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Military.com Forums Military Life, Spouses and Community TRICARE Cosmetic surgery benefits??|
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New Member |
I've heard there are new benefits for solders and their spouses for cosmetic surgery. Not to be shallow, but I'd really like to get in on this if it's for real. How do I get started?
Has anyone done this and how good are the doctors? I'm in Texas and was wondering about the doctors in Temple? Thanks for any info. Toni |
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MODERATOR Military Life, Spouses & Community If you want something said ask a Man; but if you want something done, ask a Woman! Margaret Thatcher  |
Moving to Tricare at 1200 EST
There is a post on there I believe about it. And no you can't just get cosmetic surgery, it has to be for a reason (ie gastric bypass results need a tummy tuck, back pains need a reduction) and it has to be done normally at a military hospital. It is then when they have an opening. |
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New Member |
The benefits are for plastic and reconstructive surgery. No boob jobs, tummy tucks, or rhinoplasty to get Kate Hudson's nose.
If you want cosmetic surgery, make sure you MD has this after his or her name: M.D. F.A.C.S and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. |
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Never let a fool kiss you, or a kiss fool you -- Joey Adams |
Ummm, EW? What exactly is the difference between "plastic" and "cosmetic" surgery? |
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Member |
Your are only partially right. If a woman needs a breast reduction because its causing back problems, they will do it. Tummy tucks also if its in conjunction to abdominal or pelvic surgery (but it has to go through review). They will not do elective. A friend of mine just had a breast reduction. It was paid for by tricare.
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New Member |
I have had cosmetic surgery done, but decided not to try to go thru Tricare to do it. I had heard it was extremely difficult to get them to pay for it and you had to meet a lot of criteria. For the TT for example you had to have documentation of recurring rashes/infections from the excess skin. I knew I didn't have any of that.
So I had it done privately and honestly the cost was totally worth it to me! Jessica |
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New Member |
What about a tummy tuck for a woman who has had 4 children and has a severe separation of the abdominal wall?
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Forum Project Manager |
only if deemd medically necessary. you must start with your PCM to get the ball rolling.
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Moderator Military Spouses Forum spousemod.mturnb@gmail.com |
This is where it gets into medical necessity vs. cosmetic surgery. If there is medical documentation of severe abdominal wall separation and it is causing, or could reasonably be expected to cause, health issues and there is not another approved method of treating the condition then you could talk with your PCP (primary care physician) to get things started. If it is not causing health issues but just results in a large pannus (that big roll of belly just hanging there) then it would be considered a cosmetic procedure and you would have to pay for that on your own.
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New Member |
Eh I would talk to tricare. A lady I know called them since she wanted a boob job and basically she just said her husband was not attracted to her and she was depressed over her boob size. In return they said they would do surgery but not go under the muscle. This is where I say ask Tricare. I am waiting for them to get back to me about a Tummy Tuck but I have 6 months of documentation from Chiro to back me up so I have my fingers crossed. They seem to cover Breast Reductions with no documentation but it takes about 30 days to go through.
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Never let a fool kiss you, or a kiss fool you -- Joey Adams |
[QUOTE]Originally posted by vanessavy:
Eh I would talk to tricare. A lady I know called them since she wanted a boob job and basically she just said her husband was not attracted to her and she was depressed over her boob size. In return they said they would do surgery but not go under the muscle. This is where I say ask Tricare. QUOTE] I have talked to a Vice President at the Tricare Management Authority about this issue, and she stated, without equivocation, that Tricare will NOT pay for breast enlargements that are simply cosmetic in nature. Period, end of story, won't happen. Reconstruction surgery after breast cancer? Yes. But sad because of small breasts? No. And as a therapist, I can tell you that no reputable psychologist would recommend a boob job in that case. Instead, they would recommend treatment for body dysmorphic disorder. Additionally, every time a surgery is done at a civilian provider, it has to go through a utilization management unit review. Because the payment for those comes out of the MTF's budget. The MTF has ZERO desire to pay tens of thousands of dollars to a civilian doc for a non-medically necessary procedure. Authorizations for surgery that COULD be considered cosmetic in nature go through stringent reviews -- I have a hard time believing that a cosmetic procedure would make it through the process. |
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New Member |
I am the wife. I have been approved for panniculectomy. My Dr. requested abdominalplasty. He feel it will be better because of the hang above the bellybutton. and I would like to have my muscles tightened. Has anyone had to deal with wanting to pay for the extra procedures them self and dealing with tricare. Will they not pay if the dr does the tightening or repositions the bellybutton. Is there a way to get around doing it and paying for the extra and getting the result it having it done the way the Dr says it should be done. I really don't want to go through the disputing process to see if it will work out..
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New Member |
I work for TRICARE and I do know that there cases in which TRICARE did cover cosmetic surgery. The Dr that requested to have the comestic surgery done worded it in such a way that it appeared to be medical in nature. It was only after an Active Duty Spouse went to the same Dr's office and through a fit because she wanted a tummy tuck was it brought to our attention that this had happened three other times before. For the most part it is not a covered benefit but you can check with your local MTF (Military Treatment Facility) to see if they are willing to do the surgery there. Most times it is done on space available. Good Luck!
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Never let a fool kiss you, or a kiss fool you -- Joey Adams |
I sure hope that doctor was booted from the Tricare Network and brought up on ethics charges. |
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Military.com Forums Military Life, Spouses and Community TRICARE Cosmetic surgery benefits??
