Hello there, I am a retired dependent as well and also live in San Diego. I'm just now getting started with my first visit to my pcm being last Thursday 10/27. My pcm is at Scripps Ranch Medical offices. I'm still waitng on my referral to see a bariatric doctor and have a feeling I will be referred to Balboa as well. I don't have experience with their emergency room but my daughter was referred there for some treatment and it went very smoothly. I suppose it depends on the department. One advantage to going to a MTF is you have the option to have the gastric sleeve done there. I am actually undecided at this point and am still doing more research, but from what I understand is that you can only have the sleeve done at a MTF with tri care prime, unless that has recently changed. Also, you may or may not have looked at Baboa's website, but I was just on there and found quite a bit of info about there bariatric center and what they require for surgery. The forms you have to fill out are there to download as well. Good luck with every thing!