Question So I'm 65 and on medicare which will not cover a physical. What do older divers do for the required physical? How extensive should it be?

[GarBear58]

My regular doctor rubber stamped the form and after reading materials here and on DAN I'm questioning if I need a more specific diving physical? I talked to DAN medical and they suggested and provided the names of dive doctors in my area. Of course Medicare and my supplemental insurance doesn't pay for physicals. Also when I called these doctors they started asking what company was going to pay for the physical - leading me to believe these physicals are meant for professional divers. I'm curious as to what other older divers do and associated costs?

 

[GreggS]

What am I missing? I've never had a specific diving physical exam. I'm on Medicare insurance and I see my reg MD twice a year and pay nothing. Due to some family history or heart disease, I see a cardiologist once a year just as a preventative measure and pay a 25.00 co-pay since he's a specialist. Both doctors know I dive.

If your regular doctor knows you dive and is okay with your health, I really see no reason to be overly concerned.

However, you are ultimately responsible for yourself. If something comes up that does concern you and your ability to dive safely, by all means, then may be a good time to consult DAN and see if they recommend seeing a dive MD.

 

[GarBear58]

What am I missing? I've never had a specific diving physical exam. I'm on Medicare insurance and I see my reg MD twice a year and pay nothing. Due to some family history or heart disease, I see a cardiologist once a year just as a preventative measure and pay a 25.00 co-pay since he's a specialist. Both doctors know I dive.

If your regular doctor knows you dive and is okay with your health, I really see no reason to be overly concerned.

However, you are ultimately responsible for yourself. If something comes up that does concern you and your ability to dive safely, by all means, then may be a good time to consult DAN and see if they recommend seeing a dive MD.

I may have psyched myself out reading too much on DAN. I smoked for 40+ years and quit some years ago. I have tinnitus which gave me concern and unanswered questions so I called DAN medical. They weren't as concerned with my tinnitus as they were with my smoking history. I guess I'm trying to understand the risks of diving at my age... I have a tendency to over think things and am wondering if that's what I'm doing. So I thought I would get others opinions.
Realizing I am ultimately responsible for my self - I'm just trying to do a no BS assessment of my decision.

 

[GreggS]

I may have psyched myself out reading too much on DAN. I smoked for 40+ years and quit some years ago. I have tinnitus which gave me concern and unanswered questions so I called DAN medical. They weren't as concerned with my tinnitus as they were with my smoking history. I guess I'm trying to understand the risks of diving at my age... I have a tendency to over think things and am wondering if that's what I'm doing. So I thought I would get others opinions.
Realizing I am ultimately responsible for my self - I'm just trying to do a no BS assessment of my decision.

So, that's what I was missing.

Okay, given this information, I can't blame you for your concern. I used to smoke as well, but for not as long as you and I quit 38 years ago. Of course, I know divers that still smoke like a freight train and it doesn't seem to affect them to a great extent.

I have some ear problems also where it is difficult to get the water drained completely out of my ears after a dive. I use a product called Ear Shield that coats my ears making them easier to drain as well as wear Doc's Plugs to further help prevent as much water as possible entering my ears. I'm going to order an ear dryer as soon as I get home from Roatan next week.

Whatever you choose to do, I certainly hope you either get your issues solved or your mind put at ease so you can go diving.

 

[-JD-]

Not on Medicare - yet. But I get my doctor to sign off on the RSTC medical form every year at my regular yearly "Wellness" visit (annual physical - which I believe would be covered under Medicare/Supplement) I don't get a specific dive physical as a rec diver (except I did seek an OK to dive after spinal surgery.

I am lucky because my doc is both a diver and hyberbaric medicine trained ... Your doc, may look at things differently.

 

[rx7diver]

@GarBear58,

I like your decision to contact the DAN-recommended physicians near you who can conduct a dive physical. Very prudent, I think. These doctors will know what specific tests are appropriate for a recreational (i.e., not professional) diver. They should be able to provide you associated expected costs, too, beforehand. (If you have any question, you might ask DAN for a list of the recommended specific tests.)

Report back here, please, and let us all know what you learn about the specifics.

rx7diver

 

[Hoyden]

You can go to a doctor who specializes in dive medicine and pay out of pocket for it. Depending on the needed tests, it should run between $500 and $1000 based on the tests that an AAUS dive physical would require for a diver at your age which would include an EKG and a chest x-ray.

 

[tursiops]

My Medicare plus BC-BS supplemental pay for an annual physical. Are you sure yours doesn't? My PCP has me do a stress test (inclined treadmill with EKG) every couple of years. The heart is his concern.

 

[FishWatcher747]

If you are worried about your heart after all that smoking it sounds like you are looking for a good cardiac work up. It really has nothing to do with DAN or a dive medicine specialist.

 

[Altamira]

I get a Medicare Wellness Visit via Medicare every year, with a physician sign off for continuing to dive. As long as the Dr.'s office puts the right code in for a Wellness Visit instead of a physical, you should likely get the same information as to your "wellness." Also, if you ever need a surgical pre-op physical, those tests are covered by Medicare, and will be more extensive than the Wellness Visit. You can have your "dive doc" sign off for you continuing to dive based on either of those testing mediums. I'm 77, and have been doing this since age 65.