minpinmom

I can understand if someone doesn't want a gun in their own home, it makes great action in horror movies. The girl, home alone, runs up the stairs and locks the door and grabs a lamp as a weapon as the scary man slowly climbs to the top of the stairs. LOL, not in this house, he would be met with due force. I am an Army Brat, AirForce Wife, my husband is now Medically retired, and has his CHL (TX Concealed Handgun License). He doesn't carry his handgun to KILL someone, he carries it to protect someone FROM being hurt. I am scheduled to take my course on Feb 16 (woohoo!). I have one handgun and several rifles. (handed down from my grandfather and father). My father is now a gunsmith and taught us - all of his children and many grandchildren (very young) how to handle guns and use them as intended, to protect ourselves. By age 9, I was bringing in cattle with my 22 slung over the saddle. At that age I used it to kill hogs that took out a couple of our dogs and as protection from whatever I might have encountered. Grant it, I was, and still am a CRACK shot. I didn't feel so strongly about carrying a concealed weapon until I was stalked many years ago. It went on for about 2 years, to the point where I moved over and over and lived in constant fear. I was in college and didn't have a handgun, just a rifle by the bed. When I told my parents about it, my dad sent me home with his 357. It didn't stop the fear, but it helped. A lot.

I faxed the documentation to the Supervisor at Tricare (Humana), she agreed, said that there is NO doubt it is covered, however until Tricare (Military) Implements it, the call in center can't give you an approval. If you look at the "Publications System Change Transmittal For Tricare Policy Manual", it says the Lap Band is now proven and covered, effective date: Feb 1, 2007, but the Implementation Date states: Upon direction of the Contracting Officer. Maybe we can find out who the "Contracting Officer" is and send him a gazillion Christmas cards asking for him to "direct the change" ha! Ok, maybe not, but hopefully it will get done sooner than later. I have met (yet again) with the surgeon, and they are contacting Tricare to see if they can even figure out what all the requirements will be, of course the Tricare call in center doesn't have LapBand in their system. and around and around we go. I don't care, I am so freakin excited that it is covered, I can wait. Come on guys, we are now on the short stick. I remember my dad being in Korea for a year and I was griping that he got extended for 3 months - I remember him saying, "Come on Wendy, you can stand on your head for 3 months!" All of the wait will be over soon. What a fantastic Christmas gift. Think guys, next year, at this time, we will be posting before and after pictures!

Hi Rachel, I am hoping to be banded in January by Dr. Spiegel. Do you know if I can attend the meeting BEFORE I get banded? Also, is it a weekly meeting or monthly?

Me too Dallman, I had to get another referral to the surgeon - Thank God, he is already approved, I meet with him Thursday. I can't wait, I just hope that my psych eval that I did 14 months ago for WLS is still good. It took me forever to get in back then. Tricare contractor - Humana is still not showing the update, please post if anyone hears their computer system has the new release. Does anyone know if they require you to meet with a Nutritionist?

KY, The OH website has an area for swaping clothes - Anyone who gets too small for their clothes, puts a pic with a description/size. If you want them, you pay shipping only, you just promise to do it again when you are finished with the clothes. I would LOVE to have something like that here on lapbandtalk. I havn't been banded yet, but already have clothes that are too big for me. I wonder how we could get something like that started?

mgordon1, I have been talking with Tricare (Humana) for 3 days, lol, it is amazing. I actually had to FAX the manual to them, they were completely oblivious. Thankfully, the supervisor that they finally referred me to, is a Lapband wannabe too. I sent her all the information, showed her how to access the information. She contacted Tricare (GOV), and they haven't "issued" the update to Humana, so in their computers it still shows it isn't covered. She is actually checking it everyday and calling me with updates. I just can't believe it is finally covered, I think I am in shock.

I believe the effective date is backdated. A lot of insurance companies do this, once they make a decision, they backdate it according to the date their information was current. Which is good news for anyone who has Tricare that self-paid, they may be able to get some reimbursement. I called Tricare yesterday to make sure, and they said that it isn't a misprint, that it is effective as of LAST February. Woo Hoo!

Thank you! I am sitting here in tears. I had the worst week ever, I show Min Pins, have bred my first Champion, spent over 2K doing it, and we had to do an emergency csection last night and lost the baby. (there was only one). I have been so sad and depressed, this good news could not have come at a better time. Thank you so much. Wendy

I am just sick. I was so sure it would be covered at this update. I just don't understand why they will pay for GB, but not Lapband. Hopefully after the first of the year when they make most of their big changes, they will re-evaluate their decision. W

Phyll, I wasn't saying anything about giving up - please re-read my posts, I have been trying to get Tricare to pay for the Lapband for over 2 years. I just know that there is a HUGE difference when you have a different primary insurance. We are VERY happy that you have gotten Lapband, I am so jealous and excited for you at the same time, but I also feel the need to point out the fact that your case is different than many of us that are going through this. I am sorry if my post upset you, but I know I like it when people help me by giving me as much information as possible and I feel that my knowledge, however limited, is helpful in this situation. I contact Tricare almost weekly, as well as written so many letters to MTFs here in Texas, I think they don't even look at them anymore. I check the updated manual daily (ok, sometimes 2 times a day - I am a bit obsessive). I LOVE to hear any news about Tricare and the Lapband. Please keep us updated here on the "Tricare" Thread as to your successes, we need to know there is a retired Military wife getting skinny out there!

