[Robyn1963]

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

[nn0wheremann]

Originally Posted by Vikingjunior

I'm really not happy with The Villages Health for a litany of reasons. So I'm wondering if anyone switched to Premier Medical and what their experience was?

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.

[Marie Bailey]

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.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by Kensan1

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.

Originally Posted by nn0wheremann

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.

Originally Posted by Marie Bailey

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….

[JayK!]

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’

[Clarkee]

Originally Posted by Vikingjunior

I'm really not happy with The Villages Health for a litany of reasons. So I'm wondering if anyone switched to Premier Medical and what their experience was?

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

[bp243]

Originally Posted by Northwoods

I love The Villages Health. I have an excellent Doctor. I can ask questions and get an answer in less than 24 hours on the Patient Portal. If I have an issue on the weekend I can call, leave a message, and I get a call from a physician the same day. If I have an issue I can get in to see a PA or Nurse Practitioner in less than 24 hours. My physician spends at least 30 min with me when I have my 6 month physical.
What's not to love??

Wow…impressive! Who is your doctor?

[bp243]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

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?

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

[BobTina]

Originally Posted by Vikingjunior

I'm really not happy with The Villages Health for a litany of reasons. So I'm wondering if anyone switched to Premier Medical and what their experience was?

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.

[Villages Kahuna]

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!”

[jchase]

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.

[Northwoods]

Originally Posted by bp243

Wow…impressive! Who is your doctor?

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.

[mikebama]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

The Villages Hospital is NOT part of the Villages Health. Also you need to very carefully research Medicare ADVANTAGE versus Medicare and supplemental, IMHO, I would never use an advantage plan.

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

[villagetinker]

Originally Posted by Blackbird45

I'm curious what is the main issues with Medicare Advantage?
There are a number of post here stating that Medicare Advantage is a problem.

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.

[Dan9871]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

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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