First orientation today

Today I went to visit intake counselor. Learned they may not take my secondary insurance Tricare and have to wait util Monday to find out. Otherwise it would require going to Ocala instead of Jacksonville. I also have to quit smoking. Bought patches instaead os a carton. Had sort of planned to do this as part of going under.Also learned it may take 4 months to get approval. I wish I were more optimistic. I will have to get cardiac clearance, which I knew but also psychiatric and do upper GI.

Judy, first, good job on the first step in your journey, it IS a long one. All of us had to do all the tests (and more) that you are talking about. I also have not heard of any surgeon that will let you keep smoking..... my journey was a total of 10months long, i have tricare and they required 6 months of weight counceling before i could get a referral to anything....then i had a psych appt, sleep study, nutritionist, and more....then to the bariatric surgeon, then waiting for my scheduled surgery. it was long yes, but there are some that have to go thru 18 months of weight consuling before they can move further.....its just an insurance thing. im not trying to burst your bubble....just wanted to let you know that we all go thru it, we are here for the venting and questions!! hope that it all goes smoothly for you throughout the process!!! take care~ jen

I have never heard of Tricare requiring 6 months of weight counseling. Are you standard or prime? Are you sure that was not just unique to your surgeon or PCP? I have tricare standard and I did not have to do any sort of supervised diet or weight counseling. With tricare I would say it was not an insurance thing -- but a doctor thing. Now with other insurance carriers it is an insurance thing -- but not tricare. Red

i have tricare prime, it was an insurance requirement. i have 3 friends in our support group who all have tricare (2 prime, and 1 standard) and they all had to have the 6 months of weight counseling. we had one who didnt do it and her PCP went ahead with the referral and she was denied for not having the 6 months. that was just this jan. i dont know, some get away with nothing then there are some that have to do everything by the book.....i would rather do what they say and not get denied and it take more time then only have one chance at appeal. glad it was easy for you tho.... take care~ jen

Tricare is my secondary insurance. Is that the case with either of you? Did they require precert as a secondary? How long did it take?

Tricare standard is my primary. The surgeon's office should be able to let you know if you need pre-authorization for your secondary insurance. Will your primary be covering any of the cost? Red

Red, requirements Change nearly every year if not daily as to Requirement for such as Pre-surgey Diets. Even Medicaid this year now requires the 6 month Doctors Supervised Diet.

My Primary should cover ... but it has a $2200 deductible, then pays 90%. I think the first issue is whether MD will take Tricare. Normally don't but may as secondary. Bottom line - It would mean thousands to me w/ hospital , labs, and other stuff.

The supervised diet is not listed as a requirement in the Tricare reg. Tricare is not like any other insurance. Can you give the me the reference for the medicare diet?