[Escape Artist]

Originally Posted by joelfmi

Anyone moving to The Villages needs to check out the health care situation first. Good physicians are few and far between and difficult to find. A physician told me today that general practitioners in the area are "sketchy." The much touted Villages Health Care system only accepts United Healthcare Advantage plan for primary care. The Villages Health care doctors sign 2-year non-competes. So, even if you have the correct insurance, if your dr. quits or is terminated by The Villages Health Care, you are out of luck if you want to continue seeing that physician because they are no longer permitted to practice medicine in the area.
If you are thinking of living at the villages make sure that you can get good healthcare before you leave you home city

I can’t believe what a nightmare healthcare is here. I came from a place with excellent healthcare with competent doctors, responsive service, and clean, well-run medical offices. I’ve had three of my doctors “retire “ or move since I’ve been here, one I left of my own accord because he was unprofessional, and another doctor who complained to ME about The Villages! I had a totally unsatisfactory experience with The Villages Health which included not being assigned a primary care doctor for several months because the one they had me with suddenly quit before I ever saw them. So I’m no longer with TVH, but my new provider is not much better. “Hokey” is the word I’d use to describe my experience with healthcare in The Villages.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by mrsstats

We have Medicare and AARP supplemental insurance. Would we be able to find doctors in the Villages area?

In a word, YES. Without a doubt. This is exactly the coverage we have.

Originally Posted by roadrnnr

How far outside the newer sections would one travel to find providers who take Medicare with supplemental not Advantage Plans

Speaking for myself, expecting—and receiving∏[[‚competent care::

Within TV (i.e., even golf cart accessible!): dermatology (including cancer If oine is etreatment), pain management, podiatry, ophthalmology, gastroenterology, pulmonology (including sleep studies)
Immediately adjacent to TV within, say, a mile): primary care, cardiology, hand surgery (intermittent(

Heakth care a du=istance frin TVL nine,
_

Originally Posted by villagetinker

OP, if you are over 65, contact SHINE, SHINE - Home, or 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) to get [U]unbiaseTYC Health System, until they decided to completely stop allowing Medicare and Supplemental participants. We tried an advantage plan, it did not work well for use, we left and were able to get back to original Medicare. Your supplemental provider should be able to provide a list of doctors in the local area.

IMHO there is no advantage to an advantage plan. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is..A healthy person may dquestion those opposed to advantage plans. but check out actual costs (deductioble, copays, ans moew).Onemay switch to an advantage plan, but it is often made extremely difficult to switch back, and then one is then stuck.


Do your homework amd exercise due diligence!!!

[kingofbeer]

Originally Posted by Quixote

In a word, YES. Without a doubt. This is exactly the coverage we have.



Speaking for myself, expecting—and receiving∏[[‚competent care::

Within TV (i.e., even golf cart accessible!): dermatology (including cancer If oine is etreatment), pain management, podiatry, ophthalmology, gastroenterology, pulmonology (including sleep studies)
Immediately adjacent to TV within, say, a mile): primary care, cardiology, hand surgery (intermittent(

Heakth care a du=istance frin TVL nine,
_


IMHO there is no advantage to an advantage plan. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is..A healthy person may dquestion those opposed to advantage plans. but check out actual costs (deductioble, copays, ans moew).Onemay switch to an advantage plan, but it is often made extremely difficult to switch back, and then one is then stuck.


Do your homework amd exercise due diligence!!!

It is difficult to find a doctor accepting new patients in this area that meet my basic criteria. For primary doctor, I want a doctor who went to medical school in the United States. I am not on medicare yet. I selected a primary physician from The Villages Health who was not educated in the US. The Villages Health has a limited number of primary doctors who are accepting new patient.

[Captmagic]

Incorrect information; The Villages Health accepts Medicare Advantage plans from United Healthcare, Blue Cross and 1 plan from Humana. No other plans are accepted. I am an agent and sell those plans.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by Altavia

Advantage Plans have risks. They are great as long as you are healthy but not so good for a long term illness or significant medical issues. Good luck getting first line cancer care if on an Advantage Plan.

