My interaction with the actual doctor took 17 seconds
So my 3rd Class medicals were very exacting given that they were about 53 times longer than that 
I didn’t actually meet the doctor during my BasicMed exam last year, a PA (physicians assistant, typically requires master degree) did the exam, presented the data to the MD elsewhere in the building and returned with the signed forms. The doctor is required to certify the exam, nothing says who has to perform it. And given that the doctor in this case was treating urgent care patients (sick or injured Mexicans mostly) that was no problem for me at all. I get excellent medical care elsewhere, medical certification of healthy individuals for private flying is a charade and the system operates pragmatically to comply with the law.
Blood work is 90% of a real health check, not the Stone Age aviation stuff.
Here is a link to the Basic Med Instructions Form
For Basic Med, the FAA requires the pilot to do the online course every two years and the doctor report every 4 years. My insurance company is the real regulator, since I turned 75, they require me to take the course every year and get the doctor report every year, so I do it at my regularly scheduled annual physical. I have the form filled out at my annual physical by my GP. Insurance pays for the physical, so it is free to me.The other key difference is that once you have failed your US medical (e.g. Class 3) with an AME, the BasicMed option is closed to you.
I don’t know about the French UK no-medical route but the UK PMD no-medical route is available even if you have failed the AME medical.
There is an important difference.
I used to joke that the class III physical was a test to see if I was still warm. Then came requirements for special issuance for diabetes 2, … and it became a real headache. I had to produce reports from my GP, cardiologist with an annual stress test, sleep doctor, diabetic eye exam and this had to be repeated annually. Then a specialist AME had to prepare a package about a half inch thick to be sent off to Oklahoma City, 90 days prior to expiration and I had to make multiple inquiries to get a new one year Class III. I still had to have the AME also do a Class III physical every two years. It was a total PIA, expensive, and stressful and sometimes my medical would lapse for a month each year. My cardiologist only did the annual stress test because the FAA required it, not because it was medically necessary. He now recommends one every five years unless I were to experience symptoms.
I don’t think a private pilot should require any sort of physical as we required to self determine when we don’t feel well and whether or not it is safe to fly. I don’t think the Class III medical or Basic Med requirement adds to safety.
once you have failed your US medical (e.g. Class 3) with an AME, the BasicMed option is closed to you
Not quite, you have to make it through the process to get one special issuance 3rd Class, then you can go on BasicMed with no differentiation from anybody else on BasicMed. After that you don’t have to renew the special issuance 3rd Class again.
The same is true for somebody who does not fail a 3rd Class but who is diagnosed with one of the very limited number of listed BasicMed disqualifying items. You have to get one special issuance 3rd class before resuming BasicMed.
FAA Special Issuance can be a real bastard – as many European based pilots have found.
The problem is much worse because most Europe based FAA AMEs do not want to touch Special Issuance medicals, saying they can’t be bothered with the extra work. And if you need to move to SI, the AME will tell you he doesn’t want to service you anymore. Some of the AMEs whose names are regularly recommended here are firmly in that category…
The FAA is also really picky on some conditions which would be relatively OK under Part-Med, so this is the opposite of what is often said.
FAA Special Issuance can be a real bastard – as many European based pilots have found.
Based on observation of my 79 year old friend’s process after substantial heart issues, it looks to me to be lengthy (a year in his case) but not unreasonable. However that is with an experienced FAA AME who knows how to work the system.
Happily his experienced AME had time to help him because he wasn’t performing brain surgery and EKGs to get people through their very special routine PPL medicals 
My friend is now flying on BasicMed, for four more years without further medicals as long as he has no recurrence. He waited until the Special Issuance needed renewal before going on BasicMed (signed off by the same AME) so it is effectively 5 years between exams. We’ll see if he still wants to fly at 84 but he’s still very good now.
Ever since the FAA broke its own disqualification rules for taking a approved drug, whether prescribed or not, that has not been on the market for 2 yrs AND loosening the EKG standards as far as Im concerned it is nothing but a sham.
So dont be too upset if your examiner has you out the door in 15 mins. be thankful.
