Sgt Bob

Sure it will probably work. I've been doing things that work for 40 years, and I've been hungry for 40 years!:Dancing_wub:

WooHoo! Good for you Alice! Let us know how it went, as soon as you can.

Yeah, maybe it's the surgeon who's requiring the test then? Tricare didn't require me to get a sleep study or psych eval, my surgeon did.

Me too! I just can't imagine sleeping without it. Although for me, I don't think the sleep apnea is simply weight related. Both my mom and dad were terrible snorers without being overweight. My mom now has congestive heart failure and I believe it's probably related to the OSA.

Congratulations Laney! Quitting smoking is probably the best thing you could ever do for yourself. I put on over 70 pounds after I quit (not just due to quitting but health issues and a year on steroids) and I still feel better than when I was puffing on the coffin nails, even with only 47% of my lung function remaining. I'm like most of you, I can't stand the smell of that poison or the smell of the people who ingest it.

Tricare covered all of my pre-op appointments. If your doctors are making you pay, that is probably their choice not to accept what Tricare will pay, not because of Tricare. You can file the claims yourself and they will probably pay you, but not the full amount.:tt1:

I just got approved yesterday and they never said anything about that. The "In Process" message is normal and will change when approved. Why not give them a call and find out what's going on. I've called Many times and everyone I've spoken too has been very helpful.

Have you called his office at Palmyra Surgical? We are located at: 810 13th Ave, Suite 108 Albany, GA 31701 Get Directions Phone: 229-432-8484 Fax: 229-432-8487

I'm Tricare Standard and I've done all the required appointments (Seminar, Pulmonary function, psych eval, cardio, nutritionist) and my paperwork was sent in on March 6, but I haven't heard anything yet. I started dieting the week before and if they don't hurry up, I won't need the darn band!:mad2:

I have Tricare Standard as well and have been told the same thing repeatedly. I have gone to specialists without referral a few times and Tricare has had no problem with it. Congrats Wendy! Glad its going well for you!

Nice little plane. I was a crew chief on KC-135's and C141's in the AF, but I ran Transient Alert at Howard AFB, Panama and we had Army B-200's coming in all the time from Honduras, Roosevelt Roads, El Salvador and all over South America. If I ever had the money to buy a turboprop, it would definitely be a KingAir. After I get banded I might even be able to fit in the cockpit again!

Congratulations ya big dork! Just kidding! Glad you're on the list! One question though. Why the name KingAir? I assume it has to do with the Beechcraft?

Hey! Tomorrows the big day! Good luck to ya and let us know how it goes!

Luck Wendy and Lisa! Congrats to ya's!:cheers2: I met with the surgeon (had attended a seminar 4 months ago), saw a Pulmonologist, Physical Therapist, have a physical therapy appointment tomorrow (treadmill cardio stuff), psych eval Tuesday, pulmonary function test (I have COPD) Thursday morning and Dietician Thursday afternoon. It's all happening pretty fast, hopefully I'll have a surgery date real soon.

luvmy2dogs There are inherent risks with any surgery. LapBand™ is no more dangerous (my opinion) than gall bladder or appendix surgery. I think it might even be safer as they are not cutting anything out and removing it. Any time they cut you open, there is some risk of infection. I don't know the figures for the US but, in Australia, out of 2700 LapBand™ surgeries there was not one death. I think your chances of dieing are actually much greater without the surgery. If you are obese your chances of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease are much higher. I would say you have to weigh (no pun intended, OK, maybe a little:biggrin:) the risks and decide your course of action. I think my risks of dieing from complications of obesity are much greater than the risk of complications from surgery.

The really nice woman I talked to at Tricare North told me it was listed as an "inpatient" procedure. That was for Tricare Standard and she told me I could go anywhere that accepted Tricare (the good thing about Standard).

The hospital where I have been checking into LB told me that Tricare requires that the surgery be performed at a "Center of Excellence". I asked their insurance person where this information came from and she couldn't really tell me. I've searched and searched at MyTricare.com and could find nothing at all about a Center of Excellence requirement for LB or anything else. I have called Tricare North several times and no one I talked to there had ever heard of it. I have Tricare Standard and have been told repeatedly that I can go anywhere I want, as long as they will accept Tricare insurance. The requirements should be the same in all regions, although it might be different for Prime or some other coverage. This may be something else which is yet to be ironed out, the same as with Tricare figuring out Lap Band has been covered for almost a year. I also wonder if some people their are not just telling us something they "heard" from someone else.

WooHoo! Great news Min! Glad I could be of help!

I think it depends on what flavor of Tricare you have. I have Tricare Standard and they have told me repeatedly that I can go wherever I want for my care. The only difference is, if I go "out of network" my co-pay is 25% instead of 20%. I think if you are a military dependent, you might have to go to a MTF, but you should double check to make sure. If you call your Tricare regional office, they should be able to tell you. You can find their number and a lot of other information at Tricare.com. I looked up something at Tricare.com which may be helpful to you. When You'll Visit a Non-Network Provider When enrolled in TRICARE Prime Remote, you may visit a TRICARE-authorized, non-network provider if a network provider is not available. When using TRICARE Standard and Extra, you may visit any TRICARE-authorized, non-network provider. When you do, you're using the Standard option. When using TRICARE Reserve Select, you may visit any TRICARE-authorized, non-network provider. When enrolled in TRICARE Prime, you're typically not allowed to visit a non-network provider unless authorized by your regional contractor. If you do, you'll pay higher out-of-pocket costs under the point-of-service option. Non-Network Providers

Wow! Great post Kat! I was kind of having second thoughts about getting banded because I_really_love_to_eat! If I am able to have a whole piece of pizza or a taco when I'd like one, I think that's something I can live with. Thanks! Kbugmom, you have nothing to be sorry about for posting here. You suffered a great loss and I think you were just trying to help others. So sorry for your loss. As for the original poster, Tallywag, I'm so sorry to hear your wife had to go though all that. It's understandable that you would feel the way you do. I've had severe sepsis and I know how hard it can be but, it was even harder on my loved ones. If you don't reply to this thread, I'll just assume it's just too difficult for you to talk about and you were only trying to prevent others from having to go through what you and your wife did. Bob

That's some excitement right there! ROFL!

Thanks Mommakat! I've talked to Tricare 5 or 6 times in the last few days (what a chore!) and I had to tell them about that change. Hey, somebody has to get them up to date! You didn't happen to talk to Barbara S. did you? Today I talked to a woman who actually knew all about it! Woohoo! She said all I have to do is have the doctor send a Request for Authorization and once it's approved then I had 3 months to do my psych evals, other evals and get my surgery.

After directing someone at Tricare to the appropriate changes, I finally got them to say LapBand is covered. I talked to someone else who said surgury (in general) does not have to be performed by a "Network" doctor, as long as they accept Tricare Standard. The surgical group I've been talking to checked with their insurance dept, and Tricare told them the surgery could only performed by a "Center of Excellence" (C of E). Problem is, the only center of excellence within Tricare's 100 mile search on their website is not listed as network. However, a couple other surgeons who are listed in the Tricare network (who also perform LB) are not with a C of E. Typical tricare (as I always called it when I was driving truck) clustertruck. I spent about 2 hours on the phone today, I reckon I'll be spending a considerable amount of time on the phone again tomorrow. Has anyone else had trouble getting approved out of network? (silly question I know)

hoo rah! There's more where that came from!:whoo:

I'd just like to say a big thanks to all the people who have been doing all the research and keeping us all up to date on whats going on with Tricare. It can be a daunting task trying to get that kind of information and a lot of people would have simply given up. THANKS!!!(thats a big thanks!):whoo: