Does Tricare help with Gastric Bypass? - Obesity Message Board

AirForce Wife · 12-15-2003, 11:42 AM

My hubby is in the airforce and we have Tricare prime i was just curious if any one knows if the military or Tricare help with this procedure?

Thanks in advance for any help
Kristen

Marie55 · 12-16-2003, 04:58 PM

Call Tricare and find out.

I have Tricare but my husband is retired from the Air Force and Tricare will only pay after Medicare pays and then our secondary insurance pays. If Medicare were to approve a procedure, yes Tricare would pay. I am not sure how it works since you are active Air Force.

You did not ask for advice regarding a weight problem, but, I advise you to think twice about having the surgery. You will live the rest of your life not being able to eat very much and have to avoid some foods. I wonder what happens when you get sick and need to eat in order to live.

A friend of mine's daughter had the surgery and almost hemorraged to death after the surgery. All surgeries regardless of what for carry a huge risk. Hospitals are full of various bacteria that can cause severe problems. My mother was in hospital with broken hip, and was doing fine until "C-Defficile" infection set in and took her life in 3 days. C-Defficile is one of those hospital type infections that is passed from patient to patient. The bacteria lives on hospital floors for 5 years and on hospital bed rails for a long, long time. As you know they never clean rooms like we would clean them. This is not just a scare statement, I have witnessed the results of hospital infections. Makes you think twice about having surgery unless absolutely necessary.

Kali M · 12-17-2003, 02:55 PM

Kristen,

I think Tricare does pay for this procedure if your husband is ADAF. But, like Marie said, I'd just call the 1-800 number and ask. I completely agree with Marie when she says this procedure carries MANY risks.

Hospitals do have many medication-resistent bacteria present; but not because the facilities aren't cleaned. On the contrary, they are cleaned within an inch of their being. The problem is that bacteria in hospitals become resistent due to the use of antibiotics, and aren't easily killed; so they linger. Hospitals are not a place to hang out when you're not in need of medical care.

But, point is, there are MAJOR risks. I know someone who died from this procedure. It is MAJOR surgery. Be sure you have exhausted ALL possible means for weight loss and that you are morbidly obese. Before surgery have ALL necessary paperwork, wills, etc in order. And I DO say this to scare you. This procedure should be entered into because your health is at serious risk from your weight.

If you DO have this surgery, know EVERYTHING you need to about recovery before having the surgery. Know that you need to be a non-smoker (this is essential to healing - obesity and smoking together can almost guarantee problems), you need to have help arranged after surgey, and you need to know that getting up OUT OF BED soon (same day) after surgery is PARAMOUNT. You must get up and MOVE to inflate your lungs, decrease the risk of emboli (blood clots), and improve your recovery time. You also must use an incentive spirometer (something which helps you gauge the amount of air you are able to inhale into your lungs). You must be willing to do all these things regardless of how crappy you feel after the surgery. If you're not, don't have the surgery!

Regardless, good luck to you. And if you do choose to have the surgery, get as much info as you can prior to that date.

KM