Surgery (General)

TRICARE covers surgery when needed and when it’s a proven procedure. Check with your regional contractor and get pre-authorization before any surgeries.

Laser surgery may be covered to the same extent as conventional surgery when the device being used has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Laser surgery may not be covered for surgical procedures otherwise excluded under TRICARE, including:

• Pain relief, biostimulation
• Noncovered surgical services (such as tattoo removal)
• Arthritis or low back pain
• Corneal sculpting
• Body sculpting

Occasionally, you may have non-covered surgical procedure done that leads to other medical complications. TRICARE may cover the cost for the otherwise covered treatment of complications resulting from a non-covered surgery or treatment when:

• The complication represents a medical condition separate from the condition that the non-covered treatment or surgery was directed toward, and
• Treatment of the complication isn’t essentially similar to the non-covered procedure