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Making a decision about Basic Med and insuring my RV-8A

Steve Ashby

Steve Ashby

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I have researched the forums and can’t find a definitive answer. I would love to hear from my RV brethren (and/or sisteren) about how to proceed.

Going back 2 years ago, I was flying my C-172 under basic med when I had a cardiac stent. I then had to reapply for a class 3 with a special issuance. The process was a 13 month nightmare, even though I supplied all the required documentation (full exam, nuclear stress test and the whole nine yards) from the first application.

I am now at the point of deciding whether to go back to Basic Med or to renew my class 3 and special issuance before the end of the year. I hope to finish my 8A sometime in 2025. I am worried that I may not be able to insure it if I don’t have a class 3. I turn 70 next May. Does anyone have experience getting insurance on a Basic Med?

Thanks for your advice.

Steve Ashby
 
Steve Ashby said:
I have researched the forums and can’t find a definitive answer. I would love to hear from my RV brethren (and/or sisteren) about how to proceed.

Going back 2 years ago, I was flying my C-172 under basic med when I had a cardiac stent. I then had to reapply for a class 3 with a special issuance. The process was a 13 month nightmare, even though I supplied all the required documentation (full exam, nuclear stress test and the whole nine yards) from the first application.

I am now at the point of deciding whether to go back to Basic Med or to renew my class 3 and special issuance before the end of the year. I hope to finish my 8A sometime in 2025. I am worried that I may not be able to insure it if I don’t have a class 3. I turn 70 next May. Does anyone have experience getting insurance on a Basic Med?

Thanks for your advice.

Steve Ashby
Click to expand...

Basic Med and insured here. Late 40's. No problems. Never know if/when that might change though. Insurance is a goofy game.
 
Steve Ashby said:
I have researched the forums and can’t find a definitive answer. I would love to hear from my RV brethren (and/or sisteren) about how to proceed.

Going back 2 years ago, I was flying my C-172 under basic med when I had a cardiac stent. I then had to reapply for a class 3 with a special issuance. The process was a 13 month nightmare, even though I supplied all the required documentation (full exam, nuclear stress test and the whole nine yards) from the first application.

I am now at the point of deciding whether to go back to Basic Med or to renew my class 3 and special issuance before the end of the year. I hope to finish my 8A sometime in 2025. I am worried that I may not be able to insure it if I don’t have a class 3. I turn 70 next May. Does anyone have experience getting insurance on a Basic Med?

Thanks for your advice.

Steve Ashby
Click to expand...
Nope. Go BasicMed and when you apply for insurance, that's all you have to list. They don't need to know the whole history of your medical stuff.
 
Steve Ashby said:
I have researched the forums and can’t find a definitive answer. I would love to hear from my RV brethren (and/or sisteren) about how to proceed.

Going back 2 years ago, I was flying my C-172 under basic med when I had a cardiac stent. I then had to reapply for a class 3 with a special issuance. The process was a 13 month nightmare, even though I supplied all the required documentation (full exam, nuclear stress test and the whole nine yards) from the first application.

I am now at the point of deciding whether to go back to Basic Med or to renew my class 3 and special issuance before the end of the year. I hope to finish my 8A sometime in 2025. I am worried that I may not be able to insure it if I don’t have a class 3. I turn 70 next May. Does anyone have experience getting insurance on a Basic Med?

Thanks for your advice.

Steve Ashby
Click to expand...
Basic Med has not been an issue for me relative to insurance (I'm 70+ and had a Special Issuance on my Class 3), and my broker/agent tells me it's a non-issue, at least with the company I have. In the meantime, there is nothing in my current aviation mission that isn't covered by Basic Med, and I'm confident that I'd be crazy to go back to a Class III and hand my medical qualification to fly back to the FAA bureaucracy instead of my personal physician.
 
My wife got a special issuance 3rd class medical for type one diabetes then went to Basic Med. I myself fly Basic Med. We own 2 planes, hers is a Decathlon, mine a RV7. We have had no trouble getting insurance, However we have not changed carriers/ companies since we have both passed 70 years of age. I understand it is more difficult to obtain insurance with a new company at 70 and above. I do not recall any carrier making a difference between third class and Basic Med: that part seems to be a non issue.
 
Based on your situation I would definitely go BasicMed. You have complied with the special issuance triggered by your event. So you are on the up and up and there is no reason to go back to Class III unless you ever trigger another special issuance.
 
Not directly related to the op but some are saying basic med exam and Flight Review every year for pilots past a certain age for insurance. That age does not seem to be clearly defined.
 
I am 75 and have been flying my HRII for more than 20 years. Basic Med & Liability Insurance - no hull (too expensive), with no problem with renewal.

AIR - Aircraft Insurance Resources

HFS
 
MacCool said:
I'd be crazy to go back to a Class III and hand my medical qualification to fly back to the FAA bureaucracy instead of my personal physician.
Click to expand...
This x 1000. Congrats on getting your cardiac issues sorted out! Now run, don’t walk, back to the welcoming arms of BasicMed. 😃
 
jrs14855 said:
Not directly related to the op but some are saying basic med exam and Flight Review every year for pilots past a certain age for insurance. That age does not seem to be clearly defined.
Click to expand...
Who, exactly, is saying this? "A lot of people are saying" isn't much information, if any.
 
Steve Ashby said:
I have researched the forums and can’t find a definitive answer. I would love to hear from my RV brethren (and/or sisteren) about how to proceed.

Going back 2 years ago, I was flying my C-172 under basic med when I had a cardiac stent. I then had to reapply for a class 3 with a special issuance. The process was a 13 month nightmare, even though I supplied all the required documentation (full exam, nuclear stress test and the whole nine yards) from the first application.

I am now at the point of deciding whether to go back to Basic Med or to renew my class 3 and special issuance before the end of the year. I hope to finish my 8A sometime in 2025. I am worried that I may not be able to insure it if I don’t have a class 3. I turn 70 next May. Does anyone have experience getting insurance on a Basic Med?

Thanks for your advice.

Steve Ashby
Click to expand...
Lat year, I purchased an RV9A and returned to powered aircraft after many years of flying only gliders. Got my basic med after not having an FAA medical since 2011. My insurer (IAT, through the broker Travers), could care less.
 
After flying for a living for many decades, once I knew for sure that I was only going to fly for fun from then on, I went Basic Med and love it. Insurance companies for various categories of aircraft I've insured over the last few years have not even questioned it. I renew it with my regular doctor whom I see every 6 months anyway so who better to know my actual health? Basic Med is now mainstream just like a regular certificate. Go for it and don't look back !
 
RV7A Flyer said:
Who, exactly, is saying this? "A lot of people are saying" isn't much information, if any.
Click to expand...
A collection of posts on here and personal experience with insurance brokers. The requirement for annual basic med and flight review is just getting started.
 
The insurer could care less about basic med until a certain age and then they will want the med exam and flight review annually. The next step at some secret age in no more insurance.
 
I 67 on basic med and just got insurance on the 8 last week. I don’t recall being asked about what type of medical I had.
 
RV7A Flyer said:
I'm sorry, I don't recall posts on here where people positively said an insurer required an annual physical and flight review. Are you saying *your* broker required this?
Click to expand...
Post number 1 in this thread. Seems to apply to Avemco only. Unfortunately, original poster never provided follow up. I have several friends over 80 flying on Basicmed without this restriction.

I'm 72, Basicmed and no restrictions, yet.
 
MacCool said:
Nor my broker at Gallagher
Click to expand...
Actually Gallagher does request that info on the application that's filled out every year.
 

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Mel said:
The way I read that is they are simply asking the "status" of your Medical and BFR. Whether or not it is current.
Click to expand...
Agreed, same as my insurance company (Basic med, 68 years old). Why are we trying to cause an issue? $ 1,920 annually with 250k hull insurance. Typical liability.
 
Mel said:
The way I read that is they are simply asking the "status" of your Medical and BFR. Whether or not it is current.
Click to expand...
Maybe on the first one but what about the 2nd picture I posted? It specifically asked for the date it was completed and the class of the medical and the date of the flight review. Maybe they changed it, that was mine 2 months ago during renewal.
 

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Pilot135pd said:
Actually Gallagher does request that info on the application that's filled out every year.
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Yes, but not Gallagher...the insurance company. They want to know that their insured pilots have a medical and valid pilot's credentials, which seems reasonable.
 
MacCool said:
Yes, but not Gallagher...the insurance company. They want to know that their insured pilots have a medical and valid pilot's credentials, which seems reasonable.
Click to expand...
Well we're talking about insurance and if you get your insurance through Gallagher, they ask for it. That would be like saying Aircraft Spruce doesn't ask for your address when you buy a product they sell. Gallagher doesn't insure you, they sell you the product. Aircraft Spruce doesn't make their product either, they sell it to you.
 
This isn't that hard. They're asking for the DATE of your last medical (or BasicMed) and BFR. Which is perfectly sensible.

The point I was asking about was WHO was saying that their insurance company REQUIRED an ANNUAL BASICMED PHYSICAL and and ANNUAL flight review. And that I couldn't recall anyone saying their insurance company was requiring more frequent medicals/BFRs than the regulations.

Note that each year they ask you for the dates of your current medical/BasicMed and BFR, which could be anywhere from yesterday to 4 years ago (BasicMed) or 2 years ago (BFR).
 
