Been here nine years. Out of the five Dr's we have used the one at Premier whom we use now is the best yet. He is so good I do not want to mention his name because I will just have to wait longer for an appt. The problem with the staff especially at the North location by the Hospital is they seem overworked and some have heavy Indian accents that I have trouble understanding but my Dr. is so good it does not concern me.

Went from using the VA 100% to going with Premier. Just because as I got older, it became a hassle always driving to the Gainsville VA for many tests and procedures. Have had no problems with Premier. Doctors seem more thorough than the VA was.

We’ve been with Villages Health for 6-8 years, since we switched from Medicare supplement insurance to a Medicare Advantage plan. Big savings on premiums—ZERO premium on Medicare Advantage. Lower maximum out-of-pocket. And other perks not often mentioned, like a free membership at MVP health club, significant free items at Walgreens, etc.

We love our doctors (both graduates of U.S. med schools and residencies, whose first language is English!), the nearby offices, RN’s to talk to if needed, availability of walk-in visits with a doctor if needed, availability of e-mailing questions to my doctor, always with an answer within 24 hours, etc. The hour-long appointments shouldn’t be overlooked. It gives your doctor the opportunity to really get to know you. Our appointments with our previous pay-for-service doctors were seldom longer than 10 minutes, driven by what Medicare pays them to see a patient, unlike the Villages Health plan.

What’s not to like?

People don’t realize that Medicare Advantage plans are NOT insurance policies. They are Medicare management plans, and that’s all. I had a terrible expensive shock after Switching to the Humana Medicare Advantage plan. There is no Medigap coverage! So I was left paying a lot of expenses that I was unprepared for. For instance, I had to go to the hospital in an ambulance after an accident, and my Humana Advage Plan only paid half of it, I had $253 to pay! Like I had any choice of which ambulance to take to Ocala hospital! I had to pay half of the cost of an MRI. I switched back to my Medicare supplemental police, for more coverage , no surprises!

Sorry you are so misinformed, the villages hospital is in the lower quarter of all hospitals. The worst thing about the Villages is the absence of quality healthcare. I have 35 years of hospital administrative experience.

Premier Medical vs. The Villages Health
 

We're very happy with FHV (Florida Heart and Vascular)> we love all the drs. we've gone to. We opted not to go with the Advantage plan and are so happy we have BCBS supplement. We travel to see family often and I've had 2 emergency hospital visits and one emergency surgery. They would not have accepted our Advantage plan so very happy not to be saddled with a high bill! It truly depends on your needs.....

I had to switch from Premier and Dr Sundeep Shaw. They outsource everything. The office help doesnt care they never sent my paper work to lab I made call after call and had to wait for four hours. THe nurse at Lab said they are the worst.

Love my BSBS Advantage PPO

The villages regional hospital. Is a disaster
 

I just switched to primary care Dr. Florian Gegaj. But he seems to let his new nurse practitioner Aubrey Canal run the new office called Cleveland Health Center . I only saw Gegaj at introduction for three minutes and have not seen him since .
As for negligent Hospitals, on 6/7 Paramount urgent care sent me by ambulance to The Villages Regional hospital on 27/441– It was a disaster for me . The Villages Regional Hospital computers were down for a whole week , the ambulance crew knew hospital was NOT equipped to take care of patients, and left me there anyway!!!. VILLAGES REGIONAL ER and The hospital had no beds available, and no doctor for over 13 1/2 hours— when I was suspected of having a Stroke.
I just opened Mail showing $6445 6/7-6/8/21 ER bill to my Medicare. I Intend to immediately obtain my medical record because MEDICARE WAS BILLED FOR iTEMS I NEVER RECEIVED. I can’t wait to see record for a CT SCAN I NEVER HAD, THOUSAND$ FOR LAB WORK THEY NEVER PERFORMED BECAUSE MY IV LINE WAS CLOTTED AND FOR MEDICATION THEY DID NOT ADMINISTER TO ME … if their computers were down for a week. And no beds for ER & inpatients, Ambulances should GO ELSEWHERE- Not Drop off patients to Die there.

FOLKS, DON’T EVER ENTER INTO THE VILLAGES REGIONAL HOSPITAL.
UF HEALTH ‘TAKEOVER’ HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THIS DEBACLE.

