I am Tricare prime and have been trying to get through this journey. I started talking to my original PCM about four months ago. He kept trying to discourage me and tell me to diet and exercise. The doctor I work for is a weight loss specialist so he did this great diet plan for me and I gained weight. I went back to my PCM and still wasn't getting anywhere. I switched to another doctor and on the first visit he ok-ed me to meet with w/ a WLS.

I wasn't comfortable with the surgeon Tricare sent me too, so I did a free consult with another office. I am 103lbs overweight. I have HTN and knee pain. I am 5'11 and 244lbs. I qualify and the surgeon said it shouldn't be a problem. I had my EGD, EKG, U/S and Blood work done. My referral was sent to Tricare about two weeks ago....with no answer. I called and they won't even tell me anything.

Anyone else have major problems with Tricare?

I followed my authorization request online and it only took 4 days. Good luck to you and dont give up!!

I'm Tricare standard. I had to use a "Center of Excellence" surgeon. He's head of bariatrics at a local hospital and they had someone (thank you Nadia!) do all the paperwork for me. From seminar to surgery was 1 month and my approval took about 48 hours.

I have Tricare Prime as well. From the time my paperwork was actually submitted, it was about 4 days to approval. Could your paperwork have been sent in a little later than you think and that's causing the delay?

Hope you find out something soon. I know first hand the waiting is one of the hardest parts.

We have Triwest (prime) and took 4 days from when my surgeon sent the request. I hope for an answer for you soon!

I can't get an answer out of my surgeon's office now. I have been calling all day yesterday and today...EH!

i had a HUGE debacle getting tricare to approve my surgery. i ended up calling them everyday or every other day for 2wks and FINALLY they answered me. I have no clue what the hangup was. I have tricare prime and felt like they dragged their feet, also i dealt with some liason between tricare and my surgeon at healthnet federal services that was IDIOTIC! the day before my surgery they called to ask me if i was sure i wanted to have my gastric bypass. I was like ummmm NO i'm not having bypass!! and i had to argue w/her for a few moments until they finally believed me.

AHHHH! So I can been calling Tricare and my WLS office for the last two days. I finally got through to someone at the WLS that had some knowledge of what was needed. I got their fax number and called Tricare back because they needed to know what Fax number the auth request was coming from. Turns out they never faxed it in!! So I call back to the WLS office and they argue and say they did and they will fax it again. They still have not faxed it! I am so pissed and angry I started crying....

So It's finally listed on their website. For some reason the follow up care and fills got approved just not the actual surgery yet! Can you believe that?! HA. Wish me luck!

I was approved. Had pre-op yesterday and my surgery is scheduled one week from today! YAY!

Good for you! You've had a dreadful time! Now you get to be excited!

Tricare was very fast for me. They faxed the letter on 4/29 and I had my approval online 4/30 and my surgery on 5/12.

When all else fails with tricare, call and ask for a case manager. Things will get done much faster with someone you can specifically call and contact.

This was the first time tricare was so easy.

Watch out though - if your surgeon typcially does surgery with an assistant or two....you might get denied after the it is done.

They require TWO Surgeons during the procedure.