It appears that Florida Blue 2025 Advantage plans are Out of Network at Moffitt !!
 

If you saw the ad in The Daily Sun, on 10/16, by Florida Blue, comparing Advantage plans, be very careful, as it is comparing their 2024 plan. I have found out that Florida Blue has chosen not to renew their contract with Moffitt for 2025. Apparently Moffitt wanted to renew, but Florida Blue didn’t.

It seems pretty deceptive, as the ad came out one day into the enrollment period, but in smaller print states that it is comparing 2024 plans.

Good information. That a big reason we decided on a Supplemental plan. Every year when Advantage plans renew everything must be checked very closely for unwanted surprises. Supplemental plans are highly regulated and don’t subject the policy holder to an annual stress test. We get enough of that already when our homeowners and auto policies renew every year (or six months with many auto policies).

I wish I could afford supplemental plans. Paying extra on top of the Part A that gets deducted from my social security check won't be an option.

Great advice!
ALL Advantage plans in general are a crap shoot. The main reason I wouldn't choose one is because I don't want the insurance companie in charge of my medical care. And that's exactly what they are. They dictate where you go and what services are covered. With a supplemental plan, you can go anywhere that Medicare is accepted and you're covered. And you do not need pre approval. It's not cheap, but it gives you peace of mind knowing you can go where you think the best medical care for is, and you're covered.

Part A is Free. You earned it.
It's Part B that is optional. Part B about $175 this year. Whether you get an Advantage Plan or Medicare Supplement you have to have Part B. No one will insure you if you don't have Part B.

$400/month (for two) seems a lot, just to be able to go out of network -- compared to FREE. We do a PPO Advantage plan instead. Yes, the in-network choices locally are lousy, but I haven't seen much evidence of better local options for primary care or the usual specialists. If either of us develops a disease where it matters that we hire the best in the world, our PPO gives us the option, along with an out-of-network out-of-pocket maximum, even if the doctor DOESN'T accept medicare. I figure the thousands we'll save will go towards that maximum.

But I have no idea if we've made the right choice. It seems logical, as I read the documents, but I'm no lawyer. If I have to got to Moffit or MD Anderson some day, it wouldn't shock me if they cut me off the moment I hit that maximum, and United points to some fine print legaleze that gets them off the hook.

Everybody's a crook these days, and Heathcare is the worst. It's all a crap shoot. You pay your money and you take your chances.

We personally don't "crapshook" anything and are very aware with aging, health becomes more tenuous and not better. $400. a month is $4,800. a year and do you realize one tiny little medical issue can chew that savings up and spit it out very quickly? Penny wise, pound foolish but people need to choose what makes them happy.

Not after we have been paying well over $1,000 per month the last several years through Obamacare for a far inferior plan with a high deductible and max out of pocket and a very limited network. $400 per month for an extensive network, about a $250 per person deductible with 100% of everything covered after that, and no referrals required for specialists, seems like an incredible bargain.

These are the kind of stories that have me skeptical to sign on for Medicare advantage in a few years when I turn 65 - if one has traditional Medicare, then it seems less likely that a provider would drop your insurance.

A few years ago I got hit by IRMAA and cannot escape its grasp. Yes it angers me. It feels like I am being charged $50 for a $20 meal at a restaurant based on my income. IRMAA is a TAX on income, no doubt about it. Anyway, I looked into going with an advantage plan to save money but IRMAA hits them as well. There is no avoiding it.

I go with Medicare and the top AARP (United Healthcare) supplement which has grown in cost over time. What is nice about it is I can choose MDs at will, as long as they accept Medicare, and rarely am out of pocket at all.

My Supplemental " F" plan works for me. I can sleep at night knowing I'm covered.. It's called Health Insurance and it's part of life..

I’m in the beginning of my treatment plan at Moffitt that will take me into 2025 and I have Florida Blue. What will happen to me?

Why anybody would go with an advantage plan is beyond me. They suck you in saying everything is free and covered until you need the service then it’s not. Hospitals now aren’t accepting advantage plans around the country, advantage plan insurance companies refuse almost 70% of the medical procedures that you dr wants you to have, whereas, Medicare has no requirement of getting a procedure approved or not, but it’s the big way that insurance companies save money. Advantage plan problems have been raised to congress to get them fixed. Supplements are the only way to go even if it costs a couple hundred a month extra.

If anyone is working with Village’s Health, please check which Advantage plan they will take next year, 2025. I understand they are paring down to one which was shocking when I heard it. I am not on Medicare yet and will not be on Advantage so didn’t recall where I heard it but advisable to check before you lock down next year’s plan.

Would not go for an Advantage plan under any circumstances. I want to be in charge of my medical care and go where I feel the best care will be for the illness involved. Trying to scrimp on the cost of medical insurance just sounds like a bad idea right from the start...

You may wish to take a look at Plan G. The only difference between Plan F and Plan G is that Plan F includes the $240 per year Part B deductible. However, the differences in the premiums can be greater than $240. Some insurance companies allow you to switch between the different lettered plans without underwriting. Plan N can be even lower total cost if you don’t have many visits.

oops

. . .

We're on AARP UHC Advantage HMO/PPO in Indiana and really like it. We do not need referals and they have a very large nationwide network. And no, they don't deny 70% of what doctors order. That's fake news.

Since we just moved here we signed up for the The Villages UHC Advantage plan for 2025 after much research.
As with many things in life, some plans are better than others. Moffitt is not in our network, but Shands and Advent Health in Orlando are, and they're very highly rated.

