San Diego/TriCare

Just wondering if anyone has any background with Balboa Naval Medical Center after gastric bypass surgery.  I have maintained for 6+ months, and now I am ready for plastics.  I heard today that they are doing tummy tucks and boobs, but I want to know what I have to do to get seen by them.  I have a civilian PCM.  Do I need a referral to them to get a consult?  How hard or easy is it to get approved?

Thanks so much.  I rwally need all the info I can get!

Thanks,
Jen

Contact tricare..
Liz

Hey USNWIFE0819,

I am married to a retired Army fellow and used to have a Tricare Prime as our primary.  They were easy to get a referral to a GB Surgeon. Had to move and have BS HMO which drove me crazy but finally I am scheduled for May 19th. 

I have never heard of any insurance company paying for a tummy tuck or any kind of boob job unless you get hurt in an accident.(only the boobs).  I used to bill for surgeons but it has been away.

If it has changed please let me know.....

Thanks and good luck,
Kiki_1

Hi Im in the early stages of Balboa, actually Im hoping to drop another 5 and then will have my surgery date for this summer.  You are correct.  They are doing tummy tucks etc.  Go to Tricare and read as it is a covered benefit so long as it was a result of bariatric surgery.    GL are you still in the area?

Forgot to add.  That Balboa told me that I would need to have been 18 months post op at a minimum and that there is a weight list for their plastics as they are a bit busy with active duty personnel at the moment.

It will be in the benefit section.  I will try to find it.

Hey Gilliegrl,

Where did you find that on the Tricare web page?  I may have a problem in that Tricare is our secondary, BS HMO  is primary. But I can always check it out.

Years ago I had a tummy tuck done. I was a working friend of the doc. (now passed) I decided when my son turned 18yrs old on May 15Th 1992  I would give my self a special gift.  (paid cash, not much but enough).  

After this surgery even if I have extra skin, it will have really messed up my pretty smooth tummy with the ugly surgical scars of the three scopes they stick all over my abdomen.  I will have to see if BS will not pay maybe TCS will. Or I will plan to go back on Prime it has been a year since we dropped it so we can enroll again anytime if we have the money to pay.

Thanks for the info.  My date is set for May 19th 2009 .  The week after a cruise to the Mexican Rivera. Now I better not get the swine flu and have to reschedule. That will up set me cause it has taken so long.

Wait to hear from you soon.
Kiki_1