Finding doctors near The Villages
 

My husband is 72 and I am 71. We are coming down in August to visit the Villages to see if this is a right move for us. A concern is medical care in the area. We have not serious issues other than blood pressure issues and minor things. We have medicare and supplemental insurance.

How are the doctors in the area?

Ever since I got kicked out of village health due to there insurance changes (turned 65 and went on Medicare) I can’t find family doctor close that takes Medicare with tricare for life. To get inTo village healthcare you have to have United health care policy/supplement. If this problem continues I will probably be moving as I get older and will need health care close. IMO Ocala not close enough for me. Depending on what supplements you have it can be mine field IMO. Maybe this will spark some replies or rebuttals for you?

As far as doctors, I haven’t meant one I didn’t like. But I don’t have to go that often.

Excellent. Just sign up at villages health. One stop shopping

Its a crapshoot. Lots of doctors but reputations vary. The one I have is competent enough (though arrogant as h3ll) but his support staff stinks! On my annual physical they transposed two numbers of my weight (147 instead of 174), then claimed that they can't change it once it is entered. Plus, you can't call 'em. All phone calls are routed offshore (Bahamas, I think) to a call center, that then notifies the doctor's office (in theory anyway) and they call you back. Except that they almost never do. pretty odd, considering that I live only three miles away from the Doctor's office, and usually end up going there in person to straighten things out rather than play the phone game with them. Oh--and if you need labs they send you across town to a lab...pretty different from what most of us were used to: clinics with all services on-site.

Another thing: many of the doctors seem to be from third-world countries. That is not any slam against their abilities, but it may indicate that practicing in TV may be their "foot in the door" for practicing in America.

Best thing I can recommend is to read some past TOTV posts about doctors. And shop around.

Judging from the many posts about health on this site, it's s horrifying.. I would plan on having to leave The Villages for healthcare.

We are older than you and spent six months in TV last fall/winter. We found an excellent opthomologist (Ocala eye; office in TV), excellent orthopedic docs at UF Health. Less good luck finding a gynecologist; had to go to Ocala. As for an internist, we found a qualified internest and we joined the practice but we have yet to meet him. So, in summary, you have work to do to find good docs and must use trial and error but I believe that there are some excellent doctors working in TV.

We use Central Florida Health Care, route 27 just south of Lake Harris, we have been with for several years and very pleased with their care. They accept Medicare and supplementals, 352-360-0400.

Doctors near TV
 

I am astounded by your response that you cannot find a doctor accepting Medicare/Tricare for Life. Forty years in Florida, 20 in St Pete, 20 in TV and never once turned down when I stated Medicare and Tricare For Life.... it is one of the most widely accepted combinations in the area. FYI, if any help to you, Dr Del and Del Care in Summerfield accepts this combination and he is an excellent diagnostician.

Finding a family doc is not all that difficult....lots of choices.

We use specialists at Gainesville (Shands), Ocala, Orlando and even Tampa. (in my opinion the so called Shands in TV is really not the same).

One hours ride gets to any of them.....to us, it is worth the time/trip.

And why, oh why, do you continue with this doctor? You can do better.

Wooh! That’s a relief. Got worried when I read Topspinmo’s post because I turn 65 next year and will go on Medicare and TFL so will be looking for a doc who takes them without a Supplemental or Med Advantage.

We also are on Medicare and Tricare for Life. We have primary care and specialty care doctors that take it. The Villages Health Care system only takes the Villages United Health Care Advantage plan for primary care for Medicare eligible patients. Plenty of non-Villages Health Care System doctors here. Finding the right one that takes new patients is not always easy.

Keep this in mind: Those that are happy and satisfied tend not to feel a need to speak. Those that are unhappy and unsatisfied tend to speak out. Human nature, and it applies to many topics.

When you begin to look for a primary care physician, feel free to use this to start.

Thank you.

Thanks I’ll look at him.

I was wondering the same thing. I would have given that doctor his/her firing papers a long time ago. My 3rd "must have" requirement for a doctor and their office is that you can reach someone by phone. 2nd requirement is that the doctor actually touches me or at least listens to my heart and lungs at a visit. I've been to doctors here that sit 5 feet from you and never touch you - then they dole out advice based NOT on a physical exam. Firstly, the doctor must must must be able to have conversation with me about options, provide me some education and discussion about the reason I'm there, and treat me as if I was a family member. That isn't too much to ask!!! I'm a retired nurse and if nurses can do this - - - so can doctors! That's my take on this situation. :welcome:

No problems for us as far as healthcare. Dentists are another story.

Recommend talking to Villages Heath, they take more plans now including several Blue Cross. You can schedule a tour of any facility and meet with someone to get all questions answered. We just joined and our new patient primary visit is early next year. A bit of a backlog but working to hire many new doctors so expect them to catch up to the Villages growth in time. Figured we would try them for convenience and if not happy can keep looking.

Good doctors here but takes a lot of searching and asking for referrals from neighbors and friends. Limited number of doctors and specialists in The Villages Group. Some good, some not so good, plus you probably will only see your primary care physician once a year and be seen by a PA if you need help in between visits.

They have been trying to improve the medical facilities for about 20 years. By the time they achieve their goal of a first class medical facility, every one living here now will be dead.