Ridiculous Prices

polyex · Post by **polyex** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:42 pm

The provider is charging

BiPAP/CPAP Tube: 6ft $372.54
BiPap/CPAP Filter Disp: Remstar $438.88

Seems ridiculously high ($372.54 for 6ft of tube?)

Any insight? My Insurance is Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:48 pm

Do not get excited.
A DME can bill any amt they like.
They will be paid the contracted amt.

This is a way the DME can overcharge the patient.

You may, if you are not careful, agree to pay a certain percentage of the billl as your copay.
This is where they get you.

Do not under any circumstances pay any portion of this stupid amt. Call them and let them know what they are doing and you will pay only a reasonable copay and then NEGOTIATE.

Grow dome cojones and get nasty if necessary.

Get a pricwe list from this site apap.com and prit them out and show them what you can get it for and go from there.
Do not be shy.

ratkinson · Post by **ratkinson** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:00 pm

cpap.com 6ft hose $12 - $15 incl postage.

sburke91 · Post by **sburke91** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:58 pm

Wow. . and I thought the $55 my DME bills for the hose that comes free with the CPAP machine was bad.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:05 pm

sburke91 wrote:Wow. . and I thought the $55 my DME bills for the hose that comes free with the CPAP machine was bad.

It still is!

Den

sburke91 · Post by **sburke91** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:07 pm

Wulfman wrote:
sburke91 wrote:Wow. . and I thought the $55 my DME bills for the hose that comes free with the CPAP machine was bad.
It still is!

Den

While I agree, it's that fine line. Since my sleep study hit my deductible limits, I only pay $5 of that $55. My insurance is still getting ripped off, but since they won't reimburse from online purchases, their loss.

Needless to say, my travel machine and supplies came from cpap.com since that was all on my own dime.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:35 pm

sburke91 wrote:
Wulfman wrote:
sburke91 wrote:Wow. . and I thought the $55 my DME bills for the hose that comes free with the CPAP machine was bad.
It still is!

Den

While I agree, it's that fine line. Since my sleep study hit my deductible limits, I only pay $5 of that $55. My insurance is still getting ripped off, but since they won't reimburse from online purchases, their loss.

Needless to say, my travel machine and supplies came from cpap.com since that was all on my own dime.

WHO pays your insurance premiums? Are they totally paid by your employer or do you pay, too? EVERYBODY is getting ripped off. Your insurance provider damn sure isn't going to lose money......so, they'll raise YOUR premiums.
This little corner of the healthcare (actually "Sick-care") is a drop in the bucket compared to the MAJOR medical expenses that these providers pay for (with YOUR premium dollars).......but every little bit helps.

As long as they can keep sucking money out of the premium payers, they'll keep doing this.

Den

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:06 am

Wulfman wrote:
sburke91 wrote:Wow. . and I thought the $55 my DME bills for the hose that comes free with the CPAP machine was bad.
It still is!

Den

As XPAPs, are packaged with the hose, and it's included in the price. Jim

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:20 am

Goofproof wrote:
Wulfman wrote:
sburke91 wrote:Wow. . and I thought the $55 my DME bills for the hose that comes free with the CPAP machine was bad.
It still is!

Den
As XPAPs, are packaged with the hose, and it's included in the price. Jim

You mean.......buy a new hose and get a "free" XPAP???
WOW......what a deal!

Den

WNJ · Post by **WNJ** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:28 am

What they “bill” the insurance company and what they get paid are often two different things entirely.

Example: I just had cholesterol/blood sugar tests. According to the EOB, LabCorp billed my insurance $251.50 for the tests. There was a discount of $168.63, leaving $82.87 in covered charges. My insurance paid $70.44 and I owe $12.43 in copay.

If you were uninsured, they would probably make you pay $251.50.

Is it any wonder the drug industry got it written into the Medicare drug law that the government COULD NOT negotiate for lower drug prices?

Wayne

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): medicare

deglorious · Post by **deglorious** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:55 am

Get your supplies from cpap.com and save some money!

Deglorious

msheda · Post by **msheda** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:30 pm

And then there's the deductible game...

Your Dr charges 500.00, you pay 500.00, they apply 50.00 to your deductible since that is what they deem usually and customary, so that even though you have paid from your pocket your deductible, according to the insurance company you haven't.

After we shoot all the lawyers can we shoot all the insurance people?

It's all a freaking game, and unfortunetly one we are forced to play and pay for. Even those that don't have insurance get nicked for it.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:53 pm

msheda wrote:And then there's the deductible game...

Your Dr charges 500.00, you pay 500.00, they apply 50.00 to your deductible since that is what they deem usually and customary, so that even though you have paid from your pocket your deductible, according to the insurance company you haven't.

After we shoot all the lawyers can we shoot all the insurance people?

It's all a freaking game, and unfortunetly one we are forced to play and pay for. Even those that don't have insurance get nicked for it.

I'll notify my (auto/home) agent that he's gonna need to look for another line of work.....

I was a licensed insurance agent.....30-some years ago.....didn't like it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance

This one looks like a "good read":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_insurance

Den

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:08 pm

Wulfman wrote:
Goofproof wrote:
Wulfman wrote:
sburke91 wrote:Wow. . and I thought the $55 my DME bills for the hose that comes free with the CPAP machine was bad.
It still is!

Den
As XPAPs, are packaged with the hose, and it's included in the price. Jim
You mean.......buy a new hose and get a "free" XPAP???
WOW......what a deal!

Den

In polyex's case, he must get the XPAP free with the hose the price is about right. Jim

lvwildcat · Post by **lvwildcat** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:16 pm

Ahhhh...I love what they charge and then end up getting paid. Case in point. I just had weight loss surgery in Dec. I was in the hospital on a surgical floor for 3 days;no complications. I pay nothing to the hospital since I work at a "sister" hospital. The hospital billed Cigna...get this $87,500!!!!! Cigna paid $35,000 so that was taken as payment in full,but....it just blows me AWAY!!!!!

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