Medical Wait Time!

Roller said:
Should be like buying a gun, if they can’t figure it out within X days it’s a default issue medical
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wish that was the case! My last correspondace with the FAA was august of 2024. ~200 days of radio silence hahah.... Wish i knew an estimate or something. Driving myself crazy checking Medexpress everyday.
 
JustinBeeber said:
wish that was the case! My last correspondace with the FAA was august of 2024. ~200 days of radio silence hahah.... Wish i knew an estimate or something. Driving myself crazy checking Medexpress everyday.
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Talk to your congress person yet?
 
I was told by my HIMS AME:
1. Call every 2 week (I’m calling every week)
2. They don’t want the AME to call
3. Getting a congressional inquiry doesn’t do anything
4. AOPA doesn’t help

They just let go 100 people at the FAA, not sure what division or whatever, but hopefully that will “encourage” FAA worker to get their butts back in the office like the rest of us and do their jobs!
 
UTLonghorn_1979 said:
I was told by my HIMS AME:
1. Call every 2 week (I’m calling every week)
2. They don’t want the AME to call
3. Getting a congressional inquiry doesn’t do anything
4. AOPA doesn’t help

They just let go 100 people at the FAA, not sure what division or whatever, but hopefully that will “encourage” FAA worker to get their butts back in the office like the rest of us and do their jobs!
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I call weekly as well. Lady I talked to last time said to call monthly but I refuse. If I remember correctly you ended up getting your 1rst class medical already right Longhorn?
 
UTLonghorn_1979 said:
I was told by my HIMS AME:
1. Call every 2 week (I’m calling every week)
2. They don’t want the AME to call
3. Getting a congressional inquiry doesn’t do anything
4. AOPA doesn’t help

They just let go 100 people at the FAA, not sure what division or whatever, but hopefully that will “encourage” FAA worker to get their butts back in the office like the rest of us and do their jobs!
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This is why people who do this for a living first talk to a lawyer or someone else on the inside.

Calling congress 100% helps, tons of topics on this

Don’t want the AME to call sounds like he’s lazy

Look up Anthony Ison, he’s a lawyer who’s done a ton of this, read his massive amount of Google reviews
 
JustinBeeber said:
I call weekly as well. Lady I talked to last time said to call monthly but I refuse. If I remember correctly you ended up getting your 1rst class medical already right Longhorn?
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I wish! I’m still in waiting for my Class 3 SI, been over 2 years. Fingers crossed I’m finally close to SI…I’m being told several months. My AME says he expects SI, my GP says I’m healthy to fly, so I got my motorglider certificate in the meantime, flying that for fun and leisure for now.

Good luck!
 
I had an AME appointment very beginning of January this year. Was deferred due to ADHD and Depression diagnoses over 10 years ago, when I was 18. It's crazy that Medxpress site says most reviews are communicated within 3 days of completed review. Is that just a lie? Reading this thread, I'm thinking it could take me years to get anything back at all! Appreciate everyone sharing their stories and insight.
 
BenLo4139 said:
I had an AME appointment very beginning of January this year. Was deferred due to ADHD and Depression diagnoses over 10 years ago, when I was 18. It's crazy that Medxpress site says most reviews are communicated within 3 days of completed review. Is that just a lie? Reading this thread, I'm thinking it could take me years to get anything back at all! Appreciate everyone sharing their stories and insight.
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You misunderstood. The three days is the time from when the decision is made until you receive notification. It's not the time it takes the review process (which could be a year).
 
flyingron said:
You misunderstood. The three days is the time from when the decision is made until you receive notification. It's not the time it takes the review process (which could be a year).
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You're in for a long, and expensive, road ahead.

Everyone is going to tell you "just wait and see what they say." I wish I hadn't done that. I've been in the special issuance process for over 30 months now...

The initial assessment of a complete application can and will take a full year to 14 months...and then after they make the initial decision to send it to Washington, DC another year after that.

*****Please understand that I am not an AME, I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice.*****

Using what I wish I knew previously, and if this was me:

I'd find a HIMS AME that is willing to sponsor my medical application.

I'd find and See a HIMS Neuropsychiatrist. Get an evaluation and report supporting my medical issuance sent to my HIMS AME. I'd plan to spend around $3000 on this.

I'd find and See a HIMS Neuropsychologist for a full Neurocog screening and Neuropsychological assessment supporting my medical issuance sent to your HIMS AME. I'd plan to spend around $4000 on this.

