Question:
Need help with procedures...

okay I am new here and pretty clueless about my insurance other then it covers WLS (BMI 40+ or 100lbs over) I went to my PCP on Tuesday and asked for a referral...she said sure just wanted to do some blood tests first (thyroid, misc) She said she would call Friday with the referral...my question to all you military insurance experts :) do I need a verbal or written referral? Do I have the surgery with a military doc or civilian? I am near Walter Reed hospital and pretty sure there is a doc there that does them... I have no idea what to do next and I dont really think that my PCP does either because she wasnt even sure they offered the surgery... anyone who knows ANYTHING please fill me in... Thanks!!!!    — Vegas_ T. (posted on May 21, 2003)

May 21, 2003
HAVE YOU TRIED CALLING TRICARE. SURELY SOMEBODY THERE COULD GIVE YOU AN ANSWER OR MAYBE CALL WALTER REED TO SEE IF THEY COULD GIVE YOU SOME POINTERS. GOOD LUCK
   — ANGELA H.

May 21, 2003
Have you looked under your state and companies under insurers at the top of the WLS page with all the other catagories? Had I known about this site and that site before I tried to get my previous insurance company who did not approve my surgery I would have saved myself a year of fighting, my new insurance did approve and is listed on that page. Good Luck!
   — Laura K.

May 21, 2003
I had my surgery done at Elmendorf Air Force Base, in Alaska. My PCP put in a referral to the surgery clinic, and the surgery clinic called me and started me on their program. You could call the surgery clinic at Walter Reed and ask if they do it, how long the wait is, what you have to do next, ect. If you don't have any luck with them, call the Tricare office on base, or whatever one is closest to you. Good luck!! :)
   — Diana L.

May 21, 2003
I'm post-op and under TriCare Prime. My Doctor sent a referral to TriCare and TirCare approved a preop visit to our local surgeon here in Pensacola. (Civilian) He had me accomplish the MMPI test (I paid for out of pocket) prior to my first visit to his office. After my visit he put together a package to TriCare for approval for the RYB procedure. I received the approval in approx. 3 weeks and 2 weeks later had it done. I'm now 2 weeks postop. Hope this helps and your able to receive the same excellent results as easily as I have. Good Luck
   — Bill M.

May 23, 2003
I had my surgery done at Walter Reed by the one and only Dr. Kim Marley. He is just an amazing doctor! I know that his waiting list is pretty long, but it was so worth waiting for. He has been deployed to Iraq, but has just returned. Anyway, you should get a written referral from your PCP to the general surgery clinic/Dr. Marley for a WLS consultation. His coordinator's name is Jan Yatsko, and she is also a sweetheart. If you have your surgery done at Walter Reed, there is no Tricare or insurance to deal with. I know that some people have been given Tricare approval and told to go outside to a civilian because the backlog was so great. My advice, if you can wait for Dr. Marley, you would be in the best hands ever. If you'd like to email me, feel free to write me at [email protected]. Good luck!
   — Gerry Y.