Did anyone with Tricare have to go thru a supervised diet, and if so, how long?  They keep telling me that they don't require supervised diets for approval, but I'm just starting this process and they haven't gotten my referral yet.  Just curious if I'll be dealing with another few months of waiting.  Thanks for the help!

I have Tricare Standard - not Prime (so I don't need a referral) but I didn't have to go through the supervised diet. Once I did all of the other "necessary" stuff (psychological, sleep study, cardiologist, etc.) I was approved within about 10 days after the paperwork was sent to them. Didn't have to appeal or anything. It was a relatively painless process. Good Luck!!!

Nope, my Dr just asked about all the diets I had tried.

 I have Prime and didn't need a diet. I had to do a imformational meeting, That is step 1. Then the first surgon consult, which I actually had mine with someone else because all our surgeons are deployed right now(actually thinking of getting referred out because I'm tired of waiting)

I had to have a chest xray,EGD,psychiatric eval and of course labs.

I just have to attend one more 4 hour class and that is it. It's actually been pretty easy. If the surgeons weren't deployed I would have got my date for Aug. but now....I don't  know. 

Some surgeons require you to be on a supervised diets, but I have Tricare Prime and they did not require much other than approval from my Primary Care Doctor.

I have Tricare Prime and they don't requie a supervised diet for approval.  As long as you meet their criteria the approval is quick!!  Good luck!!

I have Tricare Prime South and didn't have to do anything other than meeting their requirements.  For me that meant 100+ pounds over ideal weight and oe comorbidity.  I had my approval the day after doctor submitted it.  Good Luck!

Ok I have Tricare Prime and my letter was submitted today so it is a waiting game for the YAY or NAY on my surgery.

Did NOT need a supervised diet. Had to show at least 5 years of being overweight (this meant 100 or more pounds OW)

Had to do the psych eval, whi*****luded a bunch of questions and an interview.

Had to have a chest x-ray with stress test and ECG

Had to loose 10 or more pounds BEFORE they even thought to send me forward.

I have to do 2 weeks of liquid diet before and 2 weeks after my surgery. (surgeon mandate)

Bloodwork and stool sample

Had to have at least 2 meetings with the dietician and nutritionist (this was mandated by my surgeon)

Had to show a rough outline for an exercise plan (surgeon mandated)

There are some other things, just can not remember them at this time.

It can be a daunting process and at times seem that you are going in circles BUT keep on top of everything and if you have to get all the records YOURSELF and take them to your surgeon. Ask for a receipt and do NOT let anyone drag you down.
Trust me it is all worth it in the end.

I'm TriCare Prime North (retired).  My PCP submitted my referral to a surgeon on 7/1 - and I had the approval 7/7 (but I'm being told that was just the approval to meet with the surgeon). 

In speaking with Tricare they only have a couple requirements - 100+ overweight and 1 or more comorbidity or  200 percent or more over ideal weight for height and bone structure.  They do not require the supervised diet but the surgeon may.  TriCare also told me that if the surgeon needs me to see a nutritionist that's my own cost as they don't cover nutritionists. 

I have completed the seminar and my insurance has been verified - I have my 1st consult on 7/20 to discuss the next step (labs, psych eval, etc).

Good luck to you! 

 I have Tricare and didn't have to go through any kind of supervised diet.  The only diet I was on was the one to shrink my liver a few days before surgery.  I found once I went to the informational seminar put on by my surgeon, evreything else was so easy and just fell into place.  I attended the seminar at the end of January and had my surgery on March 2.  I think Tricare is AWESOME when it comes to WLS!  Good luck!

I have Tricare Standard and the requirements have recently changed.  They now use your BMI for qualification.  40 + BMI or 35+ with a co-morbidity.

No diet required.  Was really quite easy getting approved and relatively quick. 

I have Standard. I didn't have to do the medically supervised diet. They go by your BMI or comorbidities more than anything now. They were easy to deal with for the initial surgery. The corrective plastics, not so much...

Thanks so much to everyone that took time out to answer my post!  I meet the requirements set by Tricare...I'm just hoping they're as easy to work with as everyone says.  Some of the insurance companies that I've dealt with in the past make things very difficult.  I'm sure we've all been there!  Anyway, thanks again!