Greetings. Anyone had any experience with the Cooper Clinic in Dallas? It's 4K for an all day evaluation. They do not take insurance. I have heard about a place in MEM that does all day medical evaluations but don't know the name. Any help or info is appreciated. Trying to get back to work from LTD. Cheers.

What category of health specialist are you in need of?

Life Signs just of Poplar will give you a real good physical for $65. It takes about 4 hours and they really move you along. No sitting around with them. They also do not take insurance. My wife and I use them yearly.

heart and endo

Dr. Stacy Smith is one of the top cardiologists in the country, and is intimately familiar with working with the FAA. I know of 4 current Fedex pilots that she treats. Can't speak for the endo. Good luck.



Stacy C. Smith, M.D., FACC, FSCAI

Agreed. I've been a patient of hers for a long time, and she knows what the FAA needs to see to get you back flying. 12 years ago I was lying on a table while she was doing a cath on my heart, which was nearly 90% blocked. She said right there that she didn't know if I would fly again, but that I could be fixed. Still flying 12 years later.

Two thoughts ...

- Will Aetna (LTD provider) pay for medical evaluations to help get you back to work? They might?

- And, I vaguely remember something in the new contract about FedEx paying medical expenses to help get your Medical Certificate back?

Good luck, please let us know what you find out.

MM

PS ... I just had another thought. I was speaking to the folks at Harvey Watt last month and I asked them what's involved when/if I'm declared healthy enough to go back to work? They said to call them and they would assign one of their doctors to my case. I bet if they order tests that Harvey Watt or FedEx pays for it!*?

The company will pay for testing that is required by the FAA to get your medical back if your insurance will not pay for it, but it must be filed with insurance to get the discounted price of the procedure. For instance, a heart cath retail price is approx 63k, but discounted to the insurance company to approx 20k. If the cath was denied by the insurance company because they deemed that it wasn't medically necessary but the FAA required it to clear you, then the company would pay (reimburse you) the discounted 20k price.

I've had three heart caths in the past year and a half. All three were paid for (except deductible) by health insurance, BC/BS Buy Up Plan. The third one was considered unnecessary by the cardiologist but was insisted upon by the FAA in order to return to work. It was paid for by our health insurance. Harvey Watt merely reviews the doctor reports sent to the FAA. They approved after just one day of review.

New contract specifically has added provisions covering you getting medical back after LTD.

One of the improvements.