The Villages Steward

During the bankruptcy process, there was significant uncertainty about whether UHC would remain in-network. The deal was resolved in late 2025 — UHC is confirmed in-network for 2026.

If you switched plans during that uncertainty, you can use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31) to switch back.

• Spanish Springs — 1400 US Hwy 441 N #810, 32159
• Brownwood Advanced — 2955 Brownwood Blvd, 32163

Specialties available: Audiology, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Gynecology, Neurology, Pain Management, Podiatry, Rheumatology, Urology, Mental Health, Dietetics.

1,600+ wellness classes per year. 24/7 nurse advice line.

HCA Florida West Marion Hospital opened a new $120M tower in September 2025 (40 beds, 4 ORs), expanding capacity.

• Insurance: Most urgent care centers in The Villages accept Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and major commercial plans. Always confirm before your visit.
• Self-pay: If you don’t have insurance, expect $100–$150 for a basic visit.
• Walk-ins welcome at most locations, but booking online (through Solv) can reduce your wait.
• After hours: Many locations are open evenings and weekends. If you need care at 2 AM, the closest ER or freestanding ER is your best option.
• Lake Regional Urgent Care in Lady Lake has closed as of early 2026.

• Part B premium: $202.90/month (up from $185)
• Part B deductible: $283 (up from $257)
• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 (NEW for 2026 — after this amount, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year)

Medigap carriers in the area: Florida Blue, UnitedHealthcare/AARP, Humana, Cigna.

SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders)

Free, unbiased Medicare counseling from trained volunteers. They don’t sell anything.

• Phone: 1-800-963-5337 (1-800-96-ELDER)
• Local: 352-692-5209 — shine@agingresources.org
• In-person: Ezell Recreation Center, 769 Marilee Pl, The Villages (walk-ins select days, 9 – 11:30 AM)
• Website: floridashine.org

Insurance Resource Centers (at CenterWell locations)

9 locations, Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5 PM, walk-ins welcome:

Social Security Offices (for Parts A/B enrollment)

Appointments required. Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 4 PM.

• Leesburg: 900 N 14th St Ste 100, Leesburg, FL 34748 — (866) 836-3623
• Ocala: 933 E Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, FL 34470 — (877) 626-9911

Medicare Part B covers one annual eye exam for diabetes and glaucoma screening, but does not cover routine vision exams or eyeglasses. Most Medicare Advantage plans include routine vision coverage.

Major practices in the area include St. Luke’s Cataract & Laser Institute (locations at Lake Sumter Landing and Brownwood), Mid Florida Eye Center (Wildwood and Summerfield), and Lake Eye Associates (Spanish Springs). CenterWell also has ophthalmology at its specialty centers.

Village Dental has three golf-cart accessible locations across The Villages (Fieldcrest, LaGrande, and Pinellas/Burnsed). They offer a $55 new patient special and a limo service for homebound patients — (352) 633-4145.

CenterWell Audiology operates at all 8 primary care locations across The Villages — (844) 884-9355. They offer free hearing screenings, hearing aid fitting and repair, tinnitus treatment, and balance testing. Medicare and supplements accepted.

Tip: Over-the-counter hearing aids are now available at pharmacies for mild-to-moderate loss. For moderate-to-severe hearing loss, professionals recommend a clinical fitting with real-ear measurement to ensure your aids are tuned to your specific hearing profile.

• LifeStance Health
  1400 US Hwy 441 N, Sharon Morse Bldg Suite 553, 32159 — (352) 706-7799
  Therapy, psychiatry, TMS. Accepts Medicare, Aetna-Medicare, Cigna-Medicare, Humana-Medicare, Tricare. In-person and telehealth.
• Harmony United Psychiatric Care
  305 Skyline Dr #1, Lady Lake, 32159 — (352) 431-3940
  Psychiatry and therapy for elderly. Anxiety, depression, PTSD. Telehealth available.
• Serenity Hope Counseling
  13940 US-441 Suite 210, 32159 — (352) 374-3222
  Senior counseling, couples/family. Medicare, Tricare.
• Sunshine Senior Counseling (statewide, telehealth/in-home)
  (407) 401-9020
  Geriatric specialist for 65+: depression, anxiety, grief, dementia. Medicare Part B and Advantage. Free 15-minute consultation.
• Village Counseling Center
  (352) 877-2055
  Older adult counseling. Most Medicare insurances. Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 5 PM.

