in a survey.
ln the very near future, you will receive an email invitation and online survey link from Study Hall Research (www.studyhallreseatch.com), a Tampa firm that has been retained by The Villages Health to conduct this research. We invite you to complete the survey with candor and honesty. All survey responses are anonymous. Any communication you receive from Study Hall Research is fully endorsed by The Villages Health.
We understand your time is valuable. As a thank you for completing the survey, you will have an opportunity - if you so desire - to be entered into a drawing for one of twenty $50 American Express gift cards from Study Hall Research! Contact information will be collected by Study Hall Research so winners can be notified, but this information will be totally confidential, separate from any survey responses, and maintained only until prizes are distributed.
Our goal is to enhance health care services and improve health outcomes for everyone in The Villages@ and surrounding communities. Thank you in advance for your participation"

Could someone please point out where they "admitted making mistakes"? I see that they stated "We understand that you may have found decisions made by The Villages Health last year to be disruptive" It does NOT state that those decisions were a "mistake".

WHY do this? Who knows. Maybe they are considering changing back, which I find doubtful. Maybe they realize their rollout of this change could have been better and want to avoid repeating that problem. Maybe they want to find out why many people rejected UHC MA and then try to recruit them back. It's anyone's guess.

I think that there was a lot of jumping to conclusions on this thread. I would not characterize this as a "letter of apology" They made a polite 5 word sentence apologizing for the disruptive effect the change had on many in the introduction of the letter, but the purpose appears to be to encourage participation in a survey. And to conclude this means they are going to change back to accepting traditional Medicare with a supplement is a huge jump. Nevertheless, time will tell.

IMHO the letter speaks for itself. It is vague by design.

I think they may be planning to rely heavily on results from the survey to make future decisions. Otherwise, why the survey?

These surveys cost thousands in administrative costs. Survey results are obviously very important to their decision-making process.

Oh, and there's nothing wrong with admitting mistakes. :22yikes:

IMHO the letter speaks for itself. It is vague by design.

Curious, what part did you find "vague"?

I think they may be planning to rely heavily on results from the survey to make future decisions. Otherwise, why the survey?

Maybe, maybe not

Oh, and there's nothing wrong with admitting mistakes.

Not at all--I just don't see where they admitted making "mistakes"

Just a quick look at the bigger picture:


I have no idea what medical care in TV was like prior to TVRH and TVH. My guess would be that it needed improvement, especially with plans for massive growth in the wings. "The Developer" spent many millions to build a hospital and start outpatient medical centers, to recruit primary care physicians and now specialists. They are still building facilities. "THEY" are not the enemy. Are "they" perfect?---of course not. Do "they" have some kind of evil agenda or ill intent?---of course not. Do "they" have to do business in the real world of health care delivery?----Yes, and it isn't easy. Did "they" stir up a hornets nest with the insurance change?---Obviously. The whole concept from the beginning was to be a cutting edge model of a PCMH (Patient Centered Medical Home). This is a highly regulated concept that is difficult to attain. Part of the decision to go exclusively with UHC MA was probably that it dovetailed nicely with the PCMH model. Would everyone in TV want to be a part of it?---NO. Would some people be displaced by such a major insurance change?--YES. But this decision was not an attack on Villagers designed to p!$$ people off, so don't treat it as such.