Question:
How hard is it to get approved for gastric bypass at Womack Hospital at Fort Bragg.
I am 5'8 and 255 pounds and I am currently schelduled to take test to see if I have sleep apnea. My doctor understands what I am going through and has referred me to womack, but I am worried that they will not approve me if I don't have a co-morbid. — awjones30 (posted on February 22, 2008)
February 21, 2008
First, you need to check your BMI. Check on Google, and there are plenty of
sites to figure that out. Check with your insurance company or doctor to
see what you have to do to qualify for weight loss surgery, or if your
insurance company has any exclusion. Many insurance companies have the
following restrictions: BMI>40, BMI<40 with 2-3 co mobid conditions.
Co morbid conditions may be diabetes, sleep apnea, ankle or knee joint
problems (including possible joint replacement), high blood pressure, using
cholestorol lowering drugs, etc. If your insurance company covers it and
you have met it's conditions then you'll probably have to do a couple of
more things. Many insurance companies require a DOCUMENTED participation in
a weight loss program of at least 6 month (weight watchers, etc.) and may
also require classroom instruction of 20 or more weeks on dieting and the
weight loss surgery. All of these conditions may vary somewhat, but these
seem to be general qualifications from what I experienced, and what I've
heard from dozens of RNY patients at bariatric surgery support groups. DAVE
— Dave Chambers
February 22, 2008
You need to talk to Jasmine who is the nurse that heads up the bariatric
program at WOMACK Army Hospital. The program is very imformative and
everyone is always willing to explain and educate.
— sablek2001
February 22, 2008
Every insurance has different requirements. Obesity was my only problem.
I had RNY on 1/7/08. Good luck.
— mary_rn
February 23, 2008
Hi Angela,
I'm assuming that you have Tricare Prime. I have Tricare Prime. They
absolutely WILL NOT even consider covering you without a co-morbid unless
you have a BMI of 40 or above. Basically, you need to weigh 263 at your
height in order to consider qualifying. You have to be 100 overweight with
co-morbids or 200% your ideal weight. Check out Mytricare.com and type in
weightloss surgery.
I am working the Tricare game myself! I have a BMI of 43.3 with only
borderline metabolic problems. But I have joint, spine and mobility
problems as well as depression. And I'm nervous too.
I'm NOT a professional so I'm probably not supposed to tell you something
like this but...here goes...gain 8 pounds!?!
Please let me know how you do!
Jules
— Julie Nolan
February 23, 2008
I would go ahead and get the sleep apnea test and if it is positive then
you have a co-morbidity. I had luckily done this a year before I was
looking into my lapband so I had that already done which made things
easier.
— LindaJ.
February 23, 2008
Angela,
I had my surgery at Eisehnower on Ft. Gordon - I didn't have to go through
any of the "tricare" hoops - I went to my PCM and asked for a
referal down to the Bariatric Surgery Clinic - I got my referal, waited
about a month to get seen and then had my surgery 5 weeks later. I was
210.5 lb and 5 foot 1 inch making my BMI 39.7 - I had slightly high
cholesterol (not on meds) and plantar facitis in both my feet - neither
considered true "comorbidities" - Good luck - we get a lot of
people from other bases coming here for surgery - maybe you should give it
a try - the 3 doctors here are WONDERFUL!! Good Luck
— machre
Click Here to Return