Hi! Newbie here!

Welcome to the boards K-gal.  I hope you find your stay here wonderful. 

Rahsheeda

Hi K-gal,

I have Tricare Standard.  I don't know anything about Tricare Prime, however, I just got myself a LapBand on August 12th.  Tricare approved it so I am expecting them to pay!!! LOL  I don't understand why Tricare Prime is not covering LapBand.  Tricare Standard started covering the LapBand in Jan of 07 (I think that is right).  When I frist started thinking about having the surgery they would not cover the LapBand only Gastric Bypass so I held out until they started doing the LapBand.  I seem to remember some others on the boards saying that Prime was covering now.  You might want to check it out again.  I emailed Tricare and they sent me back an email saying the were covering. 

Anyway, I really just wanted to welcome you to the boards.

Good luck with Tricare,

Hey Vera-

Really??? That is promising! To be quite honest, I haven't called anyone to ask  I have just looked it up online- I think I may have to call on my way home!!!

What is the old saying- what happens when you assume??? hee hee hee

Vera, I am curious- why did you go with Lap Band over RNY?? ( and congratulations by the way!!)
Thanks for the info and the warm welcome =)

I am pre-op and I also have BCBS, but I was told by my surgeon's office that my coverage was no problem at all.  I am a teacher and I have State Employees comprehensive major medical.   At my BMI it will only cover RNY though, but Dr. Chapman says lapband is not right for me anyway since I have so much to lose.  I was initially very upset about that since I really had my heart set on lapband, but I had a long think about it, did some research, and talked to several people who had had the RNY.  They are all tickled pink they did it and have no regrets.

Hi K-Gal and welcome. I'm a newbie here myself. I'm in Charlotte.
I'm waiting on more tests to be done and paperwork to be sent to BCBS for VSG surgery.
Check out my profile. I had lap band done a year ago and developed a leak. So here I go again lol. What a roller coaster!!!
Good luck to you!

Hello.   I had my surgery done on 9/9/08 by Dr. Classen in Fayetteville.   I researched the RNY procedure for almost 4 years before finally deciding to go ahead with it.  Of course just being post-surgery for 10 days I'm very sore but  I'm very happy that I've had it  done.  I haven't talked to anyone *****grets having the surgery just that they didn't do it sooner.  See if your doctor has a support group meeting you can attend to actually talk to patients who have already gone through the procedure, it really helps.  Dr. Classen started me on the cabbage diet a week before surgery and between that and the surgery I've lost 22.4 pounds already. 

My insurance company refused to pay for the surgery and I literally emptied my savings to have it done and would do it again in a heart beat!   I just felt I wanted it bad enough to pay for it myself.  I even looked into going to Mexico, where it costs less than half but worried about developing problems in a foreign country.  Anyway, for me the decision was worth the expense.  Also, surgeons and hospitals will discount self-pay patients so you may want to check into that too.

I know it's a difficult decision, but it's so worth it!  Good luck and God bless.  I'm sure you'll make the right choice.

Take care and good luck!!

I am doing the lap band. I have done so much research on this. It is important to know the pros and cons about both surgeries. Lap band can be reversed but only if there is complications. RNY is almost impossible to reverse but revisions can be done. There is a book called Weight loss surgery for Dummies. THere is a website for realize lap band and the AP lab band. Look at those before you make a decision.

Call the insurance company ask them if the lap band is covered. They can tell you exactly and then tell you where to look in the manual. It is a big decison and one that will be with you the rest of your life.

I am comfortable with my decision but only after much research and reading on here every day. There are different forums. Make sure you check out the lap band from the forums at the top of the page.

Tam

Hi KGal,

My name is Barb and I'm an 'old timer' on this forum. I had my surgery about 16 months ago. I've been kind of MIA for a while, so I haven't been posting often lately, but I hope to be more active soon.

It's nice to meet you and I'd like to welcome you to one of the nicest forums on OH. I have a support group that meets in Raleigh on the 3rd Saturday of each month. They will be meeting this Saturday morning. I am in NY with my daughter, but my husband will be running the meeting for me this month. You are most welcome to join us anytime. You can get more information about the meeting at http://wls.meetup.com/101.

Next, please contact Darcie and DebM that often post on this forum; both are incredibly nice, supportive, military wives that have had the surgery. I imagine that they can help re: insurance issues. I'm pretty sure that Darcie said that she used Tricare. I also suggest that you post to the insurance, main, and surgery type boards re: tricare and coverage ... you will likely get some responses from others that may help you navigate the insurance issues you are facing.

Wishing you every success as you make this incredible journey,

Barb