Medical costs?

[Ramjet555]

I've been flying overseas for a long time and
would like to know what the present costs can be
expected for medicals and if anyone has any pointers.

Called CASA and for a 1st class medical I'm told
in addition to a medical I need an ECG, Opto, Audio , Glucos & Lipids
Sounds expensive.

[Capt Fathom]

My DAME charges $180. Bloods and ECG were bulk billed. My last Audio was about $120. Haven’t done Eyes recently.
All tax deductible.

[VH DSJ]

I've been flying overseas for a long time and
would like to know what the present costs can be
expected for medicals and if anyone has any pointers.

Called CASA and for a 1st class medical I'm told
in addition to a medical I need an ECG, Opto, Audio , Glucos & Lipids
Sounds expensive.

I don’t know which part of Canada you’re in, but if you can make to LA, there’s a CASA DAME 5 minutes from LAX who can do all that for $170 USD.

[GA Driver]

Don't forget the CASA fee for the online questionnaire you used to sit and complete WITH your DAME for free. Its $75 on top of the DAME charge

[bouncebabybounce]

Don't forget the CASA fee for the online questionnaire you used to sit and complete WITH your DAME for free. Its $75 on top of the DAME charge

this makes no sense, we have always paid $75 for the issuing fee.

[Ramjet555]

Yes, I'm dreading the cost My last FAA medical cost $200 USD
The cost of processing a medical is free in the USA but $50 in Canada
which they bill you for after the medical. I'm guessing few ever default on
that fee as it would be come a federal hold on your next tax return.

There are two CASA ME's in Canada. I called Dr. Leong in Vancouver
who answered the phone personally and gave me
some good direction.
CASA gave me a list in addition to a "medical" I'm up for
an Audio gram, EKG, Ophthalmology, Lipids and Glucose

Dr Leon expanded that to include Cholesterol in order to calculate the "risk factors".
That could mean further tests and or a stress test.

[LeadSled]

Ramjett555,
Age is now a very big issue in what CASA will demand, particularly if you are over 50, over 60 is real "fun and games", be warned.
Tootle pip!!

[flying-spike]

Ramjett555,
Age is now a very big issue in what CASA will demand, particularly if you are over 50, over 60 is real "fun and games", be warned.
Tootle pip!!
tell me about it, dealing with CASA and the FAA and so far 4 mistakes by medicos costing me weeks in delays.

[Capn Bloggs]

over 60 is real "fun and games", be warned.
C'mon Leddie, nothing a few/many? kilos reduction via Lite a Easy and a few marathons to get the pulse down wouldn't fix!! :ok:

[machtuk]

around $700 for a Class 1 (over 60) was my last one, that's the full works check.

[harrryw]

My DAME charges $180. Bloods and ECG were bulk billed. My last Audio was about $120. Haven’t done Eyes recently.
All tax deductible.
Do not forget that only Australian Residents are entitled to Medicare. If they have decided you are not a resident they will take you off. To get it you must apply for medicare in person with a range of documents (see their website).

[Ramjet555]

around $700 for a Class 1 (over 60) was my last one, that's the full works check.
Is that what is costing each renewal?

It raises the question of age bias, these requirements are in excess of those in the USA and Canada.
It gives the impression that they will do indirectly what they can't do directly.

That raises another concern, is CASA using different practical test standards?

[GA Driver]

this makes no sense, we have always paid $75 for the issuing fee.


No we haven't always. Was introduced a few years back for casa 'cost recovery' in the days where they would post it out to you. Something about paying for someone to actually press print on the computer, put it in an envelope and pay for the stamp. It's emailed to you nowadays, hence my statement.

Regardless, its still another cost you need to pay come medical time.

[LeadSled]

Ramjett555,
It is all the specialist reports a large percentage of any over 60 will be required by CASA demand, even without any history of a problem. In my view many of the demands are quite unreasonably arbitrary, particularly matters where any possible sudden incapacitation is 100% NOT a possibility.
Tootle pip!!
PS: Bloggsie, strange as it may seem to you, but I have always had delightfully normal blood pressure, even when thinking of the activities of you and some of your mates over the years.

[Ramjet555]

Thanks LeadSled,
I just realized this after reading the risk assessment form.
If you score point reduction in HDL, Total C, Low BP, it appears a healthy person
might pick up, around 4 points which will stall the stress test till you turn 66.
66 appears to be the age beyond which a stress EKG becomes virtually necessary.

I notice that they do not use BMI or percentage of body fat as a risk factor.
I would have thought that this would have been worth a few points.


