Tips for new snowbird regarding health care
 

I’ve been a full time resident here in the Villages for 6 years and am looking to turn into a snowbird.

For those who go back and forth, how do you manage Health care? I have doctors here, but I’m aging into Medicare so I’m need to chose a Medicare plan. The popular plans don’t seem to work outside of central Florida. I’d like to have most of my planned medical care, including my primary at my summer home.

Are there Medicare plans that work anywhere in the US? Or do I pick a plan that works in my snowbird state and then just use regular Medicare here? I do have the option of holding onto my federal retirement medical insurance. Can I use that as backup for Florida in case of emergencies while I’m here in the winter?

Blue Cross/Blue Shield works everywhere and when you age into Medicare, you can add BCBS as a supplement.

Coverage that goes where you go: Travel worry-free with Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Cross Blue Shield


I'm sure there may be others, but I bring my BCBS everywhere I go and never have a problem.

Medicare Advantage plans typically are restricted to local networks and seeing specialists require referrals from a primary care doctor while Medigap plans have a national network and allow you to see specialists without a referral. We are snowflakes (travel between both homes several times per year) and would not even consider an Advantage plan as we would be out of network at one location and have to chase down referrals. I can’t speak for balancing both federal retirement medical insurance with Medicare as that doesn’t apply to us so I never researched it.

I would recommend picking up a good updated book such as “Maximizing Your Medicare” that explains various options in great detail. It’s a very important decision as you approach 65 and should be carefully researched. Best of luck!

Federal Retiree here!
 

I can tell you from experience, that Medicare A&B and Federal Employee Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans work together no matter where we are. We are up north 4-5 months a year and here in Florida the remaining time. Since we spend more time here our primary doctors are in Florida but it will work either way. Since BCBS picks up what Medicare does not cover we pay nothing.

FepBCBS has three options. The middle option (basic) will reimburse you $800 toward your Medicare Premiums which is worth looking into. Take your time and review the plans based on your medical needs. Hope this helps!:wave:

OP, you can call or contact SHINE (Seniors Health Information Network) they provide unbiased information on and for people just going into Medicare, they helped us a LOT.
SHINE - Home
Also they have local (in TV) meetings so you can discuss in person.

I like having the BCBS Supplement as I can go anywhere without a referral to see any specialist that I choose. Same with a primary, I can choose any Dr. that I want except for The Villages primaries as they don't accept supplements however there are plenty of great primary care doctors all around and withinThe Villages. If you live in the southern villages Leesburg also has some great doctors as well as the hospital.

I suggest you contact retirees from your former employer since they have the same insurance as you. They are leading the way for you without the hearsay.

That would be great as my present insurance is Federal BCBS

Full time resident turning into a snowbird…interesting.
Thinking of that too…sick of full time paradise here…the kool aid ran out already

I was looking at the United Healthcare Medicare Advantage Plans for The Villages. They are not all the same, but the PPO plan had $0 additional premium, had access to the nationwide network, and did not require PCP referrals. Another plan was limited to the local network and did have referrals.

I’m going to have to call SHINE. I’ve heard they are a great resource.

It’s really the siren call of grandchildren. Who happen to live in an area with a world renowned health center.

Traditional Medicare works anywhere in the US that takes Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans only work in localized areas. But also know that Villages Health DOES NOT take traditional Medicare.

I kept my Federal BCBS that became my secondary when I went on Medicare. But Villages Health won't accept it as secondary if you go with traditional Medicare. But I am covered where ever I am and need medical care.

All the medicare supplements are accepted anywhere in the US along with medicare. I would stay away from any advantage plan no matter what anyone tells you. I am a Florida resident have medicare plus an Aetna supplement, go back to Il for several months and had eye surgery this last Nov at Mayo in Rochester Mn, no problem.

SHINE people are Medicare people, NOT insurance people. Lake Miona, Eisenhower, Chula Vista Rec centers are where they meet with you. Also Lady Lake library also. Different days/times for each. Well worth your time. Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders.

Snowbird Medicare coverage
 

FYI: UHC Avantage plan works all over the US with no referal needed for a specialist. It is not just for a local network.

The bcbs info is a great suggestion for the OP since he already is on that plan.

With United Healthcare supplemental plan whenever you leave the state for six months you call United Healthcare and they switch the plan to the state that you are going to

They are a GREAT resource. Their suggestions are based on your personal situation and no one else’s.

Probably need a supplement plan, G is probably the most popular. I will be getting it thru Florida Blue. Also, some hospitals do NOT take Medicare advantage ie. Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Also, if you have any history of illness, switching from advantage plans to supplemental requires a medical check and if you are already diagnosed, you may be declined causing more out of pocket having to stick to the advantage plans.

I have been researching this for months now as my wife is a cancer patient at the Mayo Clinic..

I suspect sticking with your FEP Blue will provide the most seamless transition. We were in the same situation when we retired a few years ago, and opted to keep the BCBS plan we were both covered on. Now, Medicare Part B is our primary coverage, with BCBS providing the backup, or supplement. Since we enjoy traveling, it was a big part of the decision that our BCBS plan provides worldwide coverage, if needed. Also, since going on Medicare/BCBS, we have not paid a penny out of pocket for medical bills, to include a couple of surgeries, dermatology biopsies, etc. I do agree that a visit with the folks at SHINE would be of benefit.

