Getting through MEPS vs using your own doctor for Physical

[USAF.Boom]

Medical

So I was just selected for the Intel DCO. If anyone has information on the following, I would GREATLY appreciate it.

I currently have tubes in my ears. I am a current flyer in the ANG but they put the tubes in after I started flying. So the ANG gave me a waiver, but as I said, I was already in. I believe that tubes are DQ, but is a waiver available for it? How likely is it? Does anyone know of someone getting a commission in the NR with them?

I hate that I have gotten this far and now this is an issue...

Thanks for any info.

 

[Crowbar]

Once is enough.

 

[smloan2]

My physical was done at the clinic at Great Lakes Naval Base. I know that most are done at MEPS. This is the first time that I have heard of a physical being done by a civilian doctor. However, if your recruiter told you that was OK, then there should not be any problems.

 

[xxxCharliexxx]

Devil, if you don't mind the extra cost, then it may be a quicker visit to go to your physician. My recruiter said that it was a possibility as well but I didn't want to pay for the same doctor's visit that the government was willing to pay for. They had to have taken 12 vials of blood and that can get costly not to mention the dental and vision visits. It took all day but I was glad after it was said and done that I had gone to the base to get it done. I didn't go to MEPS, I went to the base clinic which may also be another option for you. It bypasses a lot of the lines but not many lol.

 

[Devil Duck]

I've been through MEPS twice before for previous enlistments. My experience is that a trip through takes about eight hours, plus drive time to and fro (~2 hours in my case). That's a long day opposed to a couple hours down the street.

In so far as cost, if I go to MEPS I'll have to take a day of leave, at a cost of ~$350, opposed to ~2 hours for a local physical (~$85). With BCBC PPO office visit costs of are relatively low. I did my last physical for the Army at the Ft. Benning hospital. I checked there, but it seems like the process will take too long. I have a consult with my primary care physical today to discuss.

 

[Devil Duck]

I'm back to the drawing board on the physical after meeting with my physician. It's gonna cost too much and take too long. My guy would require me to visit 5 specialist that would require co-pays and test fees. Not worth the time savings. My recruiter is busy finding a contracted doctor here in the local area.

I work with plenty of reservists who regularly do physicals through the physical-in-a-box method. Basically, the Army sends the member a box with all the vials, specimen containers, paperwork etc. They take the box to a contracted agent who collect the specimens, and conducts the exam. The box is then sent back to a central lab for processing. I have to imagine that the Navy has a similar arrangement.

I'd hate to bite the bullet and travel to MEPS in Atlanta. I have no good memories of my previous visits. If i must though, I must.

 

[USAF.Boom]

looks like the ears are not an issue...the tubes are no longer in...good news from the doctor. Now waiting for the final medical clearance and then the commdocs

 

[smloan2]

My recruiter received the PQ letter one day after my completed physical was submitted.

I'm waiting like the rest.

CS278- Are you Intel? Did you do your interviews in Atlanta by any chance? I'm trying to figure out if any of the others interviewed in August were selected.

My experience was the same as devil duck's. Three days after I did my physical, my recruiter called and said I was PQ'd.

All my processing was done at Great Lakes, and I was part of the September 14th Intel DCO board. I have not heard anything about my final select letter, but after reading everyone's experiences I don't expect it anytime soon.

 

[das]

The long wait times for medical brings a question to the forefront of my mind:

I have at times seen people say they have gotten their physical done with their own private physician. Assuming I am remembering this accurately/correctly, can anyone who has had the full physical process done with their own doctor(s) (i.e., NOT MEPS or other military facility) comment on the process and what's required?

 

[Devil Duck]

I attempted to get my physical done with my own doctor. BLUF: Co-pays alone for tests would have run ~$500 (That's with BCBS Standard PPO).

As painful as my Navy experience with the MEPS in Montgomery, AL was, it was less of a headache than dealing with my civilian physician. My most recent experiences with MEPS at 34 were much worse than my two previous enlistments at 17 & 23. At 23 as a prior service bubba I was treated like a rockstar. This time around, as a DCO, I was treated rather poorly. Thankfully it's done.

It took about ten business days for the lab work to return, then about a day to get PQ'd once my complete physical was submitted.

 

[USNGRL]

Outside Medical

The long wait times for medical brings a question to the forefront of my mind:

I have at times seen people say they have gotten their physical done with their own private physician. Assuming I am remembering this accurately/correctly, can anyone who has had the full physical process done with their own doctor(s) (i.e., NOT MEPS or other military facility) comment on the process and what's required?

Das,

I just wanted to share my experience so far. I had my medical done by a civilian doctor. My recruiter was there with me. The recruiter made sure that ALL entries were properly done. I'd like to say that two weeks after that my recruiter contacted me and told me that all was well, and my Medical Approval Letter from OOM was in his possession.

Another thing, as I am a female, I had to have extra "stuff" done, then being over "40", even more extra "stuff". None of these extras slowed down the process, I am very glad to say. I also had every box on the 2808/2807 checked or filled by the doc.

At any rate, I am very grateful that my recruiter is on the ball. We have all heard/seen horror stories about recruiters.
ie: This past drill wknd, a fellow shipmate, (who was selected from the same board as me) was contacted by the NOSC Medical, that his forms were "lost". He was pissed, I'd be in tears. What I am saying here is that you should keep in contact with your recruiter, to make certain that all aspects of your commissioning are running smoothly, and not take it for granted that things are progressing.

It doesn't appear that the medical process is taking long at all. What takes a while are the actual ComDocs. I am practicing great patience.

 

[dephyler]

amen!

Getting into the weeds while waiting for a commission to come through is inevitable, but it's all moot once you raise your right hand

It's a good outlook to take, no caring and just wanting the commission. It all means shit-all in the end. Although, it is a good exercise in seeing what the bureaucracy of the Navy is like.

Which reminds me: if you haven't gotten your MEPS physical yet, make copies of EVERYTHING they fill out and sign at MEPS. I had copies of most things, but didn't have a copy of the record of my blood draw. Just 2 months ago (1.5 years after physical and commission) I had to get my DNA/HIV test redone because they had no record I ever did it.