By way of interest when I'm at the gym using a treadmill, I sometimes keep track
of the pulse rate record, using a Polar H10 chest strap and the Polar Android AP.
It keeps a detailed record of each session. But it does not do an EKG at the same
time, perhaps home EKG stress testing is coming in the future.




Ramjett555,
It is all the specialist reports a large percentage of any over 60 will be required by CASA demand, even without any history of a problem. In my view many of the demands are quite unreasonably arbitrary, particularly matters where any possible sudden incapacitation is 100% NOT a possibility.
Tootle pip!!
PS: Bloggsie, strange as it may seem to you, but I have always had delightfully normal blood pressure, even when thinking of the activities of you and some of your mates over the years.

[LeadSled]

Ramjet 555,
About the only thing consistent about CASA medical demands is the inconsistency.
One of the favourites de jour is a test for Sleep Apnea, seem to apply to anybody over 50 with a BMI more than a star picket.
Tootle pip!!

[A37575]

About the only thing consistent about CASA medical demands is the inconsistency

A colleague is 64 and recently passed his NZ Class One medical to renew his NZ ATPL. He also has an Australian Part 61 licence (ATPL). He recently underwent his Australian Class One Medical and CASA failed him, yet only a few weeks earlier he passed his NZ medical. He needs the CASA medical because of job offers in Australia yet he is stymied and nothing in feed back from CASA. Any suggestions welcomed.

[Mach E Avelli]

Maybe he should get a job in NZ. There are some reasonable gigs going there.
I also just renewed a NZ Class One medical. All done in half a day; no stress ecg required, no separate eye test or separate audiogram, as the doctor had all the kit needed. Hence not cheap, but fair, given the convenience.The only separate exercise was the blood test and they sent the results within 24 hours.
An Old Person Class One in NZ is valid for 12 months. For we geriatrics the only restriction is that if you need to fly single pilot IFR you do have to renew at six month intervals. The medical examiner issues the certificate. CAA gets copied in, of course, and could intervene, but they seem to trust their designated examiners.
Compare that approach with CASA ‘s micro management which had me pay $1080 to complete all their requirements two years ago. Plus the cost and time running all over town trying to co ordinate the various extra tests. Face it, if you are over 65 CASA want you safely on the ground where you pose no further threat.

[Australopithecus]

Medical exam fee: $175
CASA processing fee $75
Optho. $210
Bloods bulk billed
fasting GTC bulk billed
Stress ECG $110 (after $90 medicare rebate)
Cardiologists report $85 (after $130 medicare rebate)
Sleep study covered by medicare + private health...around $1000 otherwise
Sleep doctors report $190 (after $120 medicare rebate)

total $825 plus two days. For all of the above add circa $1,500 without insurance.

64 yrs old in metropolitan area where the above services are within an hour's drive.

[Ramjet555]

Thanks Mach E Avelli,
Excellent post and I noticed NZ CAA made that point when I called them on the phone.
They sounded very friendly. I'll make a call tomorrow and see if they accept foreign medicals.


An Old Person Class One in NZ is valid for 12 months.

[Mach E Avelli]

Ramjet, I doubt that NZ would accept a foreign medical, other than for a temporary validation. The initial Class One there had me jump through all the hoops including stress ecg.
But once they have you on file, they are a whole lot more reasonable than CASA. Unlike CASA you don’t automatically have to do a stress ecg just because you are over 65. Of course this is dependent upon your basic blood pressure, hearing and eyesight etc being good enough for the doctor to tick the necessary boxes. The guy I saw was great to deal with, but I gained the impression that he would give anyone who was overweight the third degree.

[Ramjet555]

Thanks Mach E Avelli,
I called NZ CAA , and got the full details. I was wondering if they accepted any foreign medicals.
Canada accepts foreign medicals for "consideration" and providing it passes their review
a medical certificate is issued. For that reason, I do my medical in the US , get the Canadian
medical form filed in, send the original signed copy in by Snail Mail. But as you know
Australia and New Zealand do not provide that courtesy.

The good news is most of the NZ ME's are also CASA ME's but not all.
There is one in Brisbane who does Aus, NZ and FAA.

NZ has only one ME in North America, in Arizona, a long way for me to go at the moment.

Like the other posters, if CASA are engaging in inappropriate age discrimination,
I will want to have alternatives.

Now, When do CASA demand this sleep testing?
What triggers that, is it age alone?
Is it because you report difficulty in sleeping?

Is this at test that they only apply to geriatric pilots?