Question:
How hard is it to get approved for gastric bypass at Womack Hospital at Fort Bragg.

I am 5'8 and 255 pounds and I am currently schelduled to take test to see if I have sleep apnea. My doctor understands what I am going through and has referred me to womack, but I am worried that they will not approve me if I don't have a co-morbid.    — awjones30 (posted on February 22, 2008)

February 21, 2008
First, you need to check your BMI. Check on Google, and there are plenty of sites to figure that out. Check with your insurance company or doctor to see what you have to do to qualify for weight loss surgery, or if your insurance company has any exclusion. Many insurance companies have the following restrictions: BMI>40, BMI<40 with 2-3 co mobid conditions. Co morbid conditions may be diabetes, sleep apnea, ankle or knee joint problems (including possible joint replacement), high blood pressure, using cholestorol lowering drugs, etc. If your insurance company covers it and you have met it's conditions then you'll probably have to do a couple of more things. Many insurance companies require a DOCUMENTED participation in a weight loss program of at least 6 month (weight watchers, etc.) and may also require classroom instruction of 20 or more weeks on dieting and the weight loss surgery. All of these conditions may vary somewhat, but these seem to be general qualifications from what I experienced, and what I've heard from dozens of RNY patients at bariatric surgery support groups. DAVE
   — Dave Chambers

February 22, 2008
You need to talk to Jasmine who is the nurse that heads up the bariatric program at WOMACK Army Hospital. The program is very imformative and everyone is always willing to explain and educate.
   — sablek2001

February 22, 2008
Every insurance has different requirements. Obesity was my only problem. I had RNY on 1/7/08. Good luck.
   — mary_rn

February 23, 2008
Hi Angela, I'm assuming that you have Tricare Prime. I have Tricare Prime. They absolutely WILL NOT even consider covering you without a co-morbid unless you have a BMI of 40 or above. Basically, you need to weigh 263 at your height in order to consider qualifying. You have to be 100 overweight with co-morbids or 200% your ideal weight. Check out Mytricare.com and type in weightloss surgery. I am working the Tricare game myself! I have a BMI of 43.3 with only borderline metabolic problems. But I have joint, spine and mobility problems as well as depression. And I'm nervous too. I'm NOT a professional so I'm probably not supposed to tell you something like this but...here goes...gain 8 pounds!?! Please let me know how you do! Jules
   — Julie Nolan

February 23, 2008
I would go ahead and get the sleep apnea test and if it is positive then you have a co-morbidity. I had luckily done this a year before I was looking into my lapband so I had that already done which made things easier.
   — LindaJ.

February 23, 2008
Angela, I had my surgery at Eisehnower on Ft. Gordon - I didn't have to go through any of the "tricare" hoops - I went to my PCM and asked for a referal down to the Bariatric Surgery Clinic - I got my referal, waited about a month to get seen and then had my surgery 5 weeks later. I was 210.5 lb and 5 foot 1 inch making my BMI 39.7 - I had slightly high cholesterol (not on meds) and plantar facitis in both my feet - neither considered true "comorbidities" - Good luck - we get a lot of people from other bases coming here for surgery - maybe you should give it a try - the 3 doctors here are WONDERFUL!! Good Luck
   — machre