So Pissed!

[DLCoggin 1,788]

One other thought - most insurance require a "letter of medical necessity" sooner or later. You might want to check with your primary care physician and see if he/she is willing to write one for you for submittal to the insurance company. Could go a long way toward helping your cause. Good luck and please keep us posted on your progress!!

[shellypierce92@yahoo.com 2]

I to have tri-care and wish that I had waited. I had my surgery in 2004 on Wright Patterson AFB. It worked for a little while. my wt began coming back on. I am 44 years old and have osteopenia, arthritis and porosis. I have lost 2.5 inches in 3 years, need to use a walker on occassion. I was in a sitting position, stood up and broke all 5 metatarsals in my right foot. (just by standing). I have developed kidney stones, have 2 broken vertebrae with fragments. another shattered ankle from May that is not healing. I dump 2-3 times a day and do not absorb any type of Calcium ( I do not tolerate any dairy). the doctors tried to reverse my surgery but could not do to the type of complications that I have had. I am now known as the (Vesco night mare). So please do not get into to much of a hurry and take things slow. I now am only 30lbs down from what I was when I had my original surgery

[kiwiladydee 402]

I had to wait 6 months as well.. now I'm glad they require it. You can really use the time to prepare your family, attend support groups, and he things in order.

Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

[one4ozzie 434]

I have tricare prime and like others had to have 6 months of weigh-ins. I have finished the 6 and tomorrow have a preop appt with the Dr. I'm not sure what happens during preop appt. I have not researched yet cuz I'm new here. I have reAd a lot about the rny and some things scare me such as the people that have been 4 yrs or so post op and gained a lot back. But I guess that is due to dietary desires of the person vs wanting to remain healthy. I hope that is the reasoning behind it. Very nervous about pre op tomorrow. I really want this to work for me. So far I haven't had any issues with tricare prime. Therefore I'm happy about that and I hope it remains that way.

[tika76 21]

I have Tricare Reserve Select and they said I had to do the 3 months of monitored weight loss' date=' not the dr. When you think of it that it took years to get all this weight on us.... 4 months for this "tool" to help you get it off isnt too long.

I know its hard to wait...trust me!! And my Dr's office can confirm...I am not long on patience!! But it's a process. Any surgeon you go to, unless you're paying cash up front will make you do what your insurance requires..... and tricare is set, they wont change the rules.... I tried!!

Best of luck, trust the process and let it work for you. The 3 months of weight loss and learning process you go through will be helpful, and the time will FLY by, promise!!

I started in April....my surgery is TODAY! It goes quick![/quote']

I too have tricare reserve select, I didn't have to do 3months when I did my band and they just approved me for band removal with bypass revision.... My surgeon suggested that I contact tricare myself and it worked, I'm thinking that the different regions have different guidelines, which makes no since.... Don't give up, call and harass them and make them understand the necessity.... I wish you the best if luck!!!

[mommytonya 77]

I have tricare once my pcm put the referal in and i met wiyh the surgeon it took two months to get the requirments done. Than i got his earliest surgery apt. I did mine at a military hospital though so that could be why it didnt take as long? Its going to be different for everyone. They let me do all my stuff in a two week time frame because my hubby is going to korea and i wanted to get it done before a certain time. But like i said its going to be different everywhere u go. People are going to requir differen things. Like i just had to do 3nutricion classes, 3phyc evals, orientation, and 1 support group meetinf and i was good to go. Depends on ur surgoen.

[tika76 21]

I have tricare once my pcm put the referal in and i met wiyh the surgeon it took two months to get the requirments done. Than i got his earliest surgery apt. I did mine at a military hospital though so that could be why it didnt take as long? Its going to be different for everyone. They let me do all my stuff in a two week time frame because my hubby is going to korea and i wanted to get it done before a certain time. But like i said its going to be different everywhere u go. People are going to requir differen things. Like i just had to do 3nutricion classes' date=' 3phyc evals, orientation, and 1 support group meetinf and i was good to go. Depends on ur surgoen.[/quote']

Congrats! How long ago and what your recovery like?

[mommytonya 77]

I got my surgery on the 3rd. Ive lost 24lbs in two weeks. Recovery is ok. Still in a little pain but it gets better everyday. The protien shakes have been really hard for me to drink but i keep pushing myself. Cant wait to get fully recovered! So i can get to working out and most of all so i can carry and hold my babies again!!

[LaurasJourney 23]

I have tricare and it took 6 months from my first appt with the surgeon til my surgery. I was required to take nutrition classes, pass a psych eval, go to mandatory support group and wellness/fitness classes. It was tedious to say the least but I had lived so long unhealthy and overweight that six months was worth the wait. It's now been almost six months since my surgery and I'm thankful for all the classes they made me go through. My whole life has changed! Just be patient you will be so happy you stuck with it. I went through Ft. Carson in Colorado. I recommend Dr. Robert Wilcox to EVERYONE!!!!!

[Jerrie Ann 57]

I have Tricare. I waited 2 months for my RNY instead of longer because I had my PCM fax my entire med records to my surgeon (2 1/2 hours from my home), who then faxed them on to Tricare. Now I'm waiting for approval for my skin removal surgery. Should be approved by May.....

my superpower is......

[sapperwife26 7]

I just had my surgery on Jan 28. I waited 6 months plus from my first appointment til my surgery. I too have tricare. It was frustrating!

[Jerrie Ann 57]

Every case is different with Tricare. How many co-morbidities did you have?

my superpower is......

[kraney 219]

I also have Tricare, however I am having my RNY done at a military hospital. I asked for a referral from my PCM in January. I only had to attend an informational/labs meeting in January, and attend one support group meeting. My surgery is scheduled for march 15. The doctor who did our informational meeting told us that each military base has different requirements. Some bases require 3 months of support/ nutritional meetings, and some 6 months. I guess I got lucky to be by this base.

[madenkorea 36]

my insurance company wanted 7 month of nutrition but since he found the hernia and saw that the acid reflex did so much damage to my stomach they skipped all that and I was in the surgery a week later. I guess I was kinda on the lucky side. and I know how it is to have the military insurance .