I'd find a therapist with an MD or DO behind their name and schedule monthly visits with a monthly report to my HIMS AME on my current clinical diagnosis or lack thereof and continue to see them monthly. I'd plan to spend $200 a month on this.


I wish I had known the above because I think it would have shortened up the wait time for my 1st class medical. (Which by all statements by everyone concerned may be issued any day now.)
 
Probably addressed already, does “In Review” actually mean that? Mine has said this for about a month. The only FAA letter I got was mailed at the end of January stating it was recevied.
 
Any reason why my MedXPress application status page would go from showing an FAA coresondence letter with a date of late January to now saying “No records found?"
 
UTLonghorn_1979 said:
Any reason why my MedXPress application status page would go from showing an FAA coresondence letter with a date of late January to now saying “No records found?"
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Also, I’m sure you already made a congressional inquiry. But after I made mine, my medical was magically issued the next day. Don’t think it was a coincidence. My case was also not as complex.
 
JustinBeeber said:
Also, I’m sure you already made a congressional inquiry. But after I made mine, my medical was magically issued the next day. Don’t think it was a coincidence. My case was also not as complex.
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Which congressional rep did you contact? Your Senator, Representative?

How long did you wait? I’m only 60 days or so in, this time around. Been over 2 years total.
 
JustinBeeber said:
Also, I’m sure you already made a congressional inquiry. But after I made mine, my medical was magically issued the next day. Don’t think it was a coincidence. My case was also not as complex.
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My total cost since my Initial Application in November 2022:

Full DSM Psychiatric Evaluation from treating physician ($2000)
Monthly Therapy since June 2022 ($6250)
HIMS Neuropsychiatric Evaluation - August 2024 ($2000)
HIMS Neuropsychological Evaluation including CogScreening August 2024 ($3700)
HIMS AME - 3 visits plus INITIAL and Reconsideration recommendation letter ($1122)
--------------
Treating physician: no psychiatric disorders. Has a little social anxiety.

Neuropsychiatric: no aeromedically significant neuropsychiatric issues. Admit to HIMS program with monthly therapy visits and progress reports to sponsoring HIMS AME.

Neuropsychological: no aeromedically significant neuropsychological or cognitive issues. Admit to HIMS program with monthly therapy visits and progress note to sponsoring HIMS AME.

HIMS AME: no issues. Sponsoring application. Met in person at 6 month mark March 10, 2025. Continuing to recommend application.
--------------

Application denied with reconsideration criteria: April of 2024.
.
Reapplied for 1st class medical September 19, 2024 with all requested information.
.
March 17, 2025, placed weekly call to OKC: "It looks like they just started review of your file, You should be hearing something back soon."
.
Listen...in my case, I understand and believe that the FAA should give my file some consideration before issuing a 1st class medical.
.
But I have also met all of the requirements for a medical and every test I have paid for supports issuance...a timely reply and an honest statement that says, "We will get back to you by ....., 20-- with an answer" is appropriate, I would think.

Had I known beforehand that I would need the Neuropsych exams and Cog screening, I would have done those and submitted with my initial application.

I'm not frustrated...I'm just tired. After all of this, if I AM granted a special issuance 1st class medical...I'm still looking at another $100k for training.
 
UTLonghorn_1979 said:
Which congressional rep did you contact? Your Senator, Representative?

How long did you wait? I’m only 60 days or so in, this time around. Been over 2 years total.
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I contacted the congressional representative of my district, not my senator. I waited until I was at the 7 month mark of my last FAA correspondence, which was around 10 months from when I initially was deferred.

I contacted my congressman, they were super quick and sent the letter to the FAA in about 2 days. I saw the “Congressional Inquiry” added to my medexpress, and the next morning I logged in and saw that I was issued my Class 1 medical certificate.
 
JustinBeeber said:
I contacted the congressional representative of my district, not my senator. I waited until I was at the 7 month mark of my last FAA correspondence, which was around 10 months from when I initially was deferred.

I contacted my congressman, they were super quick and sent the letter to the FAA in about 2 days. I saw the “Congressional Inquiry” added to my medexpress, and the next morning I logged in and saw that I was issued my Class 1 medical certificate.
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Thanks! I’ll wait until 3 or 4 months. Feel like it’s too soon, maybe once the “60 days they strive to respond by…” time has passed and then some.
 
Well...the mystical "your medical file is undergoing final review" message has now appeared. (I also asked my Senator to inquire with the FAA last week. I do not have any idea if this had anything to do with this change in status.)

