I need your help!!!!!

Ok, I had Lap RNY in Nov. 2003 in Portsmouth, VA. I moved to Illinois in Aug. 2004. I went to my new PCP to get a referral to a Bariatric surgeon for follow ups. By the way, I am Tricare Prime. I went to activate my referral and they tried to send me to a doctor in Kentucky!!!!! Then they tried to send me just a general surgery!!!! I can't do that I told them. I need a bariatric surgeon. They cannot tell me of a surgeon who is in network that is a bariatric surgeon so they submitted a request for one in Wisconsin and I have to call back on Tuesday to see if it was approved, but the guy didn't sound like he thought it would be. My question is this, I know there are people who are Tricare Prime that have had surgery here. Who did you see and did you see them for follow ups? Please, I could use any help that you can give. Once I see the bariatric surgeon my regular PCP will place a referral for me to get my tummy tuck! I just can't believe I am having this much of a problem with Tricare, I have never had a problem before.

I can't help you except to maybe point you in a direction. I clicked on 'insurers' above, and chose IL, then chose 'T' - it looks like there are a few with Tricare in IL - try there, and maybe e-mail them individually? http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/list-insurers.php?State=IL&alphaPos=T

Thanks for the reply, I already tried this and was told that the surgeons weren't in the "network". I just don't get it. But I am going to see a surgeon for follow up one way or another. Tricare will get tired of hearing from me or they will give me what i want.

DUH! I just realized you're probably military.. Sorry about that.. I'm sure if you go down to Med Services on base, they can help you figure it out.. I think you'll have better luck with local med services than you would with central med services. Take a list of doctors from that link provided earlier with you.. that way you arrive prepared. Best of luck (and welcome to Illinois!!) Stef

Does Tricare Prime have a website where you can search for a surgeon? Check with your employer's HR department -- maybe they can give you a listing.. or perhaps they have a better explanation for out of network coverage since you've moved out of state on the same insurance.. or maybe they have another insurance option for you? Good luck! Stef

Thanks for your advice. I think I am going to have to find the Tricare Service Center here and go down there and get this straightened out tomorrow. I have been trying to make the rep on the phone understand wat I am saying for over 45 minutes and now i have a migraine. I know there are military around here who get the surgery so why is it so hard for me to just see the surgeon for post op visits? They really need to get their act together.