Tricare Standard

Has anyone gotten Tricare approval for a Sleeve Gastrectomy?  Lapband is not feasible for me because I have a hiatal hernia that would create problems.  Gastric bypass seems to have too many negatives.  The Sleeve seems to be the best option at the moment.   I am wondering if there is any chance to get Tricare to approve it.
Zeva

You can try, but it will be slim to none...they are very set in their ways. 

Hi Zeva~I'm in the same boat.  Although  I have seen a few people get the VSG at military treatment facilities, Tricare specifically states VSG is excluded.  Also be warned that if you self-pay for the procedure (as I plan to do) and there are complications, Tricare will NOT cover those charges (if they are coded as a complication of a non-covered procedure).

Tough choices, but I also will not have a procedure as serious as WLS that I do not want.  The daily consequences are too serious.

Good luck in your search.........and if you do find information to the contrary of what I've posted, please contact me! 

I know that when I had my band done they automatically checked for and repair any hiatal hernia that a person may have and since tricare covers banding and the hernia repair does that still exclude you from getting one??

The current doctor I saw said that banding with a hernia would be too risky and that he would not do it even with a repair that area would be weaker and I would end up with too many complications.   Besides my bmi is 64 which puts me way up there,   I weigh 3 times what I should weigh.   So my chances of success with a lapband is not as good as someone with less weight and the risk is higher.   I also suffer from acid reflux and sleep apnea.     At this point I am not sure what I am going to do.   I don't have the funds to pay the co-pays but then again I am uncertain whether surgery would be the prudent way to go.    I really don't want to make my health problems worse. 

Z

Nope...I have very similar stats as you. My BMI is 61. My lap band surgery date is May 26. At that time they will fix my hinatial hernia and do a biobsy on my liver. The sleve looks like a great option,but i subscribe to the "tricare is only going to pay for something they deem safe and effective" thought...so for now,I choose the lap band. I hope you get the answers you are looking for and wish you the best of luck!