I would think that if the FAA was going to issue, it would say "approved" instead of "final review"...hopefully I don't get some sort of "final denial"
 
Whiskey_Tango_Hotel_2024 said:
Well...the mystical "your medical file is undergoing final review" message has now appeared. (I also asked my Senator to inquire with the FAA last week. I do not have any idea if this had anything to do with this change in status.)

I would think that if the FAA was going to issue, it would say "approved" instead of "final review"...hopefully I don't get some sort of "final denial"
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Just curious, what makes you think the final review would lead to denial? Does it typically jump in review to decision?

Does you MedXpress documents show “congressional inquiry?”
 
UTLonghorn_1979 said:
Just curious, what makes you think the final review would lead to denial? Does it typically jump in review to decision?

Does you MedXpress documents show “congressional inquiry?”
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I no longer have access to the list of MedXpress documents. Just that "A determination is undergoing final review" message.

I did see yesterday that my 6 month AME meeting letter had finally been uploaded. (I'm applying for a Special Issuance in my late 40's and my physical is now "expired." So if I am approved for a medical, I will need to go back to my AME for a new physical, I'm sure.)

I don't see any medical update on my airmen registry file. So...that leads me to believe it's going to be a "no" decision again. That being said, the change just happened on Tuesday evening (it is now Wednesday morning as I type this). So. I don't know.

I've discovered I really don't know anything about this process.
 
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Whiskey_Tango_Hotel_2024 said:
I no longer have access to the list of MedXpress documents. Just that "A determination is undergoing final review" message.

I did see yesterday that my 6 month AME meeting letter had finally been uploaded. (I'm applying for a Special Issuance in my late 40's and my physical is now "expired." So if I am approved for a medical, I will need to go back to my AME for a new physical, I'm sure.)

I don't see any medical update on my airmen registry file. So...that leads me to believe it's going to be a "no" decision again. That being said, the change just happened on Tuesday evening (it is now Wednesday morning as I type this). So. I don't know.

I've discovered I really don't know anything about this process.
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I hear you. I’m in mid 40’s, also applying for an SI, but class 3.

Good luck! Please keep us posted.
 
I'm very happy for everyone who got their Medical Certifications approved! In my case MedXPress says In Review, I noticed the change to this stage around the second week of February and their last correspondence is dated 11/18/2024, they requested additional testing which I sent within the week. For the first time since the change I called today and they just said that it was in review and that I should call again in 7-15 business days.....

I am not a citizen so I don't really know how to do the congressional inquiry, or even if it applies to me.
 
I received and reviewed my entire FAA medical file today.
It contained two items that I found noteworthy: an email assigning the file to someone for review and a copy of the letter from my senator's office asking for assistance...which predated the emails.

So my senator made an inquiry...and the file was finally assigned to someone for review.

Also: every phone call was documented...even the ones where I was upset at the process.
 
Have a buddy whose late 50's and had a mild M.I. last year. This is a guy who has been a competitive cyclist for most of his adult life. He's in amazingly good shape. They put a stint in, put him on a statin and said "you're good to go".

FAA says "not so fast". He's jumped through every hoop, has help making sure he got every T crossed and I dotted. And its still been almost a year with no progress.
 
UTLonghorn_1979 said:
FAA better figure this stuff out, or we're not going to have any pilots...or a lot of pilots flying on unreported drugs:

View attachment 141316
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Or, we could just not. I still remember the first grade teacher that tried to get my kid on the ADHD track. I told her she was FOS! Different school, no problem. I think there's a lot of that going on and drug companies are profiting from "my kid is more special-er than your kid" craze.
 
wilkersk said:
Or, we could just not. I still remember the first grade teacher that tried to get my kid on the ADHD track. I told her she was FOS! Different school, no problem. I think there's a lot of that going on and drug companies are profiting from "my kid is more special-er than your kid" craze.
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ADHD, sure...what about the SSRI issues? Those are even more prevalent than ADHD drugs. Are you going to argue with the Dr. about your child having depression, anxiety or some other "mental health" issue for long or try the drugs?

This isn't a political statement, but a statement on the power of authority, if Drs can convince parents that their child should undergo irreversible gender care surgery, then a medication for "mental health" is a fish in a barrel conversation.

FAA should just treat non-commercial, non-ATP and class 3 pilots differently than the class 1, ATP population.

That would reduce the wait time significantly.
 
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