There were way too many limitations on available doctors, and specialists. Also, once you go to an advantage plan you may not be able to get back to Medicare and supplemental without going through underwriting. If you have significant medical problems or conditions this can be a very big deal.

Anyone that matches your last sentence would not be able to get into a Medicare supplement program due to underwriting.

Maybe I'm missing something, but for me the solution to both problems was an Advantage PPO instead of HMO. It also makes it possible to use an Advantage plan when you travel.

A PPO lets you go out of network. Yes, you will pay higher co-pays, but you're also backed up by the out-of-pocket maximum. When I did the math, I realized I would pay much more under a supplemental plan, even compared to going out of network, simply because the supplemental plans I looked at were like Medicare itself -- there is no out-of-pocket maximum. When you add-in another $300 premium per person, I couldn't figure out how they manage to sell the things. But like I say, I'm no expert. Maybe I'm missing something.

And, by they way, this thread is the first I've heard of someone being turned down by an Advantage plan for pre-existing conditions. I take a statin and a blood pressure pill, and my wife has had half her thyroid removed for cancer, not to mention a history of diabetes. We were on Humana in Texas and United here, and neither one even asked about pre-existing conditions.

wow, that's terrible. villages health had a therapist come out 2 days after i was released from the hosp., (they came 3x a week). they also had a trained nurse come out & see me a few times. no out of pocket costs

I have gone to The Villages Health group since they opened their Doors (at least 10 years ago, or more). I have always been happy with my care. I have had a couple doctors that were not a good match for me and I asked the Manager to change me to someone else I chose and she did that. As for Medicare Advantage, I've had it many years with no problem. The thing is, you have to be careful which PLAN you choose. I always choose the PPO plan which means I can go to any doctor I please. I do not need a referral. Most of my doctors are in my Plan, only one is not, which means I have to pay $40 when I see him. Also, yes, you can go back to Medicare if you wish to switch. I did it for one year, had a supplement that cost me $300 a month, and at the end of that year I switched to UHC where I do not pay a monthly fee. I have been seen at three Health Centers (my Doctor moved and I followed her). All three have been very professional and competent. I don't have anything but praise for my care. At present, I am at the Santa Barbara Center. The Staff and Front Desk Ladies are excellent.

That’s the main reason to not have Medicare Advantage. So many doctors don’t accept Advantage. If you want your choice of doctors go with Regular Medicare

My Supplemental Plan runs me $1700 per year in premiums. For this, I can see any provider that accepts Medicare.

You are 100% right. If you have major medical problems you are not given the best doctors. Which we prefer.

If you’re referring to me, I wasn’t denied coverage on an Advantage plan, it was a supplemental plan.

I've never had that experience, ever. The Villages Health at Creekside are aces in my book. Everyone!

I walked in to Villages health 2 wks. ago to get an appt. for hip pain. Within 30 mins. they had Xray'd that hip. No waiting.

I like the care at Premier but their billing dept is awful. If you switch make sure you are visits are coded correctly. And check all your bills

Premier has excellent doctors, but the support staff generally has been terrible. Screwed up lab orders, fouled up testing and X-ray arrangements, unbelievable. Like thr Little Rascals meets the Keystone Kops. Also, they do not like sick people. If you catch something they want you to go to urgent care. Their telephones were answered in Jamaica, then the Philippines, God only knows where now. But the doctors, if you can get to them are excellent.

It’s an easy fix...be willing to pay a fair wage to get competent employees.

I went to Premier and saw Dr. Shaw. He is a wonderful doctor but it was difficult to see him. I don’t mind a nurse practitioner, but in the end, I want to see a doctor. I was treated for months for upper respiratory infection, when, in fact, it was a much more serious issue. That’s when I left and went elsewhere.

This was exactly our experience at Premier Medical! Sundeep Shah is one of the best doctors we’d ever had the pleasure to know—both competent and compassionate—but our messages never reached him, what were supposed to be his messages to us were never delivered, paperwork was routinely screwed up, and making the rounds of office manager and higher authorities made no difference. With both of us dealing with significant health issues—and with much regret—we felt we had no choice but to leave Dr Shah.

