samlpyles

I had VSG in Tijuana, Mx. I did about 200 hours of research before my surgery and based on that research, finances, and other personal considerations, decided to go the Medical Tourism route and have been very happy with that decision. I had my surgery at HospitalBC with Dr. Illan.
The insurance piece was definitely a factor for me. I have consulted 3x with US surgeons in the past. And all the appointments and hoop jumping eventually caused me to lose hope and I bailed. The months and months of appointments and paperwork is exhausting and extremely frustrating! That being said, I have employer sponsored healthcare, not Tricare, so I can't speak to the experience with them, only my own. From first contact to surgery, was almost exactly 3 months. It would have been shorter, but I had some schedule considerations I had to work around. With my insurance it would have been 9+ months.
These hospitals ONLY do bariatric surgeries and are geared towards medical tourists. They run a VERY well oiled machine from intake to discharge. The process was so smooth, I was completely confident going alone. The surgeon I chose is highly accredited, has done thousands of WLS procedures, has relationships and mentorships with some of the most well known US bariatric surgeons for continuing ed, is board certified, etc. He is just as qualified, if not more so, than many of the bariatric surgeons in my area.
The reality is, there are amazing surgeons in the US and just as many in Mexico and other places. Conversely, there are terrible surgeons here and everywhere else. There are pros and cons to each, and every person has different needs. Ultimately it boils down to doing your research, finding a surgeon you trust, and a program that fits your needs.