Question:
I still haven't gotten a consultation date..will be Sept or later before I do

I have been trying to get paperwork doen for three months now. Finally have it all almost finished and find out that the surgeon I am going with has booked appointments until the end of September 2003. When I first started they were only booked until the end of April a reasonable time frame. Now I am at my wits end I can not wait until the end of September I will drive myself and my family nuts. What can I do to keep myself from going crazy, I can do now more research on this I have been researching for 4 years. I thought by doing all the leg work for the surgeon the date wouldn't be so far away. Do any of you know a surgeon in NC that takes Tricare Prime who doesn't have a wait list of more than five months? THis site is helpful but the surgeon's listed around my area that take Tricare no longer are at that hospitol.    — S C. (posted on January 2, 2003)

January 2, 2003
I was looking on the North Carolina Surgeons list and saw that Dr. John Morton takes Tricare Prime. I don't know anything about him but it's worth checking him out. Good luck!
   — April N.

January 2, 2003
I have Tricare Prime, and I too have waiting so long and have been denied, twice and I am still fighting for surgery, but while doing my research you may want to find out (I don't know if your spouse is active duty or what), but I found out you may be able to call around to the military hospitals to see if they do the surgery or go to insurers at this website, and punch in tricare prime and that will be a start to see who takes tricare prime, and I don't know if this makes a difference but my tricare prime will only see me if I am in there region. Saint Louis is closer than Kansas City Missouri, but Tricare will not send me to Saint Louis. So maybe I helped a little. Good luck
   — Tina B.

January 2, 2003
Dr Morton is in the same office with the surgeon I am going to be seeing. He is the one who reviews all the paperwork for the patients I am not even sure if he does the surgery. But that is the same place I already have down as my surgeon for my referrel. I ahve to get another referral put in Tricare's system now before i can even think about getting a new surgeon and from calling around all day today the ones listed on this site who take Tricare are no longer working at the numbers listed for them here. One of the numbers actually goes to the Kennel Club, the area code is wrong. I am really feed up but I am going to stick this out and try not to make my husband nuts he is almost at his last straw with this whole process just as I am. I did get my approval for the psychiatrist I need and want to see. I spent the whole morning crying over this whole thing then I realized I was fat 5,10,20 years ago what is waiting 9 more months going to do other than kill me. I didn't have problems with depression when I started this three months ago but by the time all is said and done I probably will be depressed too.
   — S C.

January 2, 2003
I dont know where in NC you are,but Dr. Gonzales in Winston Salem is who I have seen on my consult,I done alot of research,and find he seems to be one of the best in this area,and him and his office staff is the greatest,really helpful,I took me about 7 weeks to get in a consult appointment, you can get one sooner with a cancel.336-784-8299 Jamie
   — jamie H.