• Amedisys Home Health — (352) 391-1416
  Skilled nursing, PT/OT/speech, wound care, infusion, fall prevention. Medicare, Medicaid, private. 24/7 on-call.
• AdventHealth Home Health — Leesburg — (352) 253-3900
  Serves Lake, North Sumter, South Marion. Skilled nursing, wound care, therapies, chronic disease management. 24/7.
• Care Team Home Care — Sumter County — (352) 530-2862
  Skilled nursing, PT, wound/IV care, infusions. 24/7.

• Visiting Angels — The Villages
  13940 SE Hwy 441 #204, Lady Lake, 32159 — (352) 643-0702
  Companion care, personal care, dementia care.
• Comfort Keepers — Lady Lake — (352) 720-8870
  In-home support, respite care, dementia/24-hour care.

Non-medical home care is typically private pay or covered by long-term care insurance.

Medicare covers hospice at 100% when a doctor certifies a terminal prognosis of 6 months or less. Hospice is about comfort and dignity, not giving up.

• Compassionate Care Hospice (Amedisys) — (352) 415-0778
  Pain management, nursing, chaplain, bereavement support. Medicare, Medicaid, private. 24/7.
• VITAS Healthcare — Lake/Sumter — (800) 582-9533
  Holistic therapies including pet, music, and massage therapy.
• Cornerstone — Villages Hospice House
  601 Mariposa Way, The Villages, FL 32162
  Inpatient hospice facility with family amenities. Recently expanded.
• Hospice of Marion County (Empath)
  3231 SW 34th Ave, Ocala, FL 34474 — (352) 873-7400

• Freedom Pointe at The Villages (CCRC — full continuum)
  1550 El Camino Real, 32159 — (352) 364-8581
  The only continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in The Villages. Independent living through skilled nursing, all on one campus.
• Serenades at The Villages (memory care focused)
  2450 Parr Dr, 32162 — (352) 649-3358
  Specialized memory care with secured courtyards, respite stays available, 24/7 care.

Need guidance? The Elder Helpline (1-800-262-2243) covers Sumter, Lake, and Marion counties and can help you navigate options at no cost.

Clinics

• Ocala VA Clinic (Marion County, ~20 mi south)
  4826 SW 49th Rd, Ocala, FL 34474 — (352) 369-3320
  Mon–Fri 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Primary care, mental health, lab, telehealth.
• Tavares VA Clinic (Lake County, ~15 mi east)
  1390 E Burleigh Blvd, Tavares, FL 32778 — (352) 253-2900
  Mon–Fri 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Primary care, geriatrics, diabetes, rehab, audiology.

VA Hospitals

• Malcom Randall VA Medical Center — Gainesville (~75 min)
  1601 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608 — (352) 376-1611
  Full-service hospital, Level 1a complexity, major surgical, specialty care.
• Lake Nona VA Medical Center — Orlando
  (407) 631-1000 — Alternative for specialty care.

Enrollment

Call 1-877-222-8387 or visit va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply. Bring: DD-214, photo ID, insurance info.

Community Care: If the VA can’t see you within standards (20-minute drive or 28 days), they may authorize outside providers.

• Delivery: Most chains offer 1–2 day delivery for prescriptions. Some offer same-day delivery for a fee.
• Meal breaks: Walgreens pharmacies close 1:30–2:00 PM daily for a pharmacist meal break. Plan your pickup around this.
• New for 2026: The first Medicare-negotiated drug prices are in effect for 10 medications (diabetes, heart failure, blood clots). Ask your pharmacist if any of yours are on the list.
• Part D out-of-pocket cap: For 2026, once you spend $2,100 out of pocket on covered drugs, you pay $0 for the rest of the year.

