Question:
Tricare patients in Tampa, FL or theTricare South Region, can you give me specifics?

I have read many Tricare q&a's. However, most of the information is old(er), and polices seem to change quite frequently. I have read that some people were asked to do the 6 month pre-op diet. I am just curious if this is still applicable. I spoke with Tricare, my PCP, and a possible surgeon's office and all say it's not required. I just wanted to hear from recent patients to get the most updated information possible. Also,ANY other tips you guys can give me from your experience would be great. Even if you just give me your profile I can read over your personal experience to get an idea of what I can expect. Thanks!    — brightstarlite (posted on January 28, 2009)

January 28, 2009
Hi I have Tricare as well, I did not have to diet 6 months ahead of time but I had a history of lifetime on and off diet programs.. I had no problem getting tricare to pay but they had a couple of silly request I did them and it was smooth sailing I had surgery 4 months ago and feel great Good Luck
   — Trulynn

January 28, 2009
I was approved thru tricare 5 years ago and even then there needed to be at least 6 months of pre op diet...HOWEVER, they took my word rather than make me go do a supervised diet...I did WW for a year and lost 20 lbs and gained back 40...I didn't need to prove that with documentation although I could have if they asked....I have my medical records that show I have been obese a long time and my comorbidities as a result of weight gain. I am not one to go to the docs often...but everytime you go they record your weight...I had records of high and lows from dieting...and it was enough to not have to do any supervised diets...Tricare was great...although I went thru a civilian surgeon since miltary hospitals had very few bariatric surgeons back then...and I learned sooooooo much more from a civilian registered dietician than I learned from the nutrition class tricare gave me at my clinic...Tricare would not pay for my surgeons mandatory nutition class...It was the BEST 200 bucks outta pocket I ever paid for. Well good luck! It was easy for me back then to get approved...I still had a year waiting list though...It's faster now I hear! I will tell you this though...long term bariatric care is not so great...so you best learn as much as you can on your own about vits and nutrition and how your body works...especially long term...You best make sure you become your own health care advocate as well...My PCP at the health care clinic has NO CLUE whatsoever what tests to run or how to treat me. I educate my doc and hand her what tests I want run every yaer or six months if I am having troubles...(Which I have with nutrition) I have to keep on top of my labs and know how to read them...The docs just look for lows or highs...and if you are slowly dropping out of range, but stay in normal, byu the time next year rolls around, you can be severely deficient...I KNOW! I get copies of all my labs and know how to read them and what they mean! (in general) I still need my doc to help with some of that...But I am lucky in that my tricare PCP has been wiith me for 15 years and knows me and allows and even applauds me for taking charge and educating her! Just so you know some of the things to expect especially if you are stationed where there is no bariatric surgeon/ unit or hopstial or someone at your family clinic that KNOWS anything about your new anatomy! This has been MY experience and I live in the DC area where there are military bases all around me...and no bariatric docs in my clinic! Amazing!
   — .Anita R.

January 28, 2009
I had RNY under Tricare in Sept 2007. I am in Jacksonville. No supervised diet required. Had to have BMI of 40 or less w/ comorbidities. The Tricare manual is on line. I have it saved in a file and if you want to email me, I will reply and attach it or you cn get it at site. I had surgery in Ocala to get MD in network at Bariactric cnter for excellence. They now cover lapband but did not when I had mine. I had no problems with them at all. They would not pay for aby plastics thogh they say they will pay for "medical reasons" after WLS. They considered mine cosmetic.
   — JTR

January 29, 2009
I began investigating WLS August 08, had my first meeting with the surgeon in September, followed all his guidelines, had the OK of my pcp, was not required to diet preop per Tricare South and my surgeon. My BMI was 39 with comorbids. I was approved in December and had my RNY bypass January 6 of this year. Maybe I was one of the lucky ones but it all fell into place for me. Good luck to you. Nancy W
   — Nancy W.

January 29, 2009
Hi, I had lap Band on 10-7-08 and have Tricare. I seen the Dr and they sent the paper work to Tricare and ws approved in 3 days. Didnt have to wait or do anything for Tricare. Good Luck
   — kthall

February 2, 2009
I had lap band on Sept 9, 08. Found out in the Tricare newsletter in Spring 08 that they had begun to pay for lapband if you were 200% of your ideal weight or if you had high BMI w/comorbidities. All I had to do was see the base nutritionist and see psych for evaluation. I had long history of diets I had been on, and was at the 200% mark, so it wasn't hard to meet the requirements, and I didn't have to do a 6 month pre-op diet. My PCM put in referral to a bariatric surgeon. After I had consultation w/my bariatric surgeon, they filed for approval and we got it back in just a few days. Good Luck! Hope all goes well for you. You can see my profile under "nfocus74"...
   — nfocus74

February 5, 2009
Here at Ft Sill they have a WLS program set up. You have to attend a seminar, one support group meeting, 2 nutritionist meetings, be cleared by ur PCM, meet one on one with the surgeon, have a EGD done if your haveing RNY,get a psyc eval, go back to the surgeon to get a date & poof ur done. I started the process Dec 3,08. I have most of the process complete, and am looking at a surgery date of mid to late march/early april. So in total about 4 months. Not to bad considering some stories I have heard. Good luck to you.
   — EOD WIFE