Stick with standard Medicare if you can afford it.

Did not know Advent Health was not considered first line cancer care.

[lindaelane]

Originally Posted by mrsstats

We have Medicare and AARP supplemental insurance. Would we be able to find doctors in the Villages area?

You will find doctors. However, you cannot use The Villages Health Primary Care, because you have Medicare Supplement. It is much better, in the end, to have original Medicare, with supplement (not Medicare Advantage) but the big disadvantage for you is not being able to use The Villages Health Primary Care. You can see the specialists with them. You can see pretty much any other doctor with medicare supplement.

With "advantage" - really it should be called disadvantage - you could only see doctors who were in-network (or pay fees to see out of network) plus you could get denied care for things your doctor says is necessary if Advantage - which is an insurance program - decides not to cover it. Advantage covers some drugs but you have no coverage for infusions, which are very expensive. (What I am saying about Advantage is true for all the companies - only the "perks", for instance some medical supplies shipped free to you in order to get you to sign up and keep you signed up, will vary)

[lindaelane]

TV Health Care is good. However, only certain people - those who have certain forms of Medicare Advantage - can use there Primary care. Otherwise, primary care is hit and miss. I am happy with my primary care, which is outside TV Primary. It is with a very good nurse practitioner. I know some people are against nurse practitioners but I find they have addressed my needs beautifully. There are at least two very well reputed nurse practitioners in The Villages area.

[lindaelane]

Does everyone know that if you are on Advantage and have a "health event" (generally, a major illness, e.g., heart attack/stroke/cancer, etc.) you cannot go on original Medicare with Supplement (or if you do, the prices will be unaffordable). So please, if you can afford a Supplement plan, and be accepted, get it. When you have major needs, you will be glad you have it.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by lindaelane

Does everyone know that if you are on Advantage and have a "health event" (generally, a major illness, e.g., heart attack/stroke/cancer, etc.) you cannot go on original Medicare with Supplement (or if you do, the prices will be unaffordable). So please, if you can afford a Supplement plan, and be accepted, get it. When you have major needs, you will be glad you have it.

That would be like buying a used car with a major dent in it - insuring it and then trying to get it fixed under the insurance. Hint as of last year over 45% of seniors are on advantage plans and projected to grow to over 50% in two years. My particular advantage plan has a $2700 out of pocket max with unlimited inpatient hospital care. So is the gamble $2700 vs whatever a supplemental plan would cost ? If I'm that ill the last thing I'll be worried about is $2700.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by lindaelane

You will find doctors. However, you cannot use The Villages Health Primary Care, because you have Medicare Supplement. It is much better, in the end, to have original Medicare, with supplement (not Medicare Advantage) but the big disadvantage for you is not being able to use The Villages Health Primary Care. You can see the specialists with them. You can see pretty much any other doctor with medicare supplement.

With "advantage" - really it should be called disadvantage - you could only see doctors who were in-network (or pay fees to see out of network) plus you could get denied care for things your doctor says is necessary if Advantage - which is an insurance program - decides not to cover it. Advantage covers some drugs but you have no coverage for infusions, which are very expensive. (What I am saying about Advantage is true for all the companies - only the "perks", for instance some medical supplies shipped free to you in order to get you to sign up and keep you signed up, will vary)

Originally Posted by lindaelane

TV Health Care is good. However, only certain people - those who have certain forms of Medicare Advantage - can use there Primary care. Otherwise, primary care is hit and miss. I am happy with my primary care, which is outside TV Primary. It is with a very good nurse practitioner. I know some people are against nurse practitioners but I find they have addressed my needs beautifully. There are at least two very well reputed nurse practitioners in The Villages area.

