Yoda,

Thanks for the reply. I'll confess that looking over the AME flow charts for my two conditions I'm not sure if I can navigate them without help. I have a free intake call with Mayo Clinic's Aerospace Medicine dept. From there, they will suggest further action (such as an AME consult or any tests the FAA may want when the time comes).

If those costs balloon to a point I can't handle, I will go the AOPA route. The membership + medical plus service will be about $150. I'm not sure of the amount of help they provide, but just having a consult would be great.

Thanks again for your help.

The costs of all the tests and reports required is where the expenses can really start to add up, depending on your condition. I think in your case the mental condition will be the most cumbersome to overcome.

I did a initial Special Issuance and subsequent applications by myself without any major issues. It did cost me several thousand dollars for the specialist visits, tests and reports that were required. Many of these tests are required every year or two depending on the conditions of your special issuance. Insurance does not pay for most of them.

In the end you have to decide if it's worth it. My FAA medicals are no longer $100-150 every six months.

Is there ever a point where the FAA would be satisfied that a person is stable? It's sounding like even if they issue you the SI (even though they may not want to) they can still force you out due to the high medical cost of the recurring screenings (maybe I'm being pessimistic). That's a little disappointing to hear, but I will have to wait and see what the consultation lays out.

I've been fortunate to have a large portion of my mental health care covered by my previous insurance...now that I am on my employer's plan, I hope that doesn't change.

To some extent you are right. Many folks simply give up because of either the cost or the paperwork involved. Statistically, there seems to be a very good chance of getting certified. However, it's a bit like weight loss. It's easy perhaps to lose weight, but keeping it off is harder.

The issue with the tests is that the FAA asks for certain tests that are not normally considered required by the mainstream medical community. So your doctor will oblige you with the order but the insurance company will not pay for it, especially if the interval is short.

As an example. The FAA requires a angiogram (very invasive) 6 months after bypass surgery. It can cost several thousand dollars depending on where you have it done. Most cardiologists will wonder why you need one six months after surgery. But if you don't get it you are dead in the water for an FAA medical. Then they require a Bruce Protocol Stress Test every year and a Nuclear Stress test every two years, in addition to full blood and lipid profiles. So as you can see these can really add up. If the test is not done to their specifications (VERY VERY IMPORTANT) they will reject it and it has to be redone.

It can be done if you have the patience, determination and ofcourse the funds. I suggest you give it a good try with an initial consult and then decide further. Best of luck.

You know...I'm glad I troll APC every now & then. This is good news rickair. Don't worry though, I'm not going to throw you up under bus (LOL) and tell the FAA..."well this is what rickair7777 said!"

I reached out to the Chief Psychiatrist today. I left a message. Hopefully, he'll get back to me. We shall see!


atp

You're getting good advice here, and I'll add something. Draw a solid line between "medically necessary" procedures and those required by the FAA for their protocols. Doctors not familiar with FAA standards and requirements can sometimes do tremendous damage to your FAA case by making statements and using words in a way to "help" you qualify for insurance coverage.