• The Villages Public Safety: (352) 205-8280
• Sumter County Sheriff: (352) 793-2621
• Lake County Sheriff: (352) 343-2101
• Marion County Sheriff: (352) 732-9111
• Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222

• Alternative Home Health Care (shuttle): (352) 352-1117
• DAV Transportation (veterans): Through The Villages VA Clinic
• Medicaid Transport (ModivCare): 1-866-779-0565

• Executive golf on 46 courses (a yearly trail fee applies for golf cart use on executive courses)
• Recreation centers with pools, billiards, card rooms, full-service kitchens, and outdoor facilities
• Hundreds of pools — family pools, lap pools, sports pools, and relaxation pools across the community
• Pickleball, tennis, bocce, shuffleboard, softball — courts and fields at dozens of locations
• Fitness clubs, woodshops, archery & air-gun ranges, dog parks
• Free nightly entertainment at three Town Squares (Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter Landing, Brownwood)
• 4,000+ clubs and activities — from painting and pottery to dancing and pickleball leagues
• Multi-modal paths, trails, tunnels, and bridges for golf carts, bicycles, and walking

The amenity fee is billed monthly as part of your combined utility bill from VCDD Utilities and may be adjusted annually by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

In addition to the 46 executive courses covered by your amenity fee, The Villages has championship golf courses with separate memberships and green fees. These are managed differently from the executive courses.

• Resident ID Cards — your ID is required to access recreation centers, pools, and other amenities
• Guest ID Cards — required for all guests age 1 and older; valid for 30 days
• Gate Access Cards — for gated neighborhoods
• RV Storage — parking spaces at the RV storage facility
• Adopt-A-Bench — personalized memorial and tribute benches throughout the community
• Resident Academy — educational programs about your community, governance, and services

The Community Standards Department handles deed compliance and architectural review. If you have questions about what you can and cannot do with your property — fences, paint colors, landscaping, additions — they can help.

Email: DeedCompliance@DistrictGov.org

Community Standards & Deed Compliance

District Property Management

• Independent living — apartment-style homes and maintenance-free options
• Assisted living — for those needing daily support
• Memory care — specialized environments for dementia and Alzheimer’s
• Home health care — medical and non-medical in-home services
• Services for adult children with special needs
• Support groups — for caregivers and families

For more details, visit the Senior Living page on thevillages.com. The Assisted Living section in our Healthcare guide above also has independent resources for comparing options.

• Brownwood Farmers Market — 2705 W Torch Lake Dr — Saturdays 9 AM – 1 PM
• Mercado at Spanish Springs — Spanish Springs Town Center — Saturdays 9 AM – 2 PM
• The Villages Grown Market — Sawgrass Grove, 766 Marilee Place — Daily 9 AM – 8 PM

Market schedules may vary seasonally. Confirm days and hours before visiting.

• Psychology Today — Grief Therapists in Lake County
• TherapyDen — The Villages Grief Therapists

• Contact a funeral home — They will transport your loved one, begin the death certificate process, and guide you through arrangements. You do not have to decide on a funeral home in advance, but having one in mind helps. See our list below.
• Notify immediate family and close friends — Ask someone you trust to help make calls. You don’t have to do this alone.
• Secure the home — Make sure all doors are locked. Unfortunately, published obituaries can alert opportunistic criminals that a home may be empty during services.
• Gather important documents — If you can, begin collecting items like your spouse’s ID, Social Security card, insurance policies, and military discharge papers (DD-214). Don’t worry if you can’t find everything right away.

Easiest: Through the Funeral Home

Most funeral homes will order certified copies for you as part of their services. They file the death certificate with the county and can order copies at the same time. This is the simplest route.

County Health Departments

You can also request copies directly from the county health department where the death occurred.

