How Soon Was Your Surgery?

[swmr2006 5]

I have Tricare too... I didn't have to do a supervised diet but that may be because I am Tricare North/Standard. I had my first consult June 13th and my surgery is set for August 9th.

What took so long is that at the consult, the surgeon/nurses are going to ask you to get labs done (to make sure you are physically able to withstand the beating your body is going to take from surgery and to make sure you are currently getting the nutrients you need) and see their nutritionist (because the diet after the surgery is graduated back into normal solid food from liquids over a 1 to 2 month time span and they need to know you understand that... also that you understand various problems that may arise if you don't get the nutrients that you need). Also, with Tricare you need to have a referral from a Psychologist the specializes in weight loss surgery (they basically determine if your expectations are realistic with the surgery, if you are emotionally stable to handle all the the changes, and to make sure you don't have any alcohol or drug addictions). After all that (assuming that your surgeon doesn't require any other classes), the surgeon's office needs to send in an insurance "package" with all of the classes, referral letters, and BMI in order to get approval from the insurance company. WLS is one of those surgeries that requires PRIOR approval and they won't cover it if it is just billed to the company after the fact without that approval. Tricare is quick with the approval but slow with sending out the proper documentation to make the approval official to the surgeon's office... mine took 2 days to approve but 2 weeks to get the documentation to my surgeon for the go ahead. PLUS you have to realize these surgeons are booked weeks in advance (and sometimes months in advance) for the surgery... I was lucky and there was a cancellation for two weeks after my surgeon got the approval.

I don't think 2 months of a wait is that bad... but I don't know of anyone that got their surgery in less than a month (and they were all self pay!!!).

Good luck at your consultation and keep us posted... And if you already knew all this information, sorry. I tend to go overboard and give waaaaaayyyy to much information sometimes.

[jessamarie24 173]

It took a while for the initial process because my insurance was being special.. (I have preferred one) but once I was approved, I saw my surgeon July 10th and had my surgery July 23rd!

[cbrks2012 23]

I want to thank everyone for helping me figure out how long the process will be for me, I have tri care west and I live in nevada, I have all of my medical record I've done the 6 month diet and got my referral and have been approved, I just hope it's not a long wait to have the surgery.

[Bert_n_ernie 60]

I have tricare west also. Your initial approval is for the consult. You will have to have a psych evaluation. Then your surgeon will request an approval from tricare for the surgery. From my consult it took 3 weeks but I already had the psych eval & 6 months monitored diet & exercise. & here I am, 1 week post op.

New Life Started 07/24/12

[cbrks2012 23]

@bert on my referral I have 4 visits one for a consultation and 3 for outpatient. Do I have to have a phyc. evaluation? And what's the least amount of days you can be on a liquid diet? I did everything my PCM told me to do for 6 plus months and it got to the point where he got me approved for all of my visits with a doctor in Reno.

[tamihill 24]

@bert on my referral I have 4 visits one for a consultation and 3 for outpatient. Do I have to have a phyc. evaluation? And what's the least amount of days you can be on a liquid diet? I did everything my PCM told me to do for 6 plus months and it got to the point where he got me approved for all of my visits with a doctor in Reno.

To my knowledge most if not all Dr's require a psych eval per Ins. They want to make sure you know what you're doing. And check you for any signs of mental issues....

[SheVsMe 46]

It didn't take me long although it could have been a lot sooner. My consult was in February, but my PCP was being a butthole! But pretty much after I was ok'd for surgery and insurance approved me, it only took two months. My surgery is this coming Monday.

Good luck to you! Everything will happen for you. It's the waiting that really sucks!