akt614

I just found out that Naval Hospital Jacksonville is performing Bariatric surgeries!! That makes me so much happier because it is only 3hours away... and as far as Eglin AFB- I called and said that their surgeon is transfering in June and they are not taking anymore patients, just finishing up with those they have already been dealing with. Confusing point.. Tricare whom I called today said that I need to contact the MTF and see if they have an opening, that they dont deal with referrals to MTF's... But then when I called the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville- the man said I need to have my PCM refer me to them through TRICARE.. soo I am off to the DR, in hopes of a correctly worded refferal to the MTF in Jacksonville!!

Okay so it has been awhile since I was last on here... I have not given up hope on this!! I do have a concern about how far can a MTF be from your location to get a referral through?? Eglin AFB is the only one performing bariatric surgeries of any kind in Florida... and it is 8 hours away!! What are my odds on getting that through?? Or am I going to have to suck it up and wait for a transfer... Any help would be good! Thank you all so much for all the input!!!

did you have any out of pocket expenses when it was done at an MTF?

I think I will have to because Patricks does not offer it, so Id actually have to be transfered to an MTF that does the procedure.. I think thats how the lady worded it..

When I contacted Tricare they informed me that if the MTF near you does NOT do the VSG they can transfer you to another MTF that DOES the VSG.. Its easy for them to transfer MTF to MTF.

Thank you for this information!! I think MacDill will be closer than Ft. Gordon Army Base. I did call the Tricare office at Patricks and she was very helpful in telling me what Ill need to do. Since I have a civillian PCM id have to first switch over to a PCM AT patricks, then go through the referral process to be switched to another MTF that offers the VSG! Im so happy that I was able to find out.. I really want to go through with the surgery but did NOT want to settle with the band or gastric bypass... I am so thankful I found this site!!!

sorry to jump in on this post-- but am i hearing correctly that you can have a sleeve done at an MTF but not through a civillian? if so- Im in Florida and Im not very familiar with any MTF's around here, the closest being Patrick AFB... it says that it is a clinic though, can it be done there?