I found out that tricare has finally put the new standard in the policy manual that will allow for bmi as the criteria instead of the 100 lb or 200% that has previously been their standard! It isnt posted on the tricare websites yet (they have until mid Sept to do that) but it is on the Tricare Management Activity site in the tricare policy manual. I believe the site is http://manuals.trica...ame=TP02toc.pdf and it is in the section for surgery, and is policy 13.2. I hope people can find the information from this link but if not you can go to www.tricare.mil, click on the TMA tab, go to policy, tricare manuals, click the 2002 policy tab on the left, then under the tricareprogram manuals 2002 section click the one that refers to the policy manual. That should bring up a page that says most recent change number 145, click that section and under it you can see the whole manual at change 145 and it is in chapter 4 (surgery) and it is down at number 13.2. I hope this information can help people who are currently looking into this through tricare since it may open the door for some but could make new hurdles for others to make sure they qualify.

That was nice of you to post such detailed information. I hope they included a section for if the band fails and VSG or bypass must be done!!!

Mimi

The new rules are finally listed on the benifits section for Tricare North (hnfs.com)! I hope they will be on tricare.mil soon!