Has anyone heard of any changes to tricare standard covering the lap-band? Any future changes? This sure is a long process to get coverage that should have been covered when the VA and Medicare started approving the lap-band.:cry

Thanks,

Don

I got a referal with no problem however Tricare will not cover the LapBand at the request of the military. If I wanted to go with the GB not a problem. I picked up additioanl insurance from my work that has a history of working well with my doctors office on covering the band. For a year it will cost about $1,200 for the additioanl insurance. Well worth it if everything goes as planned.

Good Luck to You!

You have to have your PCM refer you to either Walter Reed or Belvoir and then the doc will let you know if you are a candedate. If you are you have to go threw a bunch of things like see a nutristonist twice go to at least three GS meetings go see the counsiler and a bunch of blood work up. It all takes 6 months or more before you have a surgery date. We are at Fort Leavenworth and they do not have anyone here that does fills on any post in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma or nebraska. I was told the only ones that do fills are Belvoir and Walter Reed so you have to pay for them your self and the first time you see the doc it is $250.00 and for each fill it is $100.00. TRICARE will not pay for the fills or to even see a doc for the lapband. My pcm even refered me to see one and TRICARE gave me the name and I went to see him but as soon as he sent in his codes to get paid for the appointment and they found out it was for a lapband they refused to pay. According to them lapbands are not a founded procedure so they will not pay for anything to do with them at all.

I hope this has helped and not confused you.

thanks it has- i thought it might take 6 months- and my husband will probably be getting out in < 1 yr, so that woudl probably not work. but i'll keep it in mind, if he stays in, thanks

I will pay for my own surgery soon. I thought I would post what I look at daily for changes. I will wait until the changes are done for this year though.

Manual

This link is for changes to the tricare manual. You can go back and see each change and when they were made. If you open it daily it will show you any new changes. I had a question about the VA. I have been told that if you are tricare eligible you are not eligible for the VA.

Don