[maggie1]

I know nothing about FL Blue and have been with UHC for close to three years after we moved here. The attractive thing about UHC is that while we are relegated to seeing physicians in the network, we have found them to be excellent. No copay for PCP appointments, $40 credit each quarter for OTC medications/supplies, and the previously mentioned "passport" program, which entitles you to see any physician should you need care while out of state.

[Debfrommaine]

Originally Posted by chrissy2231

FL BLUE ha more & better hospitals

Do they have portability for travel?

[Mrprez]

Originally Posted by Debfrommaine

Do they have portability for travel?

If you mean, while on vacation, they do, but it is limited to the planet. If you mean for long periods of time away, I don’t think so.

You also get $75 per quarter for OTC items and a free membership to any Silver Sneakers listed gym. That includes the MVP gyms here in TV.

[noslices1]

Originally Posted by Northwoods

Has anyone done an in-depth analysis of UHC vs. FL blue for The Villages Health Advantage Plans?
I'm curious why you chose one over the other.
NOTE: I don't want to hear why traditional Medicare is better than an Advantage Plan. I'm going to get a Villages Advantage Plan. I LOVE my Villages PCP. So I ONLY want to hear from people who chose either FL Blue or UHC, and chose that plan because they want to be part of The Villages Healthcare.

I was with United Health Care for several years and this year I am switching to Florida blue. The co-pays are less and they also give $75 a quarter for over the counter items. Last year they would not pay for glasses through the eye doctor that I went to, even though they accepted the eye doctor for the exam and I had to go through some hoops to finally get United Health Care to pay for the glasses. I have not heard of anything bad about Florida blue.

[M2inOR]

When we lived in Oregon, had Kaiser Permanente for almost 45 years. An HMO that covered us worldwide.

Wife and I are healthy, though there were a few out of network matters that were dealt with out of network without issue and without $$$. When we went on Medicare, we seamlessly continued with Kaiser's Advantage plan.

We investigated Villages Health/UHC Advantage and were impressed with the facilities. Easy decision to switch. We considered Florida Blue but found few differences that mattered. Decided to continue with UHC due to worldwide coverage when we travel, just like we had with Kaiser.

Over the years, medical benefits and costs changed mostly due to the Affordable Care Act. Every health plan changed, and to some extent got more expensive and different for many.

In an HMO (and in Advantage Plans) primary care physicians will change over the years, but when you have something serious, you will likely get the best care - in network and even out of network. That's been our experience.

No need to "shop" for doctors and specialists when something arises.

I hope Florida Blue works similarly. When I checked, it did not.

[Mrprez]

Originally Posted by M2inOR

When we lived in Oregon, had Kaiser Permanente for almost 45 years. An HMO that covered us worldwide.

Wife and I are healthy, though there were a few out of network matters that were dealt with out of network without issue and without $$$. When we went on Medicare, we seamlessly continued with Kaiser's Advantage plan.

We investigated Villages Health/UHC Advantage and were impressed with the facilities. Easy decision to switch. We considered Florida Blue but found few differences that mattered. Decided to continue with UHC due to worldwide coverage when we travel, just like we had with Kaiser.

Over the years, medical benefits and costs changed mostly due to the Affordable Care Act. Every health plan changed, and to some extent got more expensive and different for many.

In an HMO (and in Advantage Plans) primary care physicians will change over the years, but when you have something serious, you will likely get the best care - in network and even out of network. That's been our experience.

No need to "shop" for doctors and specialists when something arises.

I hope Florida Blue works similarly. When I checked, it did not.

It did not what?

[neilbcox]

We switched to the only 5 star Florida Blue plan because my wife needed to see a specialist scoliosis neurosurgeon in Gainesville. UHC wanted us to pay $15,000 before she had surgery at Shands. A friend of our is a UHC manager recommend we change to Florida Blue. Since Florida Blue is a 5 star rated medical plan you can change to their plan anytime during the year.

We have not found a single hospital/specialist that does not accept BCBS Blue.

[StateRobinbird]

Originally Posted by Kilmacowen

I switched to UHC Advantage because included in their plan has what they call "a passport", which I can use all over the country. As a snow bird I am covered both in TV and Mass. Whereas with my plan , Tufts, I was only covered for emergency care while in TV.

We switched to BCBS for the same reason, only we went TO BCBS because there is very little UnitedHealthcare in MI. Also, our UHC Plan was discontinued & we prefer a PPO so we can go out of plan if we choose to.

[eapple516]

We just switched from UHC to BC because BC accepts both Shands in Gainsville and Moffit in Tampa. Other than the one thing, we were happy with UHC.

[Cranford61]

Originally Posted by Northwoods

Has anyone done an in-depth analysis of UHC vs. FL blue for The Villages Health Advantage Plans?
I'm curious why you chose one over the other.
NOTE: I don't want to hear why traditional Medicare is better than an Advantage Plan. I'm going to get a Villages Advantage Plan. I LOVE my Villages PCP. So I ONLY want to hear from people who chose either FL Blue or UHC, and chose that plan because they want to be part of The Villages Healthcare.

Joe Namath is pitching a Medicare advantage plan on the Fox network. I think he’s sober now and the plan sounds interesting.

[Mikee1]

Has anyone looked at Freedom Health. Their plan seems to be, on paper, far better than Villages Advantage plan.

Curious.

Thanks

[Foxmd]

I believe that United healthcare is better coverage for snowbirds when they leave Florida.

[donfey]

We both have, and have had for 10 years, UHC Medicare Advantage (PPO) NOT HMO. VHC takes it, but we’re also free to go wherever we want, like Mayo.

[Bethwill]

I have had no problems with UHC thru the Villages. Love my doctors, and have had the same ones for years now. I have found them to be flexible, and understanding, and cost conscious, especially when it comes to co-pays for specialists. Hoping the upcoming administration doesn't ruin what we have here, as Obamacare ruined my previous situation up North.

[Dilligas]

We started with The Villages Health system 7 years ago when it began and initially began because UHC was the only company supporting VH. We love VH because we can see DRs any time, even at very short notice if necessary. The DRs work with you and discuss your case in layman's terms and are not "move em in and move em out" quick see physcians. The specialist are equally thorough. The DRs are limited in the total patients they can have to allow for more time with each. We changed last year to FL-Blue (BSBC) because they started supporting VH and because they have better hospitals in their stables (like Shanes at U of F....a teaching hospital), but thank goodness we have not need to use them. We also investigated both insurance companies at the time (my spouse is a retired health care professional and educator) and FL-Blue was rated better (last year). Had no problem with UHC and have no problems with FL-Blue, but are continuing with FL-Blue because of their stable of facilities. Our primary is retiring and we were able to pick the replacement we wanted from about 6 Drs that are taking new patients. Our experience has been that the VH DRs are on time with appointments (save an unusal emergency), unlike our experience outside of the Village Health System.