Originally Posted by lindaelane

Does everyone know that if you are on Advantage and have a "health event" (generally, a major illness, e.g., heart attack/stroke/cancer, etc.) you cannot go on original Medicare with Supplement (or if you do, the prices will be unaffordable). So please, if you can afford a Supplement plan, and be accepted, get it. When you have major needs, you will be glad you have it.

Best advice, and I'll borrow it from Village Thinker's playbook:

Contact SHINE and get the correct information.

[kingofbeer]

Originally Posted by lindaelane

TV Health Care is good. However, only certain people - those who have certain forms of Medicare Advantage - can use there Primary care. Otherwise, primary care is hit and miss. I am happy with my primary care, which is outside TV Primary. It is with a very good nurse practitioner. I know some people are against nurse practitioners but I find they have addressed my needs beautifully. There are at least two very well reputed nurse practitioners in The Villages area.

Any idea why The Villages Healthcare does not accept traditional medicare?

[kingofbeer]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Best advice, and I'll borrow it from Village Thinker's playbook:

Contact SHINE and get the correct information.

How does SHINE address this major local healthcare issue?
"Anyone moving to The Villages needs to check out the health care situation first. Good physicians are few and far between and difficult to find. A physician told me today that general practitioners in the area are "sketchy." The much touted Villages Health Care system only accepts United Healthcare Advantage plan for primary care. The Villages Health care doctors sign 2-year non-competes. So, even if you have the correct insurance, if your dr. quits or is terminated by The Villages Health Care, you are out of luck if you want to continue seeing that physician because they are no longer permitted to practice medicine in the area.
If you are thinking of living at the villages make sure that you can get good healthcare before you leave you home city"

[tuccillo]

The percentage of people with Medicare Advantage Plans is actually less than half but it continues to grow and one estimate has it at 50% in a couple of years. There is no doubt that the plans have become more and more popular. I was on the fence when deciding because I would have liked to have kept my Villages Health PCP. My Supplemental plan runs about $1500 a year and I can see any provider that takes Medicare. My only other cost will be the $200 Part B deductible plus some providers may charge up to a $20 co-pay. I can also change my Supplemental Plan whenever I want with no underwriting. Everyone's situation is different. Fortunately, there is no shortage of information to help you decide.

Originally Posted by rustyp

That would be like buying a used car with a major dent in it - insuring it and then trying to get it fixed under the insurance. Hint as of last year over 50% of seniors are on advantage plans and growing. My particular advantage plan has a $2700 out of pocket max with unlimited inpatient hospital care. So is the gamble $2700 vs whatever a supplemental plan would cost ? If I'm that ill the last thing I'll be worried about is $2700.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by kingofbeer

How does SHINE address this major local healthcare issue?
"Anyone moving to The Villages needs to check out the health care situation first. Good physicians are few and far between and difficult to find. A physician told me today that general practitioners in the area are "sketchy." The much touted Villages Health Care system only accepts United Healthcare Advantage plan for primary care. The Villages Health care doctors sign 2-year non-competes. So, even if you have the correct insurance, if your dr. quits or is terminated by The Villages Health Care, you are out of luck if you want to continue seeing that physician because they are no longer permitted to practice medicine in the area.
If you are thinking of living at the villages make sure that you can get good healthcare before you leave you home city"

Not what I was responding to

[kingofbeer]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Not what I was responding to

I understand. From what I know, SHINE provides health insurance advice but does not address this local healthcare issue. SHINE is a Health insurance agency in Rockledge, Florida (Shine/Serving Health Insurance Needs).
"Anyone moving to The Villages needs to check out the health care situation first. Good physicians are few and far between and difficult to find. A physician told me today that general practitioners in the area are "sketchy." The much touted Villages Health Care system only accepts United Healthcare Advantage plan for primary care. The Villages Health care doctors sign 2-year non-competes. So, even if you have the correct insurance, if your dr. quits or is terminated by The Villages Health Care, you are out of luck if you want to continue seeing that physician because they are no longer permitted to practice medicine in the area.
If you are thinking of living at the villages make sure that you can get good healthcare before you leave you home city"