On the other issue addressed in this thread, Advantage plans may be economical for those who have no health issues, but inevitably we will all be dealing with “stuff.” We know better than to be enticed by slick salesmanship and offers of free over-the-counter products and membership in a gym (all of which we encountered while doing our research). Our Medicare Supplement is pricey, true, but absolutely everything is covered, including ALL copays. I once became ill while traveling overseas, and even that was covered! And as other posters have said, it is extremely difficult to impossible to switch back to Medicare from an Advantage plan. This is a really serious and significant caveat!

The only drawback is the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans, created in 2003 and put into effect in 2005. They are terrific plans—for the insurance and pharmaceutical industries—not so much for seniors…. One of our doctors prescribed the only medication available for a particular issue, explaining regretfully that a one-month supply would cost between $400 and $500! Not to worry, we told him; we bought the identical brand-name drug from a Canadian mail order pharmacy for about $165 for a THREE-month supply.

Our medical care system has problems—and I’m getting off my soap box….

I did the opposite. My Premier Dr. was great. The office staff was overwhelmed.
I have nit had an issue with The Villages Health System this last 2 years.

You have to be your own health advocate whomever you have…it’s the ‘Sign of the Times’

I use PMA. Lots of docs. Appointments easy to get. since I changed to PMA no problems.

Wow…impressive! Who is your doctor?

Any chance that you would PM me your doctors’ names? Still looking for a good match. Thanks in advance.

I did switched
 

I did use The Villages Health then I switched to The Premier. Hated Premier service and especially the doctors not staying long enough to discuss abt my health. Switched back to The Villages Health and am happier. I’ve learned to switch doctors until you find the one you like.

I always ask medical professionals who I come in contact with, what do you think of The Villages Hospital?

I’ve received amazingly consistent responses—“It’s a bad hospital, don’t go there”. An RN friend who is a nursing supervisor at TV Hospital answered, “…only come here if it’s something simple and whatever you do, don’t stay overnight”. The infection and re-admission rates are among the worst in the state. A friend in the health insurance business said “…after more than ten years in operation they still make the same mistakes which should have been corrected after their first year of being open.”

A primary care doctor told me, “… if you ever wake up and find yourself in TV Hospital, call a taxi!”

I left the Villages when I turned 65 (or should say they kicked me out) because I could only get Medicare A & B. Went to Premier Medical. I liked my a doctor (Dr Shah). The office is a dump. The staff is inadequate. Nobody never answered the phone. I left and went to Dr. Fairiborz Delbakhsh. He opened a new office on 466A just west of Powell Road. Been very happy with him, staff and his new office.

I go to The Villages Health and Dr. Cloukey is my physician. BUT - I know people who go to Dr. Perez, Dr. Wood, Dr. Ojha, Dr. Sudduth, and Dr. Roethlisberger... I hear amazing comments about all of them.
I understand the comments about traditional Medicare. But... I want a primary care physician who can identify an issue and get me on the right course of care. I am very picky about my primary care physician. I'm extremely pleased with The Villages Health.
If you read all the comments on this thread... people who go to The Villages Health are overwhelmingly very happy with their care. People who have traditional medicare warn you about an Advantage Plan... but people on that plan feel they are receiving excellent care.
So... you just have to decide what is right for you.

Any chance you could be more vague in your explanation?🍻

My suggestion, contact SHINE and ask them, but the short answer is ADVANTAGE plans tend to have limitations unless you go for a top tier coverage, Medicare does not have these limitations.

By law all Medicare Advantage plans cover all the medical services that Regular Medicare does and gives you the same rights and protections that Regular Medicare does. Almost all Advantage provide additional services that regular Medicare does not.

Things to know about Medicare Advantage Plans | Medicare

However Advantage plans typically, but not always, have a limited list of providers to choose from, but here in Florida it's a pretty big list. If you need a procedure that is only available from a provider outside that list, the plan must make that provider available to you... that's happened to my wife once and it was no big deal to use the provider she needed. In fact one time she went to a provider outside of the plan just because it was more convenient just by asking without any hassle.

Even so Advantage isn't for everyone for many reasons. It's a good idea to get info about Advantage vs. Regular from as many sources as you can, including Shine and agents that sell Medicare, and the Villages Health (even though the agents an TVH are, in effect, trying to sell you something) and anywhere else you can find.

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