Does anyone with Tricare Prime know if surgeries can be performed while outside of the country?

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 27 May 2015 00:05:18 -0400

Hitomi and I are covered by Tricare Prime and she is now in Japan. Does anyone know if Tricare Prime will allow surgeries performed by specialists in foreign countries? In the US, Tricare approved surgeons want to perform surgery that will destroy use of her thumb on her dominant hand. In Japan, the specialists laughed at what these surgeons proposed. We're caught between Tricare red tape and Japanese medical care that wonders what they should file with Tricare(if I am understanding this situation correctly). Bottom line, anyone know what happens with Tricare and surgeries in other countries? Not to be a drama queen, but we only have a few days before she flies home and I have to cancel flights, etc. I'm calling them in the am but the suspense is killing us.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made May 27 at 2015 12:17 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Wed, 27 May 2015 00:17:29 -0400

Does Hitomi have insurance through her employer?
I know Tricare covered off base medical in Germany for my wife, but that was a command sponsored situation.

Response by HN Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 11:11 AM

HN Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2015 11:11:49 -0400

Well i guess it's good that i came across this post. I work Tricare nad have for over the last year. According to the area your in there are 2 ways to do this. 1. go to your primary care get a civilian referal put into the system get it approved and go to your specialist (might have to pay up front but will be covered). 2. go to the specialist pay up front and file a claim with medical evidence supporting why said procedure needed to be done (not a 100% chance of success on claim though). 3. Switch to Tricare standard if possible see specialist pay no more than 1000$ out of pocket for everything as 1k is Catastrophic cap for Active Duty members. no money out of pocket for rest of fiscal year.