Question:
Has anyone with Tricare been approved for adjustable lapband surgery?

Noticed many Tricare enrollees approved for rny and other weight loss surgeries but haven't seen any postings by anyone approved for the adjustable lapband procedure.Has anyone tried for approval of this,and if so,what did Tricare determine?    — muttluvers (posted on January 5, 2003)

January 5, 2003
I WAS SCEDULED FOR A LAP BAND SURGERY BACK IN 2000 AND THEN I CHICKENED OUT I SEEN WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING REVISONS ....WAS NOT SURE THAT WAS THE WAY I WANTED TO GO ...SO I HAVE RESEARCHED THE RNY SOME TIME NOW AND I HAVE CHANGED MY MIND AND I AM GOING WITH THE RNY B/C IT SEEMS TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL ,NOT TO SAY THE LAP BAND PROCEDURE IS NOT , I THINK THAT SURGERY IS OKAY FOR A LIGHT WEIGHT BUT I AM NOT A LIGHT WEIGHT AND RECONSIDERED MY DECISION,,,,I HAVE A CONSULT TO SEE A NEW DOCTOR 2/18/2003 IT TOOK ME SOME TIME ALTHOUGH TO RECONSIDER MY DECISION AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS SOMETHING YOU FEEL OKAY ABOUT...TRICARE APPROVED BOTH PROCEDURES BY THE WAY RAHTER QUICKLY FOR ME...AM
   — A M.

January 6, 2003
Laura, I had Lap RNY on 11/7/02 and at that time Tricare was not approving gastric banding because it is only 1-2 yrs old. Of course, I am in the Heartland Region and from reading different posts here, apparently Tricare seems to be approving different things in different regions. I was not aware that Tricare did that and am still not 100% sure that they do. Anyway, good luck and post what you find out. I am very curious.
   — Kathy C.