Question:
Has anyone had the surgery on Tricare
if so did you have to do the nutritionalist thing for 3 months before they approved you ? — Faith K. (posted on January 15, 2008)
January 15, 2008
I had surgery on January 3, 2008 with Tricare being our insurance. I did
not have to do the nutritionalist thing for 3 months before approval. I'm
not sure exactly what you are referring to when you say
"nutritionalist thing", but I just went to my physician and
waited for the answer for a referral. Any more questions, let me know.
LaDonna
— ladonna08
January 15, 2008
I used TRICARE (prime) and had to do a 6 month supervised diet counseling.
It probably was my Doctors routine. I didn't have to lose any weight
persay, but had an appointment with the NUT every month for 6 months to
show I was eating as healthy as I could. I had my surgery at Portsmouth
Naval medical center in VA. Didn't cost me a thing, and great care.
— VA_Bill
January 15, 2008
I had surgery 11/24/03 and yep, I had to do the 12 week supervised diet. I
was at Portsmouth Naval Hospital and I just went to their weekly nutrition
class and was weighed in every week and it was documented and that was it.
— KittyKatt
January 16, 2008
My RNY is scheduled for Monday (21 Jan). I have Tricare Prime. I called
Tricare & asked if the surgery was covered. They asked me some
questions (weight, height, medical/co-morbity issues, etc.) and told me to
choose a surgeon from the handbook. They also told me that if I chose a
surgeon that was designated a "Bariatric Surgery Center of
Excellence" that my approval would be much faster. I did not ask my
PCM for a referral. I just chose Dr. R. Bryan Freeman from the Tricare
Handbook and made an appointment with him. At my consultation with Dr.
Freeman, the staff put together all my information and sent to Tricare for
approval. I was approved for RNY or Lap Band in less that 30 days. If you
need any information or assistance from me, please contact me through this
website. - dj
— DJ Wood
January 16, 2008
I had Tricare almost 5 years ago when I had my surgery. My PCP had told me
that he wanted to monitor my diet for a few months to a year. I had told
him that I knew what I ate, and it wasn't a bunch of grease and unhealthy
food, etc. I could just eat a lot of it. They let me bypass that part of
the requirements, although I did do the psych-eval and other testing.
However, that was 5 years ago. Three months isn't bad though, considering
that many insurance companies require at least a year.
— Karla V.
January 16, 2008
I worked for TRICARE for 13 years and they do have a requirement per policy
for 6 month supervised diet. You can locate the requirements on the TMA
website under policy manuals.
— vickylw1
January 17, 2008
I have Tricare Prime, no documentation was required from me or my Doctor
reguarding diet before I was referred by tricare as long as I met the other
requirements, diet was not apart of the decision. letter of
reccommendations by the docs, history of other related health problems and
100 lbs over weight, or 200% over weight with no underlying health
problems. That is what Tricare told me and I was approved. Ofcourse I had
diet things in my record if I needed them but I never had to submit diet
information. Unless they recently changed withing the last 6 months diet is
not a requirement. I recieved my surgery on June 12 of this past year.
— Crissy_Moran
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