Please note - when Tricare is secondary to Medicare/Medicaid, it will pay for services that are covered by your primary insurance. It has nothing to do with Tricare approving or denying it - they are secondary. My husband has Medicare/Tricare.

I have waited so long, I would LOVE for it to be approved Jan 1. I will do cartwheels all over Texas! I will keep checking and please post any updates.

I feel for you Dallman, I have been trying to get Lapband for 2 years. They approved me for Gastric Bypass immediately, but haven't budged on Lapband. I keep thinking that it has to be approved soon - it is so hard to wait. I am so scared of the bypass - but I can't wait forever and I cant put my family in debt and pay out of pocket. Keep me updated as to your happenings.

I also wanted to RE-post this link. It was posted on another thread and I am now addicted to it. Every morning, it is the first thing I do - check to see if any updates have been made to the Tricare manual. Tricare Manual Thanks to whomever posted it originally. Wendy

If you are on Medicare (my husband is), it doesn't matter if Tricare approves it or not, Medicare is primary, will pay for it and Tricare will pick up the rest (on anything). I contacted Tricare South and it is still showing excluded. I have also contacted the MTF in San Antonio and surrounding areas, they said I would have to live within the city limits and be over 50 years old. I have written letters to each office trying to get an exception to the rules, but nothing. I even told them I would move there (I have a nephew stationed at Lackland - but nothing)

I just called Tricare and they are showing it still excluded, CPT 43770. The lady said, there have been no updates to their system since September. Hopefully they just haven't done an update yet and the system will be updated soon, but she said right now it is excluded.

OMG! I am so freakin excited. I am calling tomorrow. You are an Angel and you made my whole year! Thank you so much for posting this and letting others know!

Did you consultant at your WLS Center tell you that or did a Tricare person tell you that? I hate to get too excited - but I am. I have to say, my WLS center told me it was covered and then they wait until the week of your surgery to tell you the insurance denied it. Please, please, please tell me it was a Tricare person that told you this? Please :-)

MTF = Military Treatment Facility (Hospitals and Dr.s offices on base/post/installation,etc.)

You are going to hate this response. Tricare has EXcluded LapBand surgery. They will approve you for Gastric Bypass, but won't cover Lapband. There are a few recent posts on Tricare - do a search and you can see everything that we have found out. Right now I am trying to get approved at a MTF, they are doing the LapBand at a few locations, but so far, they will only do it on people that live within the city limits of their facility and you must be over 50 years old? I haven't figured that one out yet. Please read our previous posts and let us know if you find out anything different. I have my fingers crossed that Tricare will follow suit soon and approve it like all the other government insurances have done. Good Luck!

LOL, too funny. I know someone like that too - Just make sure you never piss her off!

The cost is significantly less for those that self-pay. Now that my insurance isn't going to pay for mine, I am considering it. Also, from what I have read, the Dr.s there have tons of experience doing LapBands.

I very rarely talk on this board cuz I am still waiting for the surgery (over a year now) however, when it comes to sleep apnea, I know my stuff. I knew I had sleep apnea my whole life - I would wake up gasping for air. I had done it since I was about 5, and it seemed so normal - I didn't do anything about it till I was 18. I went to my Dr. and said I am having trouble staying awake in class, and he asked me why I thought that was . . . lol, I told him it was because I had sleep apnea - he asked me who diagnosed me, I said I did, I watched the Discovery Channel on it! Well, 2 weeks later, I had the test and the administrator said that I was the worst case he had ever seen. I averaged 70% oxygen when I slept and I went 4+ minutes without breathing at a time. He said I was actually going into a type of coma when I slept, that I was only getting .7% REM sleep. They sent me directly to my Dr.s office who fitted me with a CPAP. They told me I really didn't have an option, that I HAD to have surgery to correct it. I was on the machine for 2 months. It was supposed to have been 1, but the damn machine had a timer that told them how much I used it - and I didn't. I would put it on for about 30 minutes, then take it off for the rest of the night. The second month, I used it correctly and was surprised at how much better I felt. Long story a little shorter, I had the surgery - 4.5 hours worth, they broke my nose and removed a LOT of bone and cartlidge (I guess) and removed that thing that hangs down in the back of your throat, along with most of my soft pallate. My tonsils had grown into the back of my throat and were removed also. After the surgery - I was in ICU and getting 99% oxygen the same day, even with all the swelling. I am their case study - they follow up with me still (I am 32 now), I was the worst case they had seen and I had the best recovery. If I would have been thin, the apnea wouldnt have been so bad, but I still would have had it. My suggestion, use the machine, I bet when you loose weight, you will come off of it on your own. After surgery, my GPA went up one point in a semester and I was amazed at all the things I could remember without writing it down and putting reminders everywhere.

You guys are way cool. I don't stack up much, but here goes. I show, breed & rescue Miniature Pinschers (they are my life!) I would much rather be a dog mom then a real one I am an Army Brat and an Air Force Wife My hubby is now medically retired (he has MS, a failed Spinal Fusion and RSD in his right foot) I work for Michael Smalley - he is a really famous (in the religious world) speaker, author, counselor I had a 10" tumor removed with an ovary which turned out to be cancerous in 2002 - thankfully removed in its entirety. I have known my husband since we were 6, but were mortal enemies until we were 18 - odd how things change

Thats what I thought, I really think that they will follow suit with all the other government insurances and cover it, but who knows when. Thanks for the extra info.