dallman

A lot of us have been waiting for a long time. I am waiting to see it in writing. But I do appreciate the news. I will post the no pay codes for tricare. So far it says it is still unproven. http://www.tricare.osd.mil./nogovernmentpay/govNoPayList_1Oct07.xls This is up dated about every 3 months I think. This is another tool along with the manual that will give us something to look at while we wait. Don

Minpinmom I posted the manual page. I check it every day. I also send an e-mail to tricare at least once a year. I get tired of getting my hope up and then to have it dashed again and again. But will not quit. My knees are starting to bother me now and will have to make a choice soon as to pay for the lap band or do the gastric thing which is not my first choice.

Who is saying that the band is approved? I really hope it is true. I have e-mailed one of their benefit people at the headquarters and am waiting for their reply. Their is no posted change for the manual that has come out as of yet. I check those daily and the last one was #62 on sept 28 this year. I can only hope this time it is real. Sincerely, Don

Manual I have been watching for over 2 years and they are still not covering it. This web site will give you all of the changes as they are approved for the tricare manual. All I know is since the VA and Medicare is approving the lapband it is only a matter of time before tricare will. Don

There is a doctor in colorado that does the surgery for 9950.00. There is a thread for him under doctors and hospitals. Don

I will pay for my own surgery soon. I thought I would post what I look at daily for changes. I will wait until the changes are done for this year though. Manual This link is for changes to the tricare manual. You can go back and see each change and when they were made. If you open it daily it will show you any new changes. I had a question about the VA. I have been told that if you are tricare eligible you are not eligible for the VA. Don

Has anyone heard of any changes to tricare standard covering the lap-band? Any future changes? This sure is a long process to get coverage that should have been covered when the VA and Medicare started approving the lap-band.:cry Thanks, Don

I have it but there is a wls exclusion. So I can't use it. Don

Is everyone that had the band doing as well as you are? I am a member at Harveys Gym so hopefully I will exercise like I used to when I weighed less. I can only hope to do as well as you have. Thanks, Don

Glad to meet you. Looks like you are doing very well. I should have my surgery in July. I guess it is done at baptist now. I really don't know what changes are going on in his office. I have to self pay. Iwaited on my insurance to pay for two years. Needless to say I'm tired of waiting. Don

I am currently working with Dr. Morton. I have 2 insurances and neither one will pay for lapband. Tricare will pay for Gastric Bypass. I will be one of the many selfpay since the insurance won't. Don

They have been talking about a doctor in Denver that does fills for 15.00. Hope you are close to there. Don

Champ/Va is authorizing the band. If you can use the Va you should. Don

I e-mailed to the tricare headquarters and they are still not authorizing the band. Maybe next year. Don

There was another person on this board that seemed to have an inside line on what was going on with Tricare. I hoped to get a response from them. I can only wait so long and them I will have to self pay. It is a crying shame that if I had Champus or Medicare I could get the lap band done with no problem. I have contacted senators and congressman and gotten form letters in return. I only say keep making noise maybe someone will hear. Don:(

Minpinmom are you Tricare Prime? I am in the south area also Nashville area. I have called and they told me it is not authorized. I have asked them about case by case and they said it was not done. Please keep us informed as you work your way through this mess. Thanks, Don

That is only for the VA and their dependants. I tried using it to get the band done already. I have google set up to get tricare news updates daily. When you read the header it says Tricare change # N/A Don

I contact tricare every three months and right now they are not covering the lap band. Medicare and the VA do, I expect they will cover it in the near future. I'm not sure how much longer I will wait. Good Luck.