Cost is approximately $5 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy. Fees may vary slightly by county. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics also offers online ordering through VitalChek (additional processing fees apply).

You may need the Clerk of Courts for probate, property transfers, or recording documents.

• At home: Filing cabinet, desk drawers, home safe, nightstand
• In the mail: Watch for statements over the next 2–3 months
• Email: Search for “statement,” “policy,” “account,” “payment”
• Their professionals: Accountant, tax preparer, financial advisor, attorney, employer HR

• Bank accounts: Visit banks in person with a death certificate and your ID — they can look up accounts by Social Security number
• Life insurance policies: Use the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator (free service) or contact the Florida Department of Financial Services
• Pensions: Contact the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or the employer’s HR department
• Unclaimed money: Search Florida’s unclaimed property database at FLTreasureHunt.gov

Check old tax returns — they often reveal accounts, income sources, and insurance premiums you might not have known about.

• Put a fraud alert on your credit (free — call any one of the three credit bureaus listed above)
• Don’t give personal or financial information to anyone who contacts you unsolicited
• Register on the Do Not Call Registry: donotcall.gov
• Report scams: Florida Attorney General at 1-866-9NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226)
• Report elder fraud: DOJ Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311)

• Contractor disputes — work not completed, poor quality, or overcharging
• Business refund issues — a company owes you money and won’t pay
• Consumer fraud — you were deceived or misled by a business
• Scam education — free seminars on how to spot and avoid scams
• Civil disputes — any non-criminal disagreement where you need an advocate

Senior Sleuths will research your complaint and try to reach a settlement — without cost and without public embarrassment. They succeed in a high percentage of cases.

Note: Criminal matters are referred to law enforcement. The program handles civil disputes only.

Interested in becoming a Senior Sleuth? Volunteers learn arbitration skills, public speaking, computer skills, and more. Contact any office above or visit the statewide website for information.

svcinthevillages.org  |  Statewide: seniorsvscrime.com

• Disaster response — trained citizens provide initial assistance until professional emergency personnel arrive
• First aid at community events — 15–20 major events per year at Town Squares
• Public CPR/AED classes — open to all residents
• Fire safety education
• Light search and rescue
• Post-disaster recovery assistance

CERT members responded to the 2007 tornado and Hurricane Irma, providing direct support to their neighbors when it mattered most.

You must be a resident of The Villages. Submit an application online, and the Basic Class Coordinator will contact you about the FEMA-developed six-week Basic Training Course. After completing training, members maintain membership with 10–12 hours of annual training and participation in 2–3 events per year.

CERT of The Villages Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charity — donations are tax-deductible.

certofthevillages.org

• 24/7 patrol and response — non-emergency safety concerns within The Villages
• Adult Watch Program — daily check-in calls for residents who live alone or have a partner who may need a wellness check. A friendly voice calls you each day to make sure you’re okay. There is no fee for this service.
• Home security checks — when you’re traveling, Community Watch can check on your property

Phone: (352) 753-0550 (24/7)

To sign up for any program, visit a District Customer Service Center or call (352) 753-4508.

districtgov.org — Community Watch

The Friends of The Villages Library (FOVL) is a volunteer group that supports library programs, hosts book sales, and raises funds for library improvements. A great way to get involved.

friendsvillageslibrary.com

Talk of The Villages maintains the most comprehensive directory of houses of worship in the area, covering dozens of denominations including Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Jewish, Non-denominational, and many more.

The directory includes names, denominations, and addresses for every congregation — from the largest churches to small community gatherings.

View the Full Directory at Talk of The Villages →

The official club directory is maintained by the District and available on the Villager Homepage. You can browse by category, search by name, or just scroll through the full list.

Browse All Clubs at districtgov.org →

Browse Clubs at Villager Homepage →

The Thursday edition of The Daily Sun newspaper also carries a full club listing each week.

The Villages operates dozens of recreation centers across the community, each with pools, fitness rooms, courts, and meeting spaces. Your amenity ID gives you access to all of them.

districtgov.org/recreation