Avoid the advantage plans. There are very few if any that will allow you to have medical care in both locations. And they require pre-approval. Check out the medigap plans for your supplemental and plan D for your meds. Below is the website with the information you need.

Find a Medicare plan

Go speak with a SHINE rep. I am a snowflake and have United Healthcare Plan G. Works great anywhere in the States and offers limited overseas care as well.

Don’t get an Advantage Plan. To be safe stick with the Regular/original Medicare and get a supplemental.
We have The Original Medicare and AARP UNC and have no problems anywhere. Pick our own doctors, specialists, and hospitals, like Moffitt, Shands etc. No referrals, our main doctors are in Florida.

Health plans
 

We have Aetna / Medicare and it works both in Florida and Ohio

"AARP® Medicare Advantage Choice (PPO) has a network of doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and
other providers. With this plan, you have the freedom to enjoy nationwide access to care at innetwork costs when you visit any provider participating in the UnitedHealthcare® Medicare National
Network (exclusions may apply). Plus, you have the flexibility to visit any provider nationwide who
accepts Medicare."

No PCP specialist referral required.

I agree with this. Medicare Advantage is probably great if you stay in one place, but if you go back and forth like I do, regular Medicare allows you to pick your own physicians and no referrals are needed for specialists. To me that is the way to go. If you have a plan through work that you can keep, you need to do your homework and see if it is what you want for a supplemental policy. Good luck.

I have The Villages Advantage plan and am very happy with it. I have United Health and am a Florida resident who spend summers in the north with out issues for medical care and see my regular doctors there as needed. They also have a BC/BS plan as well that is also portable.

Dear Future Snowbird
 

Whatever you decide, please stay away from Advantage plans. They restrict your coverage to only certain providers. Go with a Supplemental Plan. I have AARP's United HealthCare (Supplemental) Plan, and I am really happy with it. It will cover me anywhere in the U.S. as long as the provider accepts this plan. I have not yet encountered a (Medicare) provider who rejects this insurance, since providers seem to generally have positive experiences with them.

That is the plan we chose after a ton of research. We needed a plan that took care of us in Indiana and here in TV. They have a huge, nationwide network and are very highly rated by Medicare. It works well for us. But everyones situation is different. Calling SHINE is s good start.

Great thing is you have options. Good luck.

Wrong. UHC Advantage has a nationwide network and doesn't require an approval. It travels where you go. We know, we're on it. No plan is right for everyone. Btw, SHINE said UHC Advantage is a very good option.

Thanks for posting this!! Most people commenting on advantage plans know nothing about them, We chose this very plan and it works great for us, here and in Indiana. No plan is right for everyone. Also this very plan gets high ratings from Medicare. We are very fit and active, so we love the wellness benefits.

Medicare part A and B + BCBS FEP works well.

Regular Medicare
 

Regular Medicare and a supplemental insurance are best for me traveling or at home .
$208 deductible for the whole year . Call Medicare and ask them about your federal retirement insurance and how that will work .

Get a Medicare plan G supplement and you will be covered anywhere in the country and you will have $50k coverage overseas.

Do not, I repeat, do not get a Medicare advantage plan. These plans have many more restrictions on who you can see, and they will cost you more, and you will probably be sick much longer because the advantage plans tend to deny you service/help to save you money. Don’t believe me? Congress is looking into why these advantage insurance companies deny you medical help when Medicare itself will never refuse you medical help. All advantage insurance companies want to save money and denying you medical help is the biggest way for them to save money

BCBS Medical Insurance
 

So I am not yet eligible for Medicare. Currently, my BCBS (FL Blue) individual Silver PPO medical insurance only covers specialists within the BCBS in-network list, so I am quite limited in my choices, and don't have my preferred specialist in the network. If I choose BCBS supplement for my Medicare, am I understanding that as long as the specialist accepts original Medicare (which most do), that there is no more "in-network" to consider with a BCBS supplement? This would definitely widen the specialists I could see.

Great tip Mr. Tinkerer, I joined a Shine zoom Intro to Medicare”, what a great resource, I was only one on the call so it turned into a 1-on-1 Q&A.

You're wrong!
We have AARP UHC Advantage and they have a huge nationwide network. As snow birds we needed this and it works well for us.

SHINE said it was a very good option for us and UHC gets very high ratings from medicare.

Most of the best advantage plans have nationwide networks. We know because we did a ton of research prior to going this route.

This has not been our experience with AARP UHC Advantage. We even talked to people who were on it and had health issues.

Saying all advantage plans are bad is like saying all doctors are good.

Yes, they're for profit, but so is every doctor and the majority of hospitals.

The managed care companies make a lot of money off Medicare Advantage as long as Congress keeps increasing their reimbursement. It is true that in order to maximize benefits, you have to stay in their network, but most providers are participating with United. Medicare Advantage must cover everything Medicare does, and they have many additional benefits. If your doctors don’t participate, you are probably better off with traditional Medicare with a supplemental. But if they do participate, Medicare Advantage should be just fine for most people.