One major difference in UHC and BcBs not mentioned is the pharmacy requirements. If you are a retired veteran, UHC has a plan that allows you to keep your pharmacy benefit with tricare for life. BCBS does not, they require you to use their part d, which is where they make most of their profit. Tricare co pay for tier 3 and specialty drugs is in the $50 range, BCBS much higher in the $500 range depending on drug. One should also compare any higher priced drugs between UHC and BCBS before deciding on the two.

My worst nightmare would be losing my health care plan and being forced into universal health care.

Just a note on "Passport". It can be used across much of the country within the United Healthcare System. There were some states (the last time I looked), where it cannot be used. I think Louisiana is one. There are also counties, within states, that it can't be used. For most people not a problem, but check the exclusions.

Why do you say such things ?

Not true Fl blue is not accepted in many states

Most respondents didn’t read or didn’t understand your question.

Until this year The Villages Health has required people on Medicare choose the United Health Care Medicare Advantage plan. Until 2020 that was the only acceptable choice for those TVH patients with Medicare. But that changed beginning this year.

Late last year TVH added Florida Blue as a Medicare Advantage Plan they would accept in addition to UHC. But that choice was approved at the last minute and the Florida Blue underwriters obviously didn’t have time to properly underwrite the risks of the subscribers to TVH. Some of their terms last year were out-of-line, like a $5,000 max out-of-pocket compared to $3,500 by UHC.

This year FL Blue has obviously had the time to properly underwrite their risks and are offering two very attractive Medicare Advantage plans, an HMO and a POS plan.

I’ve spent some time evaluating and making a few phone calls comparing the UHC and FL Blue plans. After many years of being a UHC subscriber, I’ve switched over to Florida Blue Premier HMO plan for 2021. Your comparison depends greatly on which treatments, Rx, travel and residence requirements, and other services you expect to use and whether you desire an HMO or POS. So I can’t offer any summary of my research. But you can start with FL Blue’s $30 co-pay for specialists compared to $40 for UHC. And if you read the “fine print”, Florida Blue offers several very attractive benefits compared to UHC.

If you want a thorough explanation, call and make an appointment with the licensed representatives of both companies who are available at every Villages Health office. Just call the office you wish to visit and ask for either the UHC or FL Blue rep, or make appointments with both.

It is true. You might be out of network, but worldwide emergency coverage is indeed a feature of the plan.

Ditto, our experience with UHC VH has been very positive. :a040:

He was not referring to worldwide emergency coverage. In fact for any emergency care out of network several people have said that you need a credit card for payment and then you have to collect from your insurance. Is this true in all circumstances, I don't know.

I have had UHC for almost 4 years and use The Villages Health system. I have been very pleased. My primary care doc has changed, but that’s OK because I like the new one as well as I liked the old one. I did the online (Medicare.gov) comparison between the Villages UHC plan and the Blue Cross plan they take, and I didn’t see enough differences/savings to entice me to make the switch.

When I am in EBF Egypt, emergency care would be my only concern.

I forget to mention—an IMPORTANT difference—Florida Blue includes almost all the top hospitals and the doctors who have privileges at them “in network”. That includes UF Shands in Gainesville, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa General, Baptist Miami and all the Advent hospitals in Orlando. The only one I’m uncertain of is Mayo Jacksonville.

United Healthcare’s Medicare Advantage plan accepted by Villages Health does NOT include Shands, Moffitt, Tampa General, Baptist or Mayo, or any of their on-staff doctors in their network. Remember, even though you may be a patient of Villages Health, you do not need a referral to see any specialist in the network of your insurance policy. In fact, you can switch to another primary care physician with no constraints if you so choose.

If you ever need access to top specialists—cancer, orthopedics, hematology, etc.—in Florida, that difference alone makes Florida Blue the better choice.

Think plans are similar. Just a few different doctors and preferred providers. For one case, UHC does not take Moffit cancer or Shands, but you can still go out of network. At least that's my understanding.

:agree: