Help me get back in the routine of cpap...

[jwelly]

since the machine is whining on exhale, unless I can fix it, which sounds not likely, i'll have to get another unit. so either gonna try to get one through insurance if the pulmo dr will give it to me without a sleep study. if sleep study required i'll probably just buy my machine out of pocket.

[jwelly]

So, now I'm checking out insurance options, and I have a $2500 deductible that must be met first. So I'm thinking I should just buy my own machine out of pocket. Then, I find I have to have a prescription to buy a machine. So what are my options now? Go into a new Pulmo doctor, and hope they will give me a prescription? Aren't they gonna want me to have a sleep study before they do that?

[Pugsy]

So what are my options now? Go into a new Pulmo doctor, and hope they will give me a prescription? Aren't they gonna want me to have a sleep study before they do that?

Dunno what a new doctor will want but it's very likely they will want a new sleep study unless they have access to the old sleep study and happy with the results from an old sleep study. It's up to the doctor...some are easy to get along with and will do what you want and some aren't so easy. If you don't ask...the answer is always no.

Any doctor can write the prescription...even a dentist or NP who can write prescriptions...doesn't have to be some sort of specialist. Any doctor can write the RX now if they will do it...is another question. Some won't and some will.

You do have the option of buying privately from someone who doesn't require a RX. It's done all the time.

[jwelly]

so it would cost me $70 to go to the specialist to ask for a prescription. My primary doc already pointed me to see a pulmo doctor for any cpap supplies. So either I roll the dice for 70 bucks to see if I can get a prescription to go out and buy one out of pocket, or I just get one off a private sale? I'd like a new machine, and one I can buy with my flexible spending account. But I'm not willing to spend $2500 which is surely what a sleep study will run me..

[Pugsy]

What are the requirements for using the Flexible spending funds?
Special provider??? Or special receipt for reimbursement????

[jwelly]

I called them, and they just require that a detailed receipt be given so they can prove the spending was for medical use. I use the card all the time, and it get's 'rejected'. I then have to get a detailed receipt, and submit it with the claim and all is good. So if I buy one online, most likely it will also be rejected, but they said as long as I get a receipt specifying what was purchased, I can claim it. I bought a mask a few weeks ago from Amazon, and they said I can issue a claim for it as well.

I'm very concerned about going to a new doctor, and them actually giving me a prescription for a machine. I'm not a very lucky guy, so I imagine I will have a difficult time getting one. I see on easy breathe, you can pay 100 bucks and get a prescription. but I'm guessing I would have to buy it from them, and they seem high priced. But I will say, I've been looking at machines a little, and the ResMed Airsense 10 autset is pretty much $883 everywhere. Not seeing it cheaper anywhere. Not sure if this is the machine to get, but it sure seems popular among the people on here..

[Pugsy]

The AirSense 10 AutoSet is a pretty sweet little machine...and yes..the price is pretty much the same everywhere because ResMed strictly enforces the advertising MSRP policy.

Respironics not so much enforcement hence the "call to get final price" you might see.

Check out Amazon for the Respironics DreamStation Auto CPAP model DSX500....if you can use Amazon receipt for a mask maybe you could use also for a machine.
No RX required (as of yet) to purchase from Amazon seller and you can get a brand new machine.
See this thread to get you started.
viewtopic/t115472/How-can-they-do-this.html

[jwelly]

Thank you! helpful and I so appreciate the help and quick responses.

I can find the airsense 10 for $600-$625 from dotmed dot com, which may be a sketchy site, I don't know. But then again I may be needing a sketchy site that doesn't require Rx! That dreamstation you listed is quite cheap. I admit I know nothing about the features of these current day units. I know I want an auto unit, and I would like to get into the sleepyhead software and learn more as I go. I'd like to know why this 500 unit is less than half of the other units. I will say, that I have not been very happy with my current unit, and now that it's squealing, it doesn't make me particularly excited to buy another Phillips machine.

[jwelly]

after seeing your amazon link, i found the airsense 10 for $498 on Amazon! Don't know about the Rx..

[Pugsy]

I know nothing about any sellers on dotmed.com.

