[gatorbill1]

Had an appointment with UF Gainesville with an electrophysiologist set up two weeks ago for an appt next week. Got a call today and was told UF Health Gainesville Cardiology will not take UHC The Villages because it's under WellMed.
Both doctor and Shands Hospital were on my UHC website as in network.
When I called UHC, I was told they are "in network" but not for UHC The Villages HMO WellMed.
Got a quick appt with Ocala Health (Dr Acevedo). May be better off.
Was told if I called UF Financial Office, they would tell me why they won't take the insurance that you hear UHC bragging about having access to.

[jdulej]

Originally Posted by gatorbill1

Had an appointment with UF Gainesville with an electrophysiologist set up two weeks ago for an appt next week. Got a call today and was told UF Health Gainesville Cardiology will not take UHC The Villages because it's under WellMed.
Both doctor and Shands Hospital were on my UHC website as in network.
When I called UHC, I was told they are "in network" but not for UHC The Villages HMO WellMed.
Got a quick appt with Ocala Health (Dr Acevedo). May be better off.
Was told if I called UF Financial Office, they would tell me why they won't take the insurance that you hear UHC bragging about having access to.

Just fyi, it is still open enrollment. You might want to think about switching while you can (closes in December I think) or you will be locked in for a year. IMO it's important to have access to at least one of the top-level hospitals just in case.

[gatorbill1]

Originally Posted by jdulej

Just fyi, it is still open enrollment. You might want to think about switching while you can (closes in December I think) or you will be locked in for a year. IMO it's important to have access to one 3 or 4 of the top-level hospitals just in case.

I will probably stay with them because they have all my doctors and dentist in their system. Have never had a procedure denied also. My problem was thinking UF Gainesville would be a better choice for a procedure I need. May not be anyway.
BUT UHC should not push UF Gainesville is under plan, and should not be on UHC website as being in network.

[TSO/ISPF]

Originally Posted by gatorbill1

I will probably stay with them because they have all my doctors and dentist in their system. Have never had a procedure denied also. My problem was thinking UF Gainesville would be a better choice for a procedure I need. May not be anyway.
BUT UHC should not push UF Gainesville is under plan, and should not be on UHC website as being in network.

Is this an advantage plan or supplemental ?? I have a AARP UHC plan F and wondering if that is what you are talking about.

[gatorbill1]

Originally Posted by heims01

Is this an advantage plan or supplemental ?? I have a AARP UHC plan F and wondering if that is what you are talking about.

UHC The Villages Advantage plan. They take all UHC plans except The Villages, which is the only advantage plan UHC will sell someone who lives in TV.

[jdulej]

Originally Posted by gatorbill1

UHC The Villages Advantage plan. They take all UHC plans except The Villages, which is the only advantage plan UHC will sell someone who lives in TV.

This is where it gets confusing. I have UnitedHealthcare The Villages Medicare Advantage 1 (HMO) and I have access to Shands in Gainsville. The OP listed a slightly different name (UHC The Villages HMO WellMed).

[gatorbill1]

Originally Posted by jdulej

This is where it gets confusing. I have UnitedHealthcare The Villages Medicare Advantage 1 (HMO) and I have access to Shands in Gainsville. The OP listed a slightly different name (UHC The Villages HMO WellMed).

Look at your card and it will probably say wellmed. I think this is something new, because they said my insurance was ok 2 weeks ago when I made appt,

[Dana1963]

Originally Posted by gatorbill1

UHC The Villages Advantage plan. They take all UHC plans except The Villages, which is the only advantage plan UHC will sell someone who lives in TV.

That is not true I have aarp united healthcare plan F

[gatorbill1]

Originally Posted by Dana1963

That is not true I have aarp united healthcare plan F

That is not an advantage plan

[BobTina]

I have UHC The Villages Medicare Advantage (HMO) and it doesn’t have “Wellmed” on it.

[snhmhg]

Because I am going on Medicare and a UH supplement plan G I cannot see my primary at the Villages Health anymore. You have to have a Med Advantage plan, Villages requires it. I think Med plus the supplement G is the best way to go if you have health issues.

[Rockyisle47]

Just to clarify this muddy water. We have AARP UHC plan F. While we can't use the villages health primary care docs, all the specialists ( think cardiologists) are available to us. Sadly, they don't have electrophysiologists as a specialty.
We were very disappointed when we were booted from the program because we wouldn't give up traditional Medicare with our supplement. But having access to the specialists has worked for us.

[rsmurano]

IMO, the supplement plans (F, G, others) are the better way to go. My insurance broker told me last year these are the Cadillac plans (I have plan G). You can’t go to the villages health centers but from what I have heard, that’s a good thing.
Don’t take my word for this, do some checking yourself during the open period. I pay a small fee per month and have a small deductible (I think a couple hundred $$$ a year) but I don’t pay copays and can go anywhere where Medicare is accepted. The advantage plans you usually pay a copay for each visit, more restrictive on who you can see.

[Bridget Staunton]

That is why I prefer regular Medicare I can go anywhere.

[esteelenov]

I agree, I have plan F but I think it is no longer available. Plan G has taken its place.
Husband and I have both had to see specialists and have never had to pay a copay. Actually, we have never gotten a bill for any doctor or hospital. I have been hospitalized for kidney stones and husband has had operations and procedures (he has cancer).