military hospital..tricare...help please

[chantel03 0]

so this is for those with tricare.... on my last visit to my PCM, he told me if i lost 10-15 pounds he would approve me for the lap band, but when i told him that my bmi was already low for tricare and if i lost another 10-15 pounds my bmi would be to low for tricare to approve the surgery, he said "dont worry, if you lose the weight i'll approve you since your bmi is way too high for your age"

so my question is, if i get the surgery done in a military hospital, do i still have to go thru tricare? i have tricare overseas(stationed in germany) and am soooo confused!!

i would rather get it off base, since ive heard of military docs putting you on a 6 month supervised diet, and i know the doc in frankfurt dosent. (german doc)

also, can i request an off base doc thats approved thru tricare if my PCM does refer me to the military hospital. i'll take the military hospital if i have to, but dr.weiner in frankfurt has rave reviews and has been doing this since 93'. i would hate to be a lab rat for some military doc.

please help!!!!!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

You're more likely to get good aftercare if you stay in the system...but other than that I can't really help you with your dilemma. Sorry!

[lapbandtalker 0]

Be careful. Your doc may approve you, sure...but what if Tricare doesn't?

Plus, if he was willing to approve you, why doesn't he just chart your records of weight and then say you've already lost 15 pounds from your highest (assuming you have).

Just be careful. My first instinct was eat, gain (or put lead in your socks) then go back to him for a weigh in.