My old trusty tank quit

[Patrick A]

Good Morning.
A couple of weeks ago my wife and I were out boondocking (camping without hookups) in our RV. When we left I forgot my Bi-Pap Machine. I said no problem I have my spare in the RV. Well to make a long story short. It worked all night and then it quit. I even tried to run it on 120v off the Generator. It would not run.
Now it gets interesting, I called my Doctor, she said she wanted me to see a Sleep Doctor.
So I called to make an appointment. All well and good but I can't see him until after Christmas. Not good
Anyway I went to my Doctor yesterday, she wrote me a new prescription for a new Bi-Pap Machine. I called APRIA RIPOFF they say that they need a new sleep study and a bunch of other Bovine Excrement.
Thank God that I have already ordered a new machine from CPAP.com. The Sleep Doctor's secretary said to have my family Doctor call APRIA RIPOFF and order a new machine and after I was able to get into see the Sleep Doctor would change he settings if needed, but they said the utmost important part was to get me a new machine ASAP.
What a bunch of Bovine Excrement that ARPIA RIPOFF try's to pull. I already called my insurance and they said they would replace the Machine all I needed was to go to the preferred provider. Of course it has to be APRIA RIPOFF Sorry for the Rant but I had to vent Oh by the way CPAP.com has come thru they said it would ge here on Monday, I got an e-mail from UPS it's out for delivery today. Thanks Cpap.Com You guys come thru again.

[SleepyT]

Patrick...understood! Apria boils my blood from time to time. I called them the other day to order replacement nasal pillows for my mask. They said they don't do replacement parts...did I want to buy a whole new mask! $@#%!!, no! Why do I need a new mask?! Geez. I will be with a new insurance company in February..and if it's possible, I'm kicking Apria to the curb.

Glad CPAP.com is coming thru for you! They came thru for me too! Got my new nasal pillows in no time!

Sorry for your troubles. Hang in there!

T.

[LSAT]

Sleepy...I had a similar problem with Apria...I asked to speak to a supervisor and the person said she would call me back...She did and they ordered the mask parts. They were at my door in 5 days.

[Patrick A]

Just an update UPS delivered my new Bi-Pap machine on Friday 06Nov09 @1245hrs. Cpap.com came thru again for their customers. A Great Big Thank you goes out to CPAP.COM I will sleep good tonight.

[SleepyT]

Sleepy...I had a similar problem with Apria...I asked to speak to a supervisor and the person said she would call me back...She did and they ordered the mask parts. They were at my door in 5 days.

Amazing! Good for you to push on them. I had another DME before Apria...and they were great. I'm going back to them if I can...and if not, I know CPAP.com will be there for me. Wow....you'd think these DME's would realize the customer often has other options!

[GumbyCT]

I don't understand why Apria would want another sleep study if your insurance doesn't require one. Unless they are running the local sleep lab? I am not saying the didn't say this to you. Maybe the Apria regional managers need to get a grip on their control freaks? I fired Apria many sleeps ago when they wanted me to have another.

This unfortunate experience should remind those who don't yet have a backup machine and whose docs and dme's claim you won't need one - this is exactly why you should get a backup machine AND a copy of your script "in your hand" today.

[SleepyT]

...This unfortunate experience should remind those who don't yet have a backup machine and whose docs and dme's claim you won't need one - this is exactly why you should get a backup machine AND a copy of your script "in your hand" today.

GumbyCT...you are so right! I have been procrastinating and I need to get on with it! I need a back up machine AND a backup battery...pronto! Thanks for the kick in the pants...

T.

[GumbyCT]

...This unfortunate experience should remind those who don't yet have a backup machine and whose docs and dme's claim you won't need one - this is exactly why you should get a backup machine AND a copy of your script "in your hand" today.

GumbyCT...you are so right! I have been procrastinating and I need to get on with it! I need a back up machine AND a backup battery...pronto! Thanks for the kick in the pants...
T.

Thank Patrick for sharing his real life DME experience.

[Patrick A]

I don't understand why Apria would want another sleep study if your insurance doesn't require one. Unless they are running the local sleep lab? I am not saying the didn't say this to you. Maybe the Apria regional managers need to get a grip on their control freaks? I fired Apria many sleeps ago when they wanted me to have another.

This unfortunate experience should remind those who don't yet have a backup machine and whose docs and dme's claim you won't need one - this is exactly why you should get a backup machine AND a copy of your script "in your hand" today.

GumbyCT

That is the whole thing in a nutshell. I am really glad that it was my Old Tank Machine and not the M-Series Bi-Pap Auto that I use today. I need to send t in and get it looked at. I always carry 2 Machine in the RV when we are traveling in it just for the reason of my original post. I can not understand why APRIA RIPOFF is saying I need a new sleep study and saying that Medicare demands a new sleep study. Also they are saying that the doctor must write a letter stating that CPAP did not work and That I need to have a Bi-PAP Machine. I already called BC/BS FEHB they said that even though I am on Medicare that because the bought the original machine for me, I can get a new machine because it quit working. The original piece of junk that APRIA RIPOFF saddled me with quit work in 2006 (less than 9 months after they sold it to me) when I tried to get them to replace it they said my dotor would have to give me a new prescription I did get one from her. They then demanded a new sleep study (never mind the original CPAP machine was still under factory warranty) So I bought my Remstar Pro-2 with Cflex. From CPAP.COM
A year later I bought out of my own pocket my M-Series Bi-pap Auto. So I have a piece of junk machine from APRIA RIPOFF that doesn't work I had my doctor write on the new scrip M-Series Bi-Pap Auto she also check the box that says do not substitute for generic on the scip. But with APRIA RIPOFF they will do what they please to make money off the insurance companies and the customer.
Also the other day when I talked to BC/BS they said that no matter what Medicare paid they would pay the rest.
I never did get