Just wondering if anyone has been approved recently. I was told by my surgeon's office that Medicare is now on board and covering lap-band, so Tricare will also. I will find out soon since all my stuff was sent in last week.

Hi, I know TriCare does cover RNY and Banding, however the qualifications are pretty strict. You have to be 100 lbs AND have comorbidities. OR 200% over your ideal weight. This is for either procedure. I went one last time to the doctor last month to see what he said. No go for insurance so I am self pay going to Mexico on Thursday! I also looked up the requirements on the TriCare site. Also, if you do not hear anything within a week, call TriCare to see that it was processed and what the answer is. Good luck!

Just this morning I checked mytricare.com and my referral to see a WL surgeon has been approved. The funny thing is it is for a Dr that only does Lap Band. Until today I had never considered a Lap Band and I don't know much about it. I can not call the Dr or TRICARE until Monday so I am trying to research as much as I can

I have TRICARE PRIME REMOTE, I am wondering if this means they are paying going to start paying for Lap Band????

I wish I knew before I fork over 8500.00.

UGH! TRICARE sucks! they basically gave me a referral to see a surgeon who is not in network and only does a procedure they do not cover! Back to the drawing broard for me

That's why I'm paying out of pocket for lap-band.

Dr. Long at Walter Reed is doing the surgery. Don't give up keep checking into it.

It's kinda funny, but even if I went that route, it would cost me almost the same amount as going to Mexico.

If he is the only Dr. doing it for Tricare, can you even imagine the wait time he has? I have no doubts that Tricare will announce anytime that they're going to cover it, but I don't want to wait any longer. My health is already bad enough.

Ouside of WR, people are getting covered. What area are you in? I am not opposed to Mexico, I was banded there. I didn't know this info at the time and lived in the Region.

I'm in the south

You're syaing people are being approved to go to different surgeons or just to Walter Reed?

Yes, outside of Walter Reed. I have read about it on other threads. Do a search for tricare and lapband.

I looked at www.tricare4u.com. My surgery was done Feb-24th-2006 and it reads that Medicare paid first and Tricare paid 2nd (on Hospitalization.) I have received nothing and have no way of knowing about other costs such as anesthesiologist , Surgeons fee etc. (I paid $3500 up front for surgeons fee) I have not received any bills from anyone. (So far) My BMI was 34.9 with sleep apnea and High blood pressure as far as co-morbidities. My surgery was done in Crosby, MN at the small hospital there. Any questions? There are no codes or much info I haven't given here. I have no hard paperwork on any of this..it was online when I checked for it and found what I have here.

No Kidding!

Update....

My BMI is currently 30.9..:scared: April 25, 2006

Just this morning I checked mytricare.com and my referral to see a WL surgeon has been approved. The funny thing is it is for a Dr that only does Lap Band. Until today I had never considered a Lap Band and I don't know much about it. I can not call the Dr or TRICARE until Monday so I am trying to research as much as I can

I have TRICARE PRIME REMOTE, I am wondering if this means they are paying going to start paying for Lap Band????

Tricare just paid their part after Medicare on my surgery.

I just read that Champus VA is paying for the lab band. This is a Champus program for dependents for military members that died during military service.

Chapter 2 Section 29.15

Heres the link to it http://www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/champva/policymanual/trans89.pdf

Anybody Have Tricare For Life? I Am Still Waiting For A Determination On My Primary,uhc...my "stuff" Has Been In Pre-determination For 13 Days. This Waiting Is Horrible.

I have been a busy woman today and had to share my latest tricare adventure. I went to my tricare office and they told me to have the doctor and hospital, etc. to resubmit the bill to tricare and maybe I could get back some of my money from the surgery. Along with my insurance lady at my surgeons office we have a procedural code that as of 3/1/2006 tricare is using to bill for the lapband. The code is 43770. I hope this helps some of you and I will keep eeryone posted on how my adventure for reimbursement goes!