Hi All,

I have Tricare Prime and am about to start the process. My PCM placed my referral and I am just waiting on my letter so that I can sched. a first visit with my surgeon. My PCM and the nurse at Dr. Nye's office said Tricare is easy to get approved and that start to finish is about 6 weeks til surgery. Anyone had hsi happened or not happen? Thanks for all you help!

Karen

I have Tricare Prime and it is a fairly easy process. I started in May and had surgery in August because I had additional testing that need to be done. No complications with insurance approval though.

Thank You! Has anyone else had any issues with Tricare?

I am using Tricare Prime in San Diego. I had no problem getting approved for the surgery and testing process. Their standards seem to be pretty cut and dried - meet the criteria and you are on the way. The issue was not getting the approval but finding a surgeon that would take the insurance. I am now with UCSD and very happy with them. I start the liquid diet on the 25th and have surgery on 01/08 :>)

I have tricare Standard, it took only 3 days to get my approval for my surgery. I was shocked on how fast I got it. My surgery is on Jan 12, 2009.

Lisa

Hi Everyone,

I have tricare Prime, I have now went from the cancelled stage due to tricare said they didn't get the codes(?) for the surgery, so I call the surgeon office to let them know, so now my status for surgery is pending. So everyone wish me luck and hopefully everything will go okay and i can get banded in January. I started my journey in October.

Happy Holidays!

I have Tricare Prime (east) and I'm still getting all my requirements done. It is taking forever mostly due to trying to get appts (i.e. nutrition doesn't have anything until mid-Jan). My PCM did the referral and I have been approved to see a surgeon but they won't even make an appt until I have all my requirements done and they have all the paperwork. I guess this is ok since I wasn't looking to do the surgery until Feb, but I'm wondering how many more delays I will encounter in the future.

I have Tricare Prime (east) and I'm still getting all my requirements done. It is taking forever mostly due to trying to get appts (i.e. nutrition doesn't have anything until mid-Jan). My PCM did the referral and I have been approved to see a surgeon but they won't even make an appt until I have all my requirements done and they have all the paperwork. I guess this is ok since I wasn't looking to do the surgery until Feb, but I'm wondering how many more delays I will encounter in the future.

Just continue to be patient, and we're keep each other posted on progress because you will get major support from everyone here, which helps me a lot.

Good luck!

I had tricare prime south and it was a piece of cake!! Well no more cake for me:):biggrin:

I am also Tricare Prime East (OHIO) and it took forever for me too. I am using the base as they have a surgeon who is a Bariatric Surgeon, as a matter of fact they have two now. I had the referral from my PCM, then I had to attend a Lap Band class, then on to nutrition, psyc appt which took a couple of weeks to get in, then appt with surgeon to talk over my questions and see which surgery I wanted, gastric or band. I have another appt on Jan 12 for pre-admission, labs, nutrition class, and surgeon again to make sure nothing has changed with me. My surgery is scheduled from Jan. 16 and I will be on a pre surgery diet of 1 week of liquids plus a frozen diet meal for dinner, then post op is one week of liquids, 2 weeks of mushy foods, then soft foods. He does not do a fill during surgery as he said that is what causes band slippage. CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jan

For the surgery, Tricare was a piece of cake...Dr. Nye is my surgeon too. You can see my timeline here Life With A Lap Band | this life of mine

My issue lately is getting Tricare to approve more than one follow up visit at a time.

Triwest was easy here! It took me about 3 weeks to go throught the process. Would of been less if my Dr. wasnt so booked. I delayed surgery due to work but everything was so dang easy. Good luck!

I'm a Tricare gal.

I started the process in September and just got my surgery approved last week. My pre-op appt is January 8th. It has been slow progress, but progress none the less. :laugh:

Hugs!

Im a Tri Care girl from vegas and i just had the seminar today.. i was so excited when i saw that so many people were approved... but i dont know if i will be.. im 5'5 and 240 pounds... im like 5 pounds away from being morbid... i dont have sleep apnea or high blood pressure.. but i do have asthma... anyone think i can slide by???

Yeah!!!!!!!! My Doc's office called and scheduled my first appt. for Jan 7th at 12:45pm. I am so excited! She said i should not have a problem getting approved as Tricare South is very easy. I am 5 ft. 1 inch and weigh 228. I do not have any health problems but PCOS so I am hoping it will be no problem. Can't wait!!!!!

i just moved to las vegas from georgia... so when i had tricare south i had an off base doctor... now in vegas triwest.. i see a doctor on base... are they strict about giving referals because i am not morbid yet... but i am about 39.9 bmi.... probably 5 pounds away from morbid obesity... p.s. anyone seeing dr akinson:w00t: