Tri Care Insurance

Could any of the VA folks that used Tri Care give me some input on how your process went and where you had or will have your surgery done?  I got a call from the surgeons office today and their information was in conflict with what Tri Care had told me.  My BMI is 43.9 I am 5'2" , 240 and have high blood pressure for over 5 yrs.  and the lowest my weight has been in that time is 210.  Surgeron office says I will need a 6 month supervised program to get approved.

Tricare rules are 6 month Dr supervised diet, 100 pounds overweight or less then 100 w/comorbitdities. they also require nutrition and psych counciling.

Thanks for the reply.  I just spoke with someone from Blue Point  Surgery and you are correct.  Now I just got to figure out exactly what they mean.  If it is just meeting with the Dr. every month and discusssing the weight, at 51 I seem to see him that often anyway!!  Guess diet starts tomorrow no matter what.

It is supervised weight lose. It can be WW,TOPS or any other type supervised weight loss. You go in and get on the scale. It could be your MD or a nutrionist. It really goes by a lot faster than you think it will. I had to do this also at Portsmouth. Good luck. Surgery on 14July and I'm down 74 pounds!!

I just had RNY in June through Tri-Care.  I couldn't use my WW records and the medically supervised diet.  I had to go to a nutritionist at the Tri-Care clinic for 6 months.  That was the longest part.  I was able to get all of the other requirements done during that 6 month stretch.  Good luck.  It is SO worth it!

Good Job to you!!  You are the closest to my area, where did you get your surgery done.  I was sold on the LapBand I thought,  but further research makes it seem that RNY would be better.  I am 51 years old 5'2" , 241 with BMI at 44.  Blood pressure high over 6 years,  weight has gone from 240 in 02 to 210 in 04 and been climbing back up since.  I also have problems with me feet and knees and diabetic history in the family.  I hope this things will make my process faster and that my PCP can write up something that will make TriCare skip the "6 month weight classes".  I have been able to talk extensively with Bluepoint Surgical Group out of Potomac Hospital and they have a seminar in Fredericksburg tomorrow.  I will go even though they said I didn't have to because I had attended a different one last month.  I have a consult appointment on Monday so cross them fingers and toes for me.

Jardenia

I'm sorry that WW won't work for you. That stinks. I hope you can get what you need before your health gets any worse. Good luck.