We also love the wellness benefits, vision and dental, we use them all.

There's no one size fits all as many of "medicare experts" here try to claim. Choice is good.
We chose MA because we thought it was the best fit for us, plain and simple. And I would guess that many of the over 50% of new enrollees that choose MA plans did the same and didn't just do it for cost.

And please stop with the "I don't want an insurance company in charge of my healthcare" crap. Almost all of us that had employer provided health insurance had it thru a for profit company. This is not new! I was with Sysco for many years and I was happy with my insurance overall.

I would never tell someone which to go with. That's a very specific, personal decision. I'm just here giving our experience with MA and the how and why we chose it, and trying to debunk some of the false statements.

Btw, SHINE said this was a very good option for us.

All that said, do the research. The information is out there and easy to find. Also talk to people on the plan if you can. We did

That is the main problem with all Advantage Plans where you have to stay In Network. If you really get sick you might be out of luck. Medicare plus a good supplement is much better but yes more expensive. What’s your health worth?

You need to recheck. Moffitt is NOT included

Advantage plans
 

In a nutshell, Advantage plans are more about the government controlling your healthcare than yourself. Why do you think it is being pushed so hard.

Its in our network with UHC. I did check that.

PPO Advantage plans don’t require referrals.

What has me skittish about Advantage plans, are those who say “you’ll love it until you don’t”. Younger, healthier people absolutely love their advantage plans and all the “freebies” that come with it. I’m trying to make and educated decision, not just looking at the present, but 20 years from now when I’m in my 80s with the possibility of deteriorating health, illnesses, disease, etc. Would I want advantage or traditional Medicare at that point? Would I have to be concerned year-to-year that any of my medical providers could opt out of the insurance plan I’m currently on?

I’ve been under “managed care” most of my working life, and still am, since I’m not Medicare age yet. Having to get referrals for specialists has been difficult and trying at times (I don’t like it). Also, I have had diagnostic treatments and tests recommended by my doctor denied by my insurance carrier. I’m going to SHINE in 2025 to continue to do my homework on this important decision, so I am ready before turning 65. It’s important to not just look at the current condition of one’s health, but look 20-30 years into the future.

MEDICARE IS NOT FREE! Because I am on a pension and not Social Security, the premium is not taken out of my monthly check. I get a bill for $524.10 from the government each quarter. Even though we had Medicare deductions taken out of our checks virtually our entire working career, we still have to pay. Since SS checks are direct deposit, people are unaware that they are making a monthly payment.

This subject came up a while back on Facebook. Many on there were on MA plans with very serious medical issues and had good things to say about how it worked for them. As I said, there's really no right or wrong.
Do your homework and make an educated choice on whats best for you. Choice is a good thing.
Too many people on here actually know very little about these plans, but love to tell you what to do! And they love to say "all MA plans are bad", which is simply false.

Btw, our UHC plan doesn't require approvals and it has a yearly max out of pocket of $2700. Be sure to check out The Villages Health UHC plan when you're researching.

Good luck with your decision

Maximize your Medicare is a good, informative, and easy read available on Amazon for about $10. I would recommend it to anyone who just turned 64 and wants to make an informed decision as Medicare age approaches. I purchased a copy last year and it has circulated among several friends.

I’m not sure what your point is. Almost everyone “even though we had Medicare deductions taken out of our checks virtually our entire working career, we still have to pay” pays the Part B premium. You can, of course, opt out of Part B. I’m pretty sure the vast majority of people know they implicitly paying a Part B premium.

So here is the deal. If you have a MA plan and you have any work done then you may hit the plan deductible of around $2500. If you have a supplemental plan, your deductible is $240, or $0 with Plan F, and you pay premiums of around $2000. So, if you have any work done, it is basically a wash. If you don’t then you come out a bit ahead.

That’s a shame. I’m assuming you checked to see if you qualify for one of the extra help options offered by the government

Talk FLBu and Moffitt

So true. I know someone who was “out of luck” and she paid the price with her life.

We are talking Florida Blue. It's open enrollment time. If Moffitt is a deal breaker for them, there's other options besides that plan. Some are very good options.

But they require approvals. So you are still at the mercy of the insurance company. Went through that with my mother.

It’s just a way to full you to make the plan seem more desirable.

That’s very wise. Especially since once you are locked into a plan it can be difficult to change. Especially if you develop a serious condition.

Don’t forget to check premium increases. Some increase with age, others don’t.

That has not been our experience. Painting with a broad brush is not a good idea. Some plans are much better than others. And some plans continue to get better.

You are incorrect….UHC Advantage plans are not accepted at Moffitt for 2024, and they aren’t for 2025 either. The reason for posting this in the first place was to let everyone know that Florida Blue Advantage plans were accepted at Moffitt in 2024, but won’t be in 2025.

Accepted, meaning In Network.

YES LOTS of advantage plans will not be with lots of hospitals and Doctors moving forward thats why its best to stay with the original plan and a supp Its been blasted all over utube on medicare explanations...............MY agent never even recommended a advantage plan to me at all..........No way Advantage get the name? yup they take advantage of the situation...........every year they have changes and it happened to my folks thats why i vowed never to go that route.....

YOU pay something just for having that advatnage plan later down the road there are hidden fees late in life with it...........You can pick a supp plan that is for your budget I did that..........Plan N you dont need plan G and pay more monthly lots of other options you should look into