THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION WILL DO WLS

THE VA WILL DO WLS IN A VA CENTER, GIVEN ONLY SELECT CENTERS ON REFERAL FROM A VA PCP, ALL VETERANS ARE ELEGIBLE WHO WERE HONORABLE DISCHARGED. WITH OR WITH OUT PRIVATE INSURANCE. COST SHARE IS VERY LOW AT THE HIGHEST END. ALL VETERANS HAVE A HMO AT THE VA. YOU JUST NEED TO ASK,WITH DRUG BENEFIT. THANKYOU VETERANS FOR OUR FREEDOM.

multi replies on the main board to this post,worth reading

Thanks for this post Walter. Do you know if they approve the DS? Do you know a website to get additional info? Sorry to pick your brain so much. I was honerably discharged a few years and just now hearing about VA medical benefits for those of us who didn't make it to retirement. You are giving me new hope for getting the type of surgery I want. Thank You.

They will approve the DS...but finding a VA surgeon who does it is another story. It's not actually a question of getting approval similar to an insurance type, but the doctor refers you for WLS and whatever the surgeon does is what you get. Unless, of course, you refuse to settle for an RNY and go to Brazil as I did. As of last year when I was looking into it, the only VA surgeon in the country who does DS is in Portland, OR (Dr. McConnell), and he stated that he does not take patients out of the area. Of course, I later heard of a person from Idaho who had his or her (don't remember which it was) DS done by him through the VA (he only works at the VA part time and has a private practice). Of course, I also understand the waiting list is something like 3 years. Sorry, I know this wasn't the answer you were looking for, but maybe you can have your VA PCP check into it for you. Who knows, maybe the VA will end up with more surgeons who do the DS. Janice Dr. Marchesini, 10/20/04 -114 lbs

Hi Walter, I don't want to be the one to burst your happy bubble but I'm not sure that any of the VA centers perform the DS. You may want to investigate it further. I understand they do perform the RNY at some. Maybe you can find a surgeon to an outside referral that will accept the insurance as a possibility? Usually the universtity hospitals are your best best for acceptance of Tri-Care insurance if that's what you have? UofChicago, USC in Los Angeles and Portland. I wish you luck Cassandra

any hospital, or doctor who takes federal dollars, or medicare insurance will also take tricare, and is also in the tricare network, that is one of the rules of medicare/tricare system, they are linked, when you look for a provider you will find that stipulation in the small print in the tricare web site. isnt it nice when the rule maker has the authority of LAW?

Hi Walter, Well that's great and very interesting about Tricare and Medicare being linked. I didn't know about that. It'll be great when they can offer the DS at the VA centers. AHHHwell maybe one day we can hope. It also means that there maybe more options open to you then like Dr. Anthone I believe. And may I add that Dr. Crookes at USC in Los Angeles is a fabulous choice to have in Tri-Care! Cassandra 4/15/01 DS Keshishian bmi 43/36 253/203-208ish 5'2.5" total loss -45ish 10/01/04 DS Revision Dr. Peter Crookes bmi 36/26 cw: 148 total loss from revision -60 Total loss now is -105 only 8 more lbs to loose to a normal bmi/weight!