I read in a post on this site recently that Tricare retiree beneficiaries did not have to go through Tricare to have the surgery done in an MTF. That is not necessarily true, at least in the North Region it's not. Womack at Ft. Bragg told me that we had to have a referral put in through Tricare.

My doctor supposedly put the referral in requesting the MTF, but it came back approved for a civilian doctor, but of course Tricare does not cover the sleeve gastrectomy.

I was also told by some at Tricare that all I had to do was to call Tricare back once it was approved and tell them that I want the MTF. Well, I tried doing that today and was told that they just can't change it, they have to put a request in to see if there was space available for me at the MTF. I told her to go ahead and do that then, so now I have to wait and see if it comes back as the MTF approving it or not....what a bunch of drama!

If TRicare comes back telling me that Womack (MTF) disapproved it, I will be on the phone once again to Womack to see if there is a way I can get in there to have the procedure done. T

His is ridiculous; it's like once you've retired you're put on the back burner and basically forgotten about....which is sad.

If anyone's interested I ill keep you posted on what happens. Of course I probably won't hear anything till next week because of the holiday now.

I know this comes several months later. Tricare is going to start covering the Sleeve as of March 5th, 2013 . It's about time !

I know this comes several months later. Tricare is going to start covering the Sleeve as of March 5th' date=' 2013 . It's about time ![/quote']

Hey marine wife, where do you see this info?

My surgeons office told me . The lady that's in charge of sending everything to insurance and getting patients approved gave me the date 3/5 . I'll let you know if it happens!

Do you mind if I ask who your surgeon is-I would like my bariatric surgeons office to call her to see where she got the information-they have been waiting for the word:)

Just called Tricare and was told there are no bulletins out regarding change of service. The guy I spoke to said that typically when there is a change in coverage they get info about it a week or two out.He told me to check the CPT code online. I did and it still shows up as not covered, he did say that sometimes that will happen when there has been an update, but coupled with the fact that it didn't look like (to him) there hasn been a change there most likely hasn't been a change. He was very nice and told me to check with my surgeon's office and have the doctor submit an authorization to verify- I do not have a surgeon yet (and will probably end up going to my MTF). I just wanted to update the thread with what I found out this morning. HOPEFULLY the guy I spoke to was wrong and that coverage will begin soon! Any other updates?

When my surgeons office told Tricare was going to start covering it I called Tricare as well. They didn't know anything about it . But they also said sometimes they don't find out about new things that are covered until it happens . My surgeons office is submitting my case today for the sleeve. I should know in the next 2 weeks. I'll let you all know what happens.

Hi Susan, I see that you were approved for the Sleeve in July at the MTF on Bragg. Congratulations! I am the spouse of a Retiree. I was referred to Womack MTF in Oct 2012, but was approved to see a off-post civilian doctor. As we know, that won't work bc Tricare will not pay for the Sleeve off-post. I spoke to the bariatric clerk at Womack and she said one of their surgeons have been deployed. The doctor is expected back this Spring, but it may be some time before she take referrals from civilian doctors. (They have other drs, but they are not taking referrals.) Can you tell me who I need to talk to in order to get into the program now. I am tired of waiting. I am also afraid that if I wait until the doctor returns, they still may not take me.

NewMeLinda.......hi, sorry it took so long to reply. Have had a lot going on and not thinking about looking at the posts. Have you had any progress? I had my surgery June17th, after waiting and working on this for over a year! Let me know what's going on with you.....talk to you soon.

Hi Susan' date=' I see that you were approved for the Sleeve in July at the MTF on Bragg. Congratulations! I am the spouse of a Retiree. I was referred to Womack MTF in Oct 2012, but was approved to see a off-post civilian doctor. As we know, that won't work bc Tricare will not pay for the Sleeve off-post. I spoke to the bariatric clerk at Womack and she said one of their surgeons have been deployed. The doctor is expected back this Spring, but it may be some time before she take referrals from civilian doctors. (They have other drs, but they are not taking referrals.) Can you tell me who I need to talk to in order to get into the program now. I am tired of waiting. I am also afraid that if I wait until the doctor returns, they still may not take me.[/quote']

NewMeLinda- Are you having any luck with Womack? My husband is a Navy Reservist and I tried to go through Womack too. It has been a headache! My civilian dr sent in 4 referrals to Tricare. I was approved for a civilian dr twice and this dr doesn't perform bariatric surgery lol. Tricare told me they don't understand why the referrals were sent to them because Womack is their own entity. I was told I couldn't go to Womack because my husband isn't active duty now.

I really want to go to Womack because of VSG. I gave up and decided to go back to the first place where I attended their seminar. I had already cancelled my April 29th appointment for psych eval, nutrition and talk to surgeon because I wanted to wait on Womack. Now I have another appointment with them on July 15th.

I was told that Tricare may approve VSG by August. I'm hoping this is true. My husband will only has Tricare Reserve Select until August 2014. I definitely want to have my surgery before then because my insurance won't cover it.