Does anyone know anything about the process that someone who is insured through Tricare Prime has to go through to have our insurance company cover the cost of the Lapband procedure?

Hi - I live in Southwest Florida. I have Tricare Prime and have been told that they don't cover it at all. It is still considered to be experimental. I had my band done last week and talked to a girl at Tricare today who said that even though Tricare won't pay for the actual band part, they do cover things like: anesthesia, pain killers, ekg, blood tests, etc. I had to pay everything up front and now am trying to get reimbursed.

I am a Tricare type, here in WA state, and chose to pay myself (ouch, but well worth the pain) and go to Monterrey, Mexico and have Dr Arturo Rodriguez place a Swedish band. ..

6weeks out and 39 pounds down. . . it is an amazing journey

feel free to contact me

Maggie

MaggieMay,

I was just curious and wondering why you are chosing the Swedish Band?

Do you have a doc over in Wa. that will work with you with that band?

I also have heard through the grapevine that the TMA of Tricare has a case

before them right now and is reviewing it. This is the highest place that writes the policies. Theres a good chance we will have an answer in the next month or two on whether or not Tricare is going to change their policy.