Changing DME Companies

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lwieland11
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Changing DME Companies

Post by lwieland11 » Thu Apr 26, 2018 6:45 am

Hi -

I'm ready to switch DME companies. Cannot stand the one I'm with. Have had enough. My only concern in doing this is that I have paid off the BiPap machine I bought from them. It's an AirCurve 10ST. It's now about a year and a half old, working fine. But a new DME company isn't going to fix it if something goes wrong since I didn't buy it through them. How do you handle machine repair when you switch DMEs? Thanks.

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LSAT
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Re: Changing DME Companies

Post by LSAT » Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:07 am

Chances are the DME is not qualified to do any repair. Machine would normally be sent back to ResMed if under warranty. You could ask your new DME this question.

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Pugsy
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Re: Changing DME Companies

Post by Pugsy » Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:21 am

As LSAT said...DMEs rarely do any actual repairs beyond maybe some trouble shooting and maybe trying different power supplies if a machine is having problems. What they do is just facilitate sending the ailing machine back to the manufacturer and any DME can do it for any machine if they just would. Doesn't matter if they sold it or not.

Your machine has a 2 year warranty...after that the manufacturer probably wouldn't do anything anyway.
But there are ways to get a machine sent back to the manufacturer within the warranty period should a DME not be helpful.
Authorized repair places like acbio.com can also facilitate in getting the machine sent back to the manufacturer in the event something falls under the 2 year warranty time frame and if not..they can fix the machine.

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lwieland11
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Re: Changing DME Companies

Post by lwieland11 » Thu Apr 26, 2018 8:35 am

Thanks for the suggestions. Now how to find a GOOD DME company. Do they exist?

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lwieland11
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Re: Changing DME Companies

Post by lwieland11 » Thu Apr 26, 2018 8:55 am

I wonder if, at this point, I even need a DME.

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dreamingofdreaming
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Re: Changing DME Companies

Post by dreamingofdreaming » Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:08 am

I have a high ($2500) health insurance deductible and use my DME for two reasons, 1. you get a highly discounted price if you use an "in network" DME. A full face mask is usually $150 ish, my insurance price is $75. 2. Anything I pay, goes towards my deductible. If you use an out of network DME, you usually have a higher, completely separate deductible.

SewTired
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Re: Changing DME Companies

Post by SewTired » Thu Apr 26, 2018 10:44 am

lwieland11 wrote:
Thu Apr 26, 2018 8:35 am
Thanks for the suggestions. Now how to find a GOOD DME company. Do they exist?
Yes, I think they do. However, they probably don't work with your insurance company. You have to decide a few things - first, are you using insurance to pay for your stuff? If so, you can only choose between the folks that contract with your insurance. If you are not using insurance, then your best bet is an online provider and paying out of pocket. I have Medicare, so have limited options, but the discount is substantial enough for me to deal with the hassles. One of the biggest problems with DMEs is that turnover. You might have a great team now and 2 years from now, they have quit and now it's all new people.

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Okie bipap
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Re: Changing DME Companies

Post by Okie bipap » Thu Apr 26, 2018 11:33 am

Good DME companies do exist, but they are usually small, locally owned companies. These people will work hard to satisfy you. The bigger the company, the more likely they are not interested in customer service.

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Re: Changing DME Companies

Post by chunkyfrog » Thu Apr 26, 2018 11:46 am

lwieland11 wrote:
Thu Apr 26, 2018 6:45 am
Hi -

I'm ready to switch DME companies. Cannot stand the one I'm with. Have had enough. My only concern in doing this is that I have paid off the BiPap machine I bought from them. It's an AirCurve 10ST. It's now about a year and a half old, working fine. But a new DME company isn't going to fix it if something goes wrong since I didn't buy it through them. How do you handle machine repair when you switch DMEs? Thanks.
Don't tell the first company they are fired--let them think you may have wandered off.
Then, if you need service within the next 6 months, they will be so glad you are still alive . . .

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Janknitz
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Re: Changing DME Companies

Post by Janknitz » Fri Apr 27, 2018 6:26 pm

Don't tell the first company they are fired--let them think you may have wandered off.
Then, if you need service within the next 6 months, they will be so glad you are still alive . . .
This!

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought--at least under Medicare--that a DME had to agree to service DME provided to the patient for 5 years after the capped rental began. That's part of the reason DME's get paid more than retail for providing equipment. I don't know if the same applies to private insurance DME contracts.

In either case, Pugsy's suggestion is best. If you want to buy supplies elsewhere, go for it, but if you have trouble with your machine go back to the original DME. You are under no obligation to buy supplies from that DME although you may be stuck if you want your insurance to pay.
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