The model DSX500 is the latest model from Respironics and is the functional equivalent of the M series Auto you have.
It is a full data machine and the software to see the results is easy to find and use and free. It uses a SD card for data storage.

As far as reliability goes and the whine...it can happen to any machine at any time. There's that old saying "crap happens" and it's true.

Did you check with forum member grayghost4?...I think he might have an AirSense 10 AutoSet but it will cost more than the DreamStation.
He sometimes has both brand new zero hour machines as well as some low hour used machines. I don't try to keep up with his inventory.

If you have warranty issue concerns about buying privately...then that's another wrinkle in the equation.
Places that offer warranty exchanges or warranty work...well they have to pay for that and that is one of the reasons prices are higher from places that can do that sort of service and those places will likely require a RX, etc...so that involves another wrinkle in the equation. Pay more up front so that you have someone who can maybe handle any warranty issues for no fee...or pay cheaper now and maybe maybe for some warranty stuff out of your pocket later.
I do know of a place where warranty work can be done on either ResMed or Respironics machines... acbio.com
but there is shipping to and from them that you would have to be willing to absorb.
I look at it this way...pay less now and maybe need to pay a little more later...or for sure pay more now and maybe have them handle warranty work later for free.

[Pugsy]

after seeing your amazon link, i found the airsense 10 for $498 on Amazon! Don't know about the Rx..

I think I found the same one...that's for the AirSense 10 AutoSet and looks like it might also include a free mask of some sort.
Most likely it won't require a RX.
You can contact the seller and ask or just start the buying process and see if you ever get prompted for a RX.

I don't think the cpap police are watching Amazon listings....

[jwelly]

thanks. I just got off the phone with a seller on Amazon who sells both units. Says both are nice units. He was very helpful with some insurance / flexible spending account usage questions. No Rx for this seller at least. I'm leaning towards getting the ResMed unit. There's $125 difference in cost, not much considering. He mentioned nice app for the ResMed unit to get the data. Sounds like either unit would be good though.

[OkyDoky]

On the Amazon listing if you click on where it says Available from these sellers it will list several used and new sellers. I also found the Airsense 10 autoset For Her listing for $489 + 7.55 shipping.

[jwelly]

yep I'm going to buy this unit for the 498. just trying to confirm my flexible spending account provider will reinburse me from this purchase

[Pugsy]

I have actually used both brands...ResMed and Respironics and in fact my very first machine was a M Series Auto
Both brands are excellent machines. Each has some minor pros and cons but none are real deal makers or deal breakers.

The ResMed...now it goes about it's job a little differently than your M Series Auto did...it's a big more aggressive but I think the bulk of the cpap users out there wouldn't have a problem with either of the 2 different algorithms. There's always a handful of people who might REALLY do better with one algorithm over another but for the most part most people would do well with either.

I would be really surprised if you were unhappy with the ResMed.
Now if money is really tight and the price difference took food off the table....go with the least costly because the differences are really very minor.

BUT...I am a converted ResMed snob...we joke about it here. People who have used Respironics and then tried ResMed for some reason...and decided they like ResMed the best.
I currently own 2 machines...one ResMed S9 and a PR S1 Respironics bilevel...and the ResMed is my primary machine.
Most people don't really ever have a chance to compare the 2 brands...they get what their DME sells with no choice..but there are a few of us here that have had the opportunity to use both brands. I have yet to see a Respironics user be unhappy with a ResMed machine even forking out a few more dollars for it.

The app that guy was talking about...that's the MyAir thing and it pretty much is the data that is seen on the machine's LCD display. Most of us who use the software find the MyAir thing a bit sophomoric and lame but some people find it suits their needs just fine.
I think if you google "ResMed MyAir" you can learn more about it. No graphs...just numbers and some badges when you meet some goals. Works fine if your AHI and leaks are nice and low and you are sleeping great and feeling great. Doesn't work so great if someone is having problems and they need to dig deeper to figure out what might be going on .

Here...you might find this useful.
It's the clinical/provider manual
https://sleep.tnet.com/home/files/resme ... -guide.pdf
Will let you see what it will do and explain some of the features.