Question:
ANYONE HAVE DIFFICULTIES WITH TRICARE PRIME

Help, tricare is scarying me!! They received my paperwork from the surgeon a week ago and told me it would only take a few days and that it would NOT have to go to second level review. NOW, it has gone to second level review as of this morning. My surgery date is 2weeks away and I am becoming very nervous. Please has anyone else had this happen to them? I am looking for anything, good or bad, just let me know of your experience and how you handled things and what your outcome was. Thanks so much. I am FRANTIC....    — ncgal (posted on July 26, 2001)

July 26, 2001
Tricare!!!! I hate Tricare. I haven't even gone to see the surgeon and they are already giving me a hard time. I can't wait till I try and get approved. I am very qualified for the surgery but I know they will make it difficult.
   — jenna F.

July 26, 2001
I have TriCare Prime too. Other then having to follow the everything they say..it was not too bad for me. I did call and get one persons name and #, and called her only. She helped me soooooo much. I got mine approved within 2 weeks, and all the pre-op testing done as well. Feel free to email me if you want. Good luck!
   — Cindy S.

July 26, 2001
Are you active or retired? I don't know if it makes a difference but I have Tricare Standard (Retired) and had no problems at all. The doctors office handled all the paper work.
   — JoAnn H.

July 26, 2001
I have Tricare Extra, I didn't enroll in prime because I didn't want to have to get referrals for every darn thing. As to your question, they approved me in two weeks with no problems. Good Luck,
   — Becky K.

July 26, 2001
Not only did I get approved by Tricare Prime with no problem, one of the ladies working there went above and beyond. My original referral had expired, the first surgeon I went to see was a total dud--he put the paper work in with them, got my approval and then decided he didn't want to deal with patients using Tricare without a huge cash deposit up front. He told me not to call his office to check on my approval that he would call me, well he never did. So the rep called me and asked if I was still interested in surgery and I said yes so she found a new surgeon in a different town and I had a new appointment for a consult within the month. After the new surgeon's office put my paperwork thru by fax, I was approved OVER THE PHONE in one day! That was 10 months and 111 pounds ago. I also didn't have any co-mobidities. Good luck and hang in there! Missy
   — Missy H.

July 26, 2001
Good Luck! Tricare said that i had to be under the care of thepost nutritionist for 6 months before they would even consider my aplication for the surgey. Well, the nutrtionist tried to help me get passed that stage but their is some secret code that noone is telling me. I am in waiting right now, for what i dont know. The referral nursr form Tricare here told me that Tricare doesn't usually approve this surgery and that i should hear something from tricare in 10 days. I dont know whether to be hopefull or not. Plus, the surgeon they will send me to in Ft. Benning, GA isnt even on the American Bariatric Associatin list. That is frightening to me.
   — Brandi W.

July 26, 2001
My sister has Tricare Prime. She did not know that it had gone to second level until after she was approved. Don't panic. This is the only type of weight loss program that Tricare will approve (according to what I have been told). We were wondering how you were able to get a surgery date before you were approved. Wish I could do that. I was just approved by Cigna and now won't know about a date for another 2 weeks. Anyway, the time span from when they received your paperwork and going through the first level seems pretty fast. Your second level should go fast also. When Tricare told my sister hers was approved at the second level, they assured her that just because it is sent to the second level, doesn't mean it will be denied. If you have any questions, you may contact my sister at my e-mail address at [email protected]. I will be praying for you that all goes quickly and well.
   — Mary S.