Question:
Can both procedures be done at the same time?

I'm in Texas, looking for a dr. that will do both and accept Tricare insurance. Does anyone know if tricare will cover two different docs? This seems to be the situation needed for the plastic surgeons I've talked to.    — PhyllisM (posted on July 13, 2004)

July 13, 2004
I had a hernia repair and abdominoplasty on April 23rd. The hernia repair was covered and was supposed to have been performed by my gastric bypass surgeon, but he got involved in another case that ran long and got a colleague to do my hernia repair. Still don't know how that happened as I was one of the first cases of the day, but that's beside the point. My plastic surgeon did the initial incision, then the repair took place then my plastic surgeon finished the abdominoplasty portion. The plastics was not covered, but so far insurance has paid for everything but they are denying two days of my hospital stay (I was in there from Friday through the following Tuesday afternoon). I think the hospital is disputing because I was in there due to my bowels not waking back up and functioning which is hernia related, not plastics. In any case, even if you have to pay for your plastics portion, insurance should cover the hernia repair and your out-of-pocket for the plastics may be reduced because insurance may cover all are part of the surgery room and anesthesia and hospital stay so that part may not come out of your pocket. So far, I've only had to pay my plastic surgeon's fees.
   — Tparker

July 14, 2004
I am in NY and my PS is doing both my abdominoplasty and hernia repair. As a matter of fact, he is the one who identified the hernia. He said that the fact that he is repairing it is causing him to do a full abdominoplasty rather than a panniculectomy which is what was approved by the insurance company. He feels he may as well do it since he is fixing the muscles for the hernia anyway.
   — Fixnmyself