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Pilot135pd said:
Well we're talking about insurance and if you get your insurance through Gallagher, they ask for it. That would be like saying Aircraft Spruce doesn't ask for your address when you buy a product they sell. Gallagher doesn't insure you, they sell you the product. Aircraft Spruce doesn't make their product either, they sell it to you.
Click to expand...
 
RV7A Flyer said:
This isn't that hard. They're asking for the DATE of your last medical (or BasicMed) and BFR. Which is perfectly sensible.

The point I was asking about was WHO was saying that their insurance company REQUIRED an ANNUAL BASICMED PHYSICAL and and ANNUAL flight review. And that I couldn't recall anyone saying their insurance company was requiring more frequent medicals/BFRs than the regulations.

Not that each year they ask you for the dates of your current medical/BasicMed and BFR, which could be anywhere from yesterday to 4 years ago (BasicMed) or 2 years ago (BFR).
Click to expand...
So you're saying that you believe they're only asking for a DATE just to fill in a box but if you don't have a valid one you're ok to get insured? That doesn't make sense to me. Why would they care when you had your last one if it's not to confirm that you have a valid medical and FR?

BTW, this isn't even the original subject of this thread. The OP asked if anyone has experience getting insurance on Basic Med? I think it's been answered.
 
Pilot135pd said:
Well we're talking about insurance and if you get your insurance through Gallagher, they ask for it. That would be like saying Aircraft Spruce doesn't ask for your address when you buy a product they sell. Gallagher doesn't insure you, they sell you the product. Aircraft Spruce doesn't make their product either, they sell it to you.
Click to expand...

To be honest, I think something went off track in the discussion. I’m not even sure what you’re arguing here.
 
MacCool said:
To be honest, I think something went off track in the discussion. I’m not even sure what you’re arguing here.
Click to expand...
I said Gallagher asks for the information, you said "Yes, but not Gallagher...the insurance company. They want to know that their insured pilots have a medical and valid pilot's credentials, which seems reasonable." then someone else said they just want the date and not to know if you have one, but in the end I said "The OP asked if anyone has experience getting insurance on Basic Med? I think it's been answered."

That should clarify it for you. I'm out.
 
I decided to go Basic Med recently as my AME aged out.
What surprised me. My AME charged $150 cash for a third class medical exam. (Small rural practice).
My primary charged $650 for the physical and paper work. (Big Clinic)
I had no reason to inform my insurance.
company.
The difference in cost caught me off guard. I thought I would be saving money going every four years instead of two. Geeez…..
 
OP has made his decision, and probably the correct one.

I'm interested to hear what @LRingeisen (Galagher) would say about the why for the information request.

My guess is that the BROKER collects the infiormation because they know they will need it for each UNDERWRITER that they shop your policy to, thereby making it more efficient to get the best quotes.
 
Pilot135pd said:
So you're saying that you believe they're only asking for a DATE just to fill in a box but if you don't have a valid one you're ok to get insured? That doesn't make sense to me. Why would they care when you had your last one if it's not to confirm that you have a valid medical and FR?

BTW, this isn't even the original subject of this thread. The OP asked if anyone has experience getting insurance on Basic Med? I think it's been answered.
Click to expand...
I agree with MacCool...I have no idea *what* you're arguing about here.

And...gasp...*thread drift*! On the intertubes!!! The horror... :rolleyes:
 
azrv6 said:
Post number 1 in this thread. Seems to apply to Avemco only. Unfortunately, original poster never provided follow up. I have several friends over 80 flying on Basicmed without this restriction.

I'm 72, Basicmed and no restrictions, yet.
Click to expand...
Yeah, so one post by one guy who never followed up, and even then it says he "discovered" this mythical requirement by Avemco, which could mean anything.

So I think we can put this rumor about insurance companies requiring pilots over a certain age to get an annual BasicMed physical and annual flight review out of its misery. Not saying they never do, there are always exceptions, and they'd be within their rights to do so. But "I heard from a lot of people" or "there were a bunch of threads" isn't sufficient evidence here.
 
mill2978 said:
This is true today, however once Canada impliments a similar plan(allgedly was going to happen pre covid) or recognizes ours we should be fine.

www.aopa.org

AOPA, COPA call for Canadian BasicMed acceptance

AOPA joined the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association calling on Canada to recognize BasicMed privileges, making a case backed by data.
www.aopa.org
Click to expand...
Yeh, they've been working on that reciprocity thing for years so that Basic Med pilots can fly in Canada and Category 4 pilots can fly in the US. Very contentious process, from what I hear as the two programs have some fundamental distance between them and there is the inevitable international political squabbling. ICAO is unhelpful as they have no similar program. They reportedly were making (slow) headway in those resolving those issues, then COVID happened and it all got shelved. It's been years. It will probably happen some day but I'm not holding my breath.
 
