Medical Adventures: from BasicMed to Second

[jcarne]

Originally Posted by rmartingt

But otherwise I think I have one third-class left and I'll aim to get it done as close to my 40th birthday as possible. After that, it's basicmed for me.

You might just think about BasicMed right off the bat if you have insurance. I have my Dr. do it as part of my yearly wellness check and insurance pays for it.

[jcarne]

Originally Posted by M McGraw

I have a question for the OP and VAF group. I currently carry a first Class medical because of my career. When I retire the Basic Med hold great interest for me. However, I am hearing stories that Basic Med can be an issue for insurance companies as we exceed 70 and 80 years old. What has been the experience of this group?

Interesting. I don't recall my insurance company even asking for anything related to my medical. I'm not that old but I don't recall even seeing it on the form.

[GalinHdz]

I hope you have better luck that I had. My Basic Med would expire on Dec 31st 2022 and I needed a 2nd class (work related) so I did my actual physical on Dec 3rd, 2022. I thought my SI (I have sleep apnea) had expired in 2021 but the AME said everything looked good and submitted the paperwork.

By Dec 30th I had not heard anything and MedExpress showed my physical as "Pending" so I flew for 1hr. By mid January MedExpress showed "Additional information Requested". I went to the AME to get those papers completed and overnighted them on Jan 12th. The next day MedExpress showed the papers had been received and the status was again "Pending".

By Feb 14th it was still "Pending" so I called MedExpress. They told me they had received the paperwork but had not been scanned in to the system. Until the paperwork was scanned, they could not make a decision. Then they told me it has been taking from 4-6 weeks to get paperwork scanned. I kept calling every 2 days with the same answer, hoping the "squeaky wheel" gets the attention. On March 1st MedExpress showed I had been issued a 2nd Class and it had been sent. I received it on March 4th and the very next day I flew for the 1st time in over 2 months.

The worst part was that I had been sent an updated SI and it was valid until December 2024 so my AME could have just issued the 2nd Class. But I never received that updated SI. Since the AME had already sent the paperwork he could not pull it back and just issue me the 2nd Class.

With my 2nd Class I also received an updated SI, valid until 2028, so I won't have to go through this ordeal again. So, GOOD LUCK!

[lr172]

Originally Posted by Ed_Wischmeyer

Anyway, the information will go to the FAA on Wednesday, looking for oral approval to issue a second class. Worst case, they’ll take 90 days to review all the data, but in the meantime, I’m still well qualified for BasicMed.

r.

Not an expert, but several things you stated do not mesh with my understanding of BasicMed and suggest further digging. You stated that if the FAA denies your application that you still have Basic Med. Very sorry, but pretty sure that if the FAA ever denies you for a medical, you are automatically disqualified from using Basic Med. I hope I am wrong here, but do not believe that I am.

I feel that you have taken a dangerous step here and run the risk of needing many thousands of dollars of tests that are no longer offered by most practiioners and therefore difficult to get. I hope that doesn't come to pass for you.

[MacCool]

As I contemplate going Basic Med, I hadn't thought about the effect that my age (70+) might have on my insurance. I just sent off an email to my broker for her opinion. My rates are pretty reasonable, and actually have been going down, so I hate to screw that up. OTOH, the consequences of failing a Class 3 are also worrisome and I absolutely do not want to subject myself unnecessarily to the morass that is the Aviation Medical Branch.

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by lr172

Not an expert, but several things you stated do not mesh with my understanding of BasicMed and suggest further digging. You stated that if the FAA denies your application that you still have Basic Med. Very sorry, but pretty sure that if the FAA ever denies you for a medical, you are automatically disqualified from using Basic Med. I hope I am wrong here, but do not believe that I am.

I feel that you have taken a dangerous step here and run the risk of needing many thousands of dollars of tests that are no longer offered by most practiioners and therefore difficult to get. I hope that doesn't come to pass for you.

This is correct and I agree. I think it was very risky to apply for the 2nd class. Especially if it isn’t really needed.

[alpinelakespilot2000]

Originally Posted by lr172

Not an expert, but several things you stated do not mesh with my understanding of BasicMed and suggest further digging. You stated that if the FAA denies your application that you still have Basic Med. Very sorry, but pretty sure that if the FAA ever denies you for a medical, you are automatically disqualified from using Basic Med. I hope I am wrong here, but do not believe that I am.

To the OP, Ed:
I was thinking the same thing as Larry here. BasicMed does not work as a fallback for a failed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd class exam. As far as I understand, if you fail one of the latter you are automatically disqualified for the former.

[Brantel]

Originally Posted by jcarne

Interesting. I don't recall my insurance company even asking for anything related to my medical. I'm not that old but I don't recall even seeing it on the form.

Same here. They could have cared less.

[74-07]

Before I made the final decision to convert to BasicMed more than a year ago, I called my insurance broker and asked if there would be any insurance issues or increased premium. His answer was, "We consider it a valid, federally recognized medical. There will be no change in your policy or premium". My latest renewal was last November and there was no significant increase in premium. I am 70+

[Draker]

I agree with some others here: this seems like unnecessarily “poking the bear” especially if BasicMed flying limitations are acceptable. I went BasicMed the day it was available. Not because I would fail a Medical (my health is fine) but because it is a less risky path where you and your doc are in control. Even for healthy people, if you forget to check some box and happen to get a capricious clerk in OKC, you’re grounded with potentially months or years of explaining to do. Not worth it!