I am so frustrated I want to cry (warning whiny rant)

Oh, and here is Dr. McClellan's OH profile. http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bariatric+surgeon+profile+Leslie+McClellan+dkb.ht ml

Dr. McClellan was the doctor I chose, as she was listed on the Tricare listing as General Surgeon, Specialist. I call the center and talked with the insurance coordinator and they will not accept Tricare. I found the Kane Center on my search last night. Their website says that they accept Tricare, but I am not able to find any of their doctors listed. So I am waiting for a call back from the insurance coordinator there. Tricare medfinder has told me to get the Federal ID number and they can do a trace that way. I am just afraid that if I go to Wisconsin for the WLS, and something happens that I might not get the medical care I need, or I will get some quack who doesn't have any knowledge and screws it up. ugh...............this makes me want to go

That is weird that she is a Tricare participating provider but doesn't accept Tricare. Maybe she stopped accepting it recently? Sorry that didn't work out, she looked pretty close to your current locations. With the Kane Center accepting Tricare. Be careful. When I searched for my dentist (I know Tricare medical and Tricare dental are not exactly the same thing but....) I found a father/son practice that accepted Tricare. My kids and I went to our appointments, and a couple weeks later when I got Tricare's "this is not a bill" statement showing how much they paid, it said my dentist wasn't a participating provider and I would have to pay (to my dentist) the difference from what my dentist charges and Tricare allows. I assumed because they accepted Tricare they were in-network, but they weren't. It was only like $15-20 extra, per person, not a huge deal. But the difference in what a surgeon charges for WLS and what Tricare allows is in the thousands. I understand too about not wanting to do the 50+ miles, because like you said what if there is complications? I'm sure you already did, but did you ask on the Illinios board about closer surgeons? I hope you can find the resolution soon! Much Luck!! Andi

Ok, here is an idea, many moons ago when my husband was active duty, Tricare was called Champus. Maybe they haven't had a patient in a while, so they don't recognize it. I might go and check this one out.

I am Tricare Prime and I had my surgery done Aug 1st. My surgeon is 3 hours away. I live on Fort Stewart and I had to go to Fort Gordon for my surgey. Which is a 3 hour drive one way . And I have been going there since April for my appts to get the surgery done. It can be done. When I had my surgery I had to stay in the Fort Gordon area till my first checkup which was 13 days later at that time I was cleared to drive home. And yes they will pay you mileage to go I just have never done it going to get a printout this Mon when I go for my one month appt.

Don't worry about ranting and whinning, that's why we are here. I am on Tricare Prime and my out of pocket expenses were $250 and that was for the nutritionist, supplements and the shake they wanted me to start with. I also had to pay $129 for the psychologist. Everything else was covered. I am lucky and have a dr about 15 miles away. Some Drs are listed as a provider, but have quit taking tricare. It is up and down. 3 years ago there was not a single orthopedic surgeon around here that would take Tricare. Now there are about 6. I am seeing a dr that is 350 miles away. If I am lucky I will be able to have my knee replacement done here instead of Ogden, Utah. Do you have some friends around that could help you with your son? I would call the other drs that do the procedure in your area and ask if they would consider taking Tricare. I know that a center in SLC, Utah is not a provider, but they have taken it for some patients. Take care, Diana