I'm covering my bases, here. In the event Tricare won't start covering VSG come January, I'm trying to work a backup plan. I called Tricare and asked about potential coverage but nobody could help me. Bummer! I'll have to keep waiting until the New Year and call again later.

Also, I'm discouraged by the long waits here...I'm in Germany and the clinic near us is limited so we drive to another one that takes patients from three areas. My doctor gave me a list of four requirements to meet before she'll even refer me to the nurse practioner that does the referrals for surgery. Unfortunately, I'm not getting in for some of those appointments until May, meaning I could wait until Fall to get the surgery (still assuming they'll do VSG).

I know it's impatient but by golly I don't want to wait another seven or more months!

Anyway, enough rambling and onto my question:

Does anyone here know Dr. Nick's requirements for surgery if you self-pay? Seminars, classes, evaluations, etc. is what I need info on.

My mom is in Dallas/Ft. Worth and I can easily take my toddler twins and stay with her for a few weeks and do the surgery BUT I am not permitted to be out of Germany for more than 30 days or I'm supposed to report it so they can cut off our COLA pay. Anyone military will understand what I'm saying...basically we lose over a grand a month in pay if I'm gone longer than 30 days and they find out! I can't leave the kids behind, either, because DH does not have the kind of schedule that could handle full time care of the kids while I'm gone.

His prices are competitve enough that even paying for three round trip tickets from Germany to DFW would make the cost works out to average from what I've seen. And, what the heck, I was going to buy a new car with that money but a new body and outlook on life are probably a better investment, right?

Can anyone help?

Thanks so much in advance!

~CLK

Hi CLK -

I had my surgery with Dr. Nick Nicholson in August and was selfpay. Other than being 100 pounds overweight and my knees suffering because of the extra weight, I was otherwise a healthy 38 year old female. Dr. Nick requires everyone to attend one of his seminars (very informative btw) and turning in a medical history "survey" the evening of the seminar prior to getting an appointment to see him. He also required a visit with the dietician and then a 2 week pre-op diet. I attended his seminar in mid-June, had my first appointment with Dr. Nick the following week and scheduled my surgery for August 4th (between my vacation and his vacation in July - it was the first date we BOTH had available). I didn't need a physical but I don't remember why...I had knee surgery end of May and had a full physical & EKG at that time....but I think my medical history and age didn't require anything more than the exam his PA performed at my first appointment. I know he orders additional tests when necessary. I think it may depend on each patient's medical history. With your very specific timeline (30 day window) you might want to talk to his office about your timing when scheduling to attend a seminar. Good Luck on your journey and let me know if you need any more information.

Thank you!

I got a call back today from a nurse with our insurance company that said nope, Tricare is not expanding coverage to the VSG this year, though she admitted it had been on the table. She says they did approve the military treatment facilities that have surgeons already doing the surgery to continue doing so, but that it's not a standard coverage in the next year. She estimated it would be by 2011 or 2012.

Just throwing that out there in case anyone else has questions. I can't vouch for her accuracy, but she was the fourth person I talked to that said the same thing - no coverage for it in 2010.

I emailed Dr. Nick's office and got a tentative yes, it's possible but the gal who contacted me said she was forwarding the message to the doctor to confirm since they don't normally get people traveling from overseas.

Thanks for the detailed response.

~Cheri