Question:
Anyone with Tricare use a private surgeon when a military hospital was nearby?

I have been placed on the waiting list at Madigan Army Treatment Facility in Tacoma, WA, but the wait is 1 1/2 to 2 years long. I would like to know if anyone in this situation has gone to a private surgeon and been approved by Tricare. I have heard that it is possible, but the surgeon at Madigan said that you must have a "life-threatening" illness in immediate need of surgery to be approved. Anyone have any advice?    — Nikki L. (posted on June 8, 2002)

June 8, 2002
As far as i know there are only two ways you can get it done with tricare approval offpost. the first being medical emergency and the second if the surgeon on post gets deployed and you have a statement of non availability. We are stationed at Ft Campbell Ky and a lady here came from Ft Hood with a letter of non availability and got it done off post. But she also had no aftercare.
   — tinalivesay

June 8, 2002
Apparently you can be referred out. A lovely young & pretty healthy girl just had surgery with Dr Oh (Fed Way) and she was referred out without any fuss at all. She is doign FABULOUSLY, by the way. I am not military, but live a few miles from Madigan.
   — vitalady

June 9, 2002
I am about 4 hours from a Naval base that does the RNY but I choose to have my surgery done 3 hours from me at UNC Chapel Hill. Tricare will pay for you to have it done by a civilan doctor. If you choose to have it done through naval hospital tricare is not involved in the process at all.
   — jenna F.

June 10, 2002
Nikki, I live on Fort Riley, Kansas. I am being sent to see a doctor in civilian doctor in Topeka (about an hour drive). I have been referred out in the past to see civilian audiologist, neurologists and optometrists for my daughter. None of her conditions were life threatening, but the wait to see the doctors on post was over a month. I went to Tri-care and was given permission to go off post. Have you called the Tri-care 800 number to see if they could be any help. This is the site for Tri-care on line http://www.wpsic.com/tricare/handbook/part9.html The requirements for weight loss surgery are stated on there. I hope this helps. Please e-mail if there is anything I can do to help you. Good luck. Kim
   — Kimberly V.

June 10, 2002
Finally! A question I have experience with! I was also placed on that horrendous waiting list at Madigan. I called the Tricare info line and found out how to refer out to a civillian surgeon and it was easy. I had other insurance so they were a pain but once I cancelled it, TriCare approved me in LESS THAN A WEEK (surgery date August 1 with Dr. Oh in Federal Way! Feel free to contact me if you'd like. Good Luck!
   — Tina B.