I have Tricare North but I'm pretty sure that all Tricares use the same guide lines for approval.

I submitted paperwork for approval on 9/20 was approved on 9/28 surgery on 9/30.

they required 6 weight histories, nutritionist consult, psych exam and blood work.

I do not live in the south but i am tricare prime in the pacific NW I bet we military people are about thesame. though i guess some tricare are not military eh?

I waited for a class big classroom with over 200 in it. We were told the surgerys. We were put on a list and said that it would take about a month and half to be contacted. I was number hundred and 176. In two months or less i was sent a letter to call a office and within two weeks i went in for a interview. filled out paperwork and given paperwork that told us our journey and that it was our responsibility to contact and schedule the classes and mental test. If we did everything quickly it would take us as short as a month and half to three to finish. Then we were to get back in contact with her and she would contact the general surgery. It took a intense month and half of classes in everything from goal setting to dietiean, mental health exam, dr checkups on and on. When i was done sue enough i called and i had to deside which surgery i wanted. I thought RNY or sleeve.

I was given a surgueon and visited him. He desided with what i wanted and what my ailments and conditions were that i might do better with the DS (switch) he thought it was better fit and if i minded if he sent me to another surgueon. Only one did the DS. I went to him a week later and talked for a full hr. then he was sure i wanted what i wanted and introduced me to the team. I had one more visit shortly after and i was scheduled for three weeks away.

Low and behold we had some injurys come in on base to our soldiers and for that week everything was cancelled so our heroes could be first in treatment of their casities. My dr was right in there.

I was resceduled for a month later.

I believe our Base as it is joint with a airforce/army is called base instead of Fort. I am Army....I am Tricare prime and also have the privlage of having everything done on base....I am never sent off campus unless our heroes are doing a overflow. or for colonostomies and only one in Olympia does all the dependents. lol

So you see once you get on that initial meeting of the mass and get in there well it goes fast. Of course if you smoke or do drugs they will give you time to quit and test your blood to see if you really have. By the time you have gone through your program you will be ready.

The most boring part and all military know this is the pre op where it takes us three hrs to hurry up and wait. lol They give no room for anyone to sue them i guess. lol Hope this helped

I have Tricare South too hun. So I'll be following what you're going thru. hugssssssssssssssss

Laurie

Paprika, all Tricare has to either be military or have been military. We're retired Navy, so we have TriCare. We're in the south so we're TriCare South. When we were in NY we were TriCare North.

Laurie

am i wrong or is tricare just for military? Ok i know Military only has Tricare. I may be assuming they go hand in hand. A Goverment thing?

Thank you Tennesse... You cleared my thoughts. I married into this and keept Blue shield till i retired at 53;

I'm Tricare Prime. They were great at laying out exactly what I would have to do to be considered for surgery. It sounds like a LOT but really it goes by pretty quickly.

Once I had completed my requirements and the surgeons office sent all the paperwork to Tricare, it took less than two weeks to get my approval.

Tricare will also pay for a tummy tuck if you have a documented history that the excess skin causes you problems.

I have Tricare South. I started everything in August and had my surgery in October. My surgeon's office is really busy but once they turned my things in for approval it took 24 hours for the final approval. I also had to have an endoscopy (sp) and the meeting with the psychologist and do my nutritional classes. If your surgeon's office isn't extremely busy it shouldn't take long to get approval.

I have Tricare North and BCBS of NC. I wanted the sleeve so they only covered the hernia repair for me. My understanding now is that they want you on a six month diet b4 qualiflying for surgery for bypass. They are always so helpful when I call them though and make it very easy to understand what is going on. Just give them a call.

I have Tricare South and received approval within one month. You have to stay on them. They are really sticklers about having your primary care provider's referral to the surgeon and all the consults. My paperwork was submitted Oct. 31 and I had surgery November 29th.

I have Tricare South, I'm in Texas. Started the process September had surgery November 16. I love that we only have the 30 day wait not 3-6 months like other insurances. Thanks @Karen glad to know that they pay for the tummy tuck. Question: the tummy tuck is different from the apron removal right? So tricare doesn't care which one u do? Also do u have to have maintained your weight for 1 yr first?

I have Tricare south in TX. My first consult was in June and surgery was in August. It seems after reading the responses that it still varies with each program. I went to a center of excellence. They took care of everything. I never had to call and bug anyone. Didnt have to do pre diet or psych, I guess because of the way I answered the questions which told them how ready I was to do this and by how much I'd already done on my own. That's great to know about the excess skin being covered. And yes, Tricare for familes is only military or medically retired military.

I suspect i have TRICARE FOR LIFE my husband is a retiredofficer and i think O5;s and above get full medical and familys as well and if they pay $230 yr for prime they have no co pay per say as we are privlaged for Base Hosp use and benifits for free.


My husband is not retired medical at all.

On base the medical staff call you by your rank. They are recognized and this is a privlage in itself. Pride....goes a long way

Especially since they don';t salute the cars decals anymore. Blue officer (to many of our volunteer troop overseas and hired locally gatemen)

Thanks to all that have replied, I have learned from living up North to down South, its less wait time in the South than Mid WEST or North they require six months of supervised diet, etc,I have finished all of their requirements and my surgeons office has turned in everything for insurance approval, just wanted to know how slow Tricare South was to respond, I am so ready to get this on the road, and get on loosers bench too!! Glad to know that they will cover Tummy surgery for loose skin, if you have it thats a real bonus!! We are retired Army,