Question:
Tricare only approved on post, but they are not doing surgery,...help

Fort Campbell KY has approved alot of patients but we are on a waiting list while those not military are having surgery daily. We really need guidance. The reason is that the surgery is considered elective and therefore not emergency. The witing list is growing daily. Only two per month now.    — mary H. (posted on December 18, 2002)

December 17, 2002
Why don't you use the tricare extra and pay 15% of the bill and you can go to a doctor in the network. I think that is a better option personally. You can then find a doctor who is more experienced in doing this procedure. Look at the doctors list and see who takes tricare and just switch your plan from prime to extra. I think you can always switch back after the surgery.
   — April N.

December 17, 2002
i am in the same boat..navy...norfolk va i started May of this year...my surgery would have been now..but low iron...reschedule march 11,03...i was wonder also why out side surgery happens so much faster??i was told that the doctor get called away some times..MEETINGS AND THEY DO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT..ect SO IT IS TAKING ABOUT 10 MONTHS...AND TRI-CARE TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT COVER AN OUT SIDE DOCTOR...WHEN I CAN WAIT AND GET IT DONE ON BASE.I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SINCE WE ARE HAVING IT DONE FOR FREE...WE SHOULD NOT MIND WAITTING....SO I AM WAITING
   — angela-thomas

December 17, 2002
Just to let you know, if you do opt to use Extra, there is (or there used to be) a one year waiting period before you can reenroll in Prime. Are you sure you can't get a letter to go outside? If it is proven medically necessary, a years wait is way too long, I would fight it.
   — Virginia N.

December 19, 2002
i have tricare prime but not using a military dr. had no problems so far. i found the surgeon on here and he is handling tricare for me. no turndowns so far.
   — tacy T.

December 19, 2002
Mary, I too have Tricare Prime. I live at Fort Knox, KY and we now have a surgeon that is doing wls on post. My PCM referred me to a surgeon in Louisville for the surgery and I had no problems. I also had comorbities developing. Talk to your PCM and if he/she can request surgery to be performed asap because of health reasons maybe Tricare will then approve your request for a civilian doctor. Good luck and keep me posted.
   — Kathy C.