Overseas Medical screening help?!?!

[TxNavyWife]

Hi Ladies, I could really use your help! 

I know some of you have completed the overseas medical screening portion for your command sponsorships for PCSing. How did you do it?

I know I need to get the NAVMED 1300/1 form and the 2807-1 signed by a physician. They say it can be military or civilian. However, it looks like there are a few items on the 1300/1 form that may not apply to me, and I'm afraid a civilian doctor will look at the form an have no clue how to complete it. 

For those of you who have completed the overseas medical screening part of joining your spouses, how did you do it? Were you able to find a competent civilian dr.? Or did you go to a military hospital?

If you went to a military hospital, was it one on a base, or the VA?

Thanks in advance for any help. I'm desperate to get this done since it's our next step in the process and it won't move forward until I get it done....I miss my husband too much to lollygag on this one!

(extra information that might help. We got married after he received his orders, so we have to gain command sponsorship the hard way. He has PCSed to Naples, Italy. We have checked with the hospital there and my current health issues (type 1 diabetes) have been reassured that there is no problem for this base) 

[lovemysailor]

It is a very slow process but sounds like you got most of it down. You need to find an active duty military base closest to you and contact them. For me there was none in the state I lived in so I had to go to a completley different state to get seen by a military doctor for only 5 minutes (frusturating i know). What I did was contacted my local military base told them what I needed and they gave me the phone number to the closest doctor to you. The va will not work as that is not for active military is what i was told. I believe the doctor you are looking for is a mft or something close to that (sorry not sure on all the correct terms). Once I got the number to the correct person I told her what I was needing and she found all the forms I needed so I didnt have to wait for my husband to send them to me. I had to get 5years worth of my medical records and records from the last time I went to the dentist. Lucky for me I had just gone 3 months prior so I didnt have to have a checkup just left the papers at my dentist office and picked them up later that day. was very simple. My doctor I had to schedule an appointment and help her fill it all out. (my military doctor gave me instructions on how to fill it out so that was very helpfull) after I got all that done I made an appointment with my military doctor and was done. We are now back to waiting to make sure everything goes through so I can move overseas. I just went through this 3 weeks ago and I had to complete two or 3 different forms cant remember exactly.  hope this helps :)

[TxNavyWife]

Thanks. I'll see if I can find someone to contact about a doctor closer to me (the nearest military base is an hour away. Not terrible, but I'd rather not have to go there if I can avoid it, not to mention it's Airforce, so I'm not sure their screening is the same anyway). I'm a little confused though, did you have to visit the base outside your state? or did you call as an alternative?

The dental is easy since I get cleanings every 6 months, oddly enough that one is the least of my worries! But 5 years worth of medical records sounds like a lot! 

[lovemysailor]

it is and mine took two weeks to get and I had to send them directly to the military base or my clinic was going to charge me so you might want to get in contact with your base then ask for the records. I went to an airforce base it offut to be exact and it went just fine. I was the first navy one they did but they said it was all the same just different forms. They got the forms sent them to me then I took them with me when I met them in person they signed them went over my records and sent them overseas to get processed over there. Very easy and painless just a lot of gas and time. I tried to geth them to do it over phone but they said they couldnt. I would contact your closest base active or not and tell them what you need. they will know where the correct base is for you and give you the contact information. This proccess isnt hard just a lot off calling around and lots of paperwork getting it all figured out.

[lovemysailor]

What is his rank?

I just found out if they are below an E4 in rank medical gets sent to "big navy" (as my sailor calls it. He said they are the people that are really high in ranks.) and they have to give special permission for dependents to go. We were told by the base medical that health wise I am all free to go but we just have to make sure the higher ups are willing to spend the money to send me over. Not sure if this affects you or not but was a big shock for us.

[TxNavyWife]

He is currently E3, but will be able to apply for E4 in August (He has a contract where he doesn't have to test in for it, he just automatically ranks up if they have a need for him) He knows several guys who are also E3 and have their spouses there, so we know it's not impossible to do, and definitely worth a try. We're hoping since it's not Japan or anything (just Italy!) that we'll be able to get that pass.

Thanks for all your input, I really do appreciate it. I tried to call the closes navy base to me (3 hours away) and the lady at the hospital patched me through to someone from their tricare department. Unfortunately she was out of town so I have to wait til at least Monday to get any real information. I hope she's the right person to talk to, otherwise I'm wasting my time waiting for her!

[lovemysailor]

I didnt have to do anything with tri care when I did it. I could give you the number of the person I went through and maybe she could help direct you to the correct person closest to you. Is that okay to give out people's numbers like that? I dont want to do something i am shouldnt?

[TxNavyWife]

I think it's just the tricare office at the hospital there. She may be in charge of getting people registered at the hospital there. Do you know what department the person you spoke with was from? Perhaps you can send me the number in a private message, it might be worth a try :)

[Anti M]

It is called command sponsorship, and it is what gets you permission to go, the proper visa to stay, and permission to use the base and receive housing/overseas housing allowance.  It is on a case by case basis, so it is very difficult to tell who gets approved in which country.  Because he has that auto-E-4 waiting for him, I feel chances are good.  He will have to extend his tour there though.  I hope he likes it!

[TxNavyWife]

lovemysailor, I just wanted to let you know that I finally got in touch with the right person!  I called the hospital once and was given bad information, called a second time a few days later and got directed to the correct department. It's such a relief to finally find someone who knows what he's doing! He was able to enroll me in the system there over the phone and is taking charge of making sure everything is set up so I don't have to make more than 1 of the 3 hour drive to the base. Thank you for your sharing your experience!

[lovemysailor]

I am so glad. I hope it all works out for you guys and it goes as smooth as possible. If you have anymore questions just let me know. :)

[TxNavyWife]

Just an update, I finally got my screening scheduled for next Thursday! I'm terribly anxious about the continuously slimming chances I'll be considered fit though. I unfortunately had a slightly abnormal pap result (sorry, tmi!). The doc said there was no treatment needed, and the guy I've been talking to said that that wasn't necessarily an automatic disqualification so I'm still going to try, but boy is it nerve wracking. I just want to live with my hubby, too much to ask? 

[Anti M]

You should be fine.  An abnormal pap isn't all that unusual.  I've had them, taken too close to my cycle was all.