Question:
Seeking The Advice of Other Tricare Patients

TRICARE PATIENTS HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE SURGERY? I KNOW THAT EVERY PLACE IS DIFFERENT BUT FOR THOSE WITH TRICARE I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW HOW LONG DID YOU HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE THE ACTUAL SURGERY JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW LONG I WILL BE WAITING MY VERY FIRST VISIT TO THE SURGEON IS 6-24 SO HOPEFULLY I WILL BE APPROVED FROM THERE JEN 5'1 235LBS BMI 44.4    — JENNIFER S. (posted on June 15, 2003)

June 15, 2003
Hi there. I looked into having my surgery at the military hospital near where I live and the waiting list was over 2 years! I went the civilian route instead and from my initial visit with the surgeon to my actual surgery date was about 5 months.
   — Anne R.

June 15, 2003
Hi, I am having my sugery this Thursday. I was suppose to have surgery last month this time. I came down with pneumonia so my surgery was post-poned until this week. I started with my orientation on March 25th. Breezed through all the tests in 6 weeks. I was given a 4 to 6 month waiting period. But, I am very persistant. The longest waiting period was for the sleep study. I asked them if a patient cancelled would they call me in on short term notice. They did and I was done with that test in two weeks. I think many people don't hop on the testing and that will be the only thing that holds you up. Hope this helps. If you have any other questions let me know. Sincerely, Christine Abrams
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 15, 2003
I am afraid I am not having very much luck as far as Tri-care goes. Our local military hospital is refusing to allow any new patients to see a civilian doctor, and I was told I would have to wait anywhere from a year to 18 months. It really kills me, because they don't even have a surgeon at the hospital that is doing gastric bypass!! One is retired, and the other one left for whatever reason. Gee, one would think this would be a good time to deffer patients out. lol Every base is different, you may have much better luck. Best wishes!
   — AnneK.

June 15, 2003
i have tricare prime. my consult date was friday the 13th. after i have my testing done i will go back for another appointment and then two weeks after that appointment i will have my surgery date. if taken care of right away the doctors says i should have the surgery by beggining of august. it all depends again on where you are located. the nearest in network doctor was a two year wait so i was allowed to go out of network and was seen within two weeks of approval. good luck
   — tacy T.

June 15, 2003
My journey was ok. I actually did not have to wait on Tricare- my waiting was all on the surgeon. I saw my PCM on Oct. 8, 2002. I got a referral and it was approved in 2 days- I next had to get all the papers needed by my surgeon-but I started that before even asking for the referral- so that maybe took a week. I then submitted it to the surgeon and then had to wait for them to call me with an appointment time. That call came in December ( 2 months later). I had my 1st consult on Jan. 6, 2003. I had to return for a weight check on Jan. 20th and then the surgeon would submit paperwork. It took the surgeon about 3 weeks to get it all together. Around February 12th, The papers were sent to my insurance- They got them on the 14ths in the morning and I had an approval by afternoon and a surgery date shortly after. My surgery was April 3rd-6weeks later-that is what the surgeon had available. You see- I never had on bit of trouble with the Tricare office here. I thought they were very effecient. Good Luck- feel free to email me if you have any questions.
   — Jan S.

June 15, 2003
Tricare does not determine the time you wait for surgery, so I am not sure what you are asking. Nobody's insurance determines the wait for surgery. The wait is determined by the schedule of your surgeon. Tricare approved me in one day. It took me 4 months to have my first consult with the surgeon, and that was in April and my surgery is scheduled for August 6th. I will have a total of about 9 months from approval to the surgery date. I have read that people have had to wait up to one year to have there surgery done. The closest military base that does the WLS has a 6 month waiting list for WLS.
   — cindy