Steve Ashby said:
Brothers,
You have calmed my soul. I shall forge ahead with Basic Med any my wonderful family physician. Thank you all for your knowledge and encouragement.
Steve
Click to expand...
Steve,
As I’m sure you already know, there is no special issuance under basic med. If you have a condition in the future after you’re on basic med that would limit your medical qualification, you need to self diagnose that. Under Basic Med, if it’s a condition like you had before that required you to get a special issuance certificate, but which you could still fly with legally once cleared, your PCP would be the doc to consult about that, and if he/she gives you a clean bill of health, you’re good to go under basic med. I have a friend who has a similar situation with A-fib that he has dealt with for a couple years - and he’s a recently retired airline pilot. He went through the special issuance drill a few times before he retired. Under the FAA protocol for issuance of a new class 1 or lower medical, it takes months. Under basic med, when his PCP or cardiologist (not sure which) says he is cleared, he can continue to fly. That may only take a few weeks, not months and you don’t need to report it.
 
JonJay said:
I decided to go Basic Med recently as my AME aged out.
What surprised me. My AME charged $150 cash for a third class medical exam. (Small rural practice).
My primary charged $650 for the physical and paper work. (Big Clinic)
I had no reason to inform my insurance.
company.
The difference in cost caught me off guard. I thought I would be saving money going every four years instead of two. Geeez…..
Click to expand...
Going thread drift but my Medicare doctor filled out the form for free. Other "older" pilot around me had the same experience, maybe a Florida thing. Open enrollment starts Oct 15th, check around.
 
JonJay said:
I decided to go Basic Med recently as my AME aged out.
What surprised me. My AME charged $150 cash for a third class medical exam. (Small rural practice).
My primary charged $650 for the physical and paper work. (Big Clinic)
I had no reason to inform my insurance.
company.
The difference in cost caught me off guard. I thought I would be saving money going every four years instead of two. Geeez…..
Click to expand...
JonJay

Tacoma Narrows has a facility for Basic Med as well as 3rd Class. Just had my Basic Med last month/ $250. PM me if you want info for yourself or fellow pilots.

A
 
Scott Hersha said:
Steve,
As I’m sure you already know, there is no special issuance under basic med. If you have a condition in the future after you’re on basic med that would limit your medical qualification, you need to self diagnose that. Under Basic Med, if it’s a condition like you had before that required you to get a special issuance certificate, but which you could still fly with legally once cleared, your PCP would be the doc to consult about that, and if he/she gives you a clean bill of health, you’re good to go under basic med. I have a friend who has a similar situation with A-fib that he has dealt with for a couple years - and he’s a recently retired airline pilot. He went through the special issuance drill a few times before he retired. Under the FAA protocol for issuance of a new class 1 or lower medical, it takes months. Under basic med, when his PCP or cardiologist (not sure which) says he is cleared, he can continue to fly. That may only take a few weeks, not months and you don’t need to report it.
Click to expand...
I don't think this is correct. If you are flying on Basic Med and have an "event" in one of the FAA's three special categories (cardiac, neurological, mental health....IOW non-CACI as listed here), you must again be evaluated by the FAA to receive a one-time SI for that new condition/recurrence before you are able to fly (legally) under BasicMed. MedXpress and everything, and the SI has to be issued by the FAA, not the AME. This is true if it's a new event, or a recurrence of a previous event (second heart attack, for example). Yeah, since the FAA is involved, it's going to be a bureaucratic hassle. Then, once you get the SI, you can re-apply for Basic Med.

AOPA Basic Med - Special Issuance
www.asma.org

BasicMed for Pilots - Aerospace Medical Association

BasicMed is a program developed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to the FAA Extension Safety Security Act of 2016 (FESSA) that
www.asma.org www.asma.org
 
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Steve Ashby said:
I have researched the forums and can’t find a definitive answer. I would love to hear from my RV brethren (and/or sisteren) about how to proceed.

Going back 2 years ago, I was flying my C-172 under basic med when I had a cardiac stent. I then had to reapply for a class 3 with a special issuance. The process was a 13 month nightmare, even though I supplied all the required documentation (full exam, nuclear stress test and the whole nine yards) from the first application.

I am now at the point of deciding whether to go back to Basic Med or to renew my class 3 and special issuance before the end of the year. I hope to finish my 8A sometime in 2025. I am worried that I may not be able to insure it if I don’t have a class 3. I turn 70 next May. Does anyone have experience getting insurance on a Basic Med?

Thanks for your advice.

Steve Ashby
Click to expand...
They will more worried about your time in make and model. Basic med wont be an issue. Also if things go your way with Mosiac you might be able to fly it with your drivers license in the future. I just turned 78 was previously flying Mooney M 20j, nowin a rv12 and still have basicmed.
 
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