Question:
Can you go outside of a military facility if they don't perform the lap RNY?

I have tricare prime and the military surgeon here only performs the open RNY with removal of the excess stomach. I'd like to explore my options re. the lap procedure or mini-gastric bypass. Has anyone had any experience getting approval off-base like this? Would switching to tricare standard help me?    — Donna L. K. (posted on May 7, 2000)

May 7, 2000
You should be able to get a non-availability statement if the sercvices you want and need are unavailable at the MTF near you. If you get a NAS and visit an in network surgeon, Tricare will pay as if the surgery was in an MTF with a military doc. If you can't get the NAS you can still get a referral for an in network doc. You'd pay just like it was Tricare Extra (15% I think for E-4 and below, 20% for E-5 and up). Tricare Standard prices apply only to out of network docs.
   — adrienneg