Tricare PS after WLS?

[Nikki Riviotta 33]

For those of you that have Tricare. Will they cover a Tummy Tuck after WLS? I am 35 lbs from my goal and I have skin sagging around my stomach. I hate it and its very irrating...thats really the only problem area I am seeing, well that and a bit of Lipo in my thighs wouldnt hurt anything LOL... But if anyone can offer any insight I would greatly Appreciate it Thank you!

[lanna 0]

I have Tricare and they are covering me for a breast reduction so I would think that they would also help you. The only problem I had was going to see all these specialists to make sure I didn't have anything else that was causing my back problems. Tricare likes to make sure that they have all the medical facts before they make a decision. You might want to start seeing your dr. and asking for their best advice on how to go about getting approved for this procedure. Hopes this helps.

[Dave_NW 92]

I have Tricare Prime. As I understand it, Tricare won't pay for "cosmetic" plastic surgery. But if the surgery is "medically warranted," they WILL pay for it. So it seems to me (and my surgeon's PA that I see monthly) that we need to document and/all of the medical issues I'm experiencing since surgery. As I continue to lose weight, and my stomach area sags more, I'm having increasing issues with skin deterioration, trouble with rashes, irritation and such, and other things you'd expect to have after losing substantial amounts of weight. At my request, my PA is reporting this each visit, so it's in my record.

My plan is to go another six months (at least 18 months after surgery) to make sure I'm done losing weight, and then take steps to have either a panniculectomy or abdominoplasty. The PA and I figure there will be enough documentation at that point that Tricare shouldn't have any problem paying for the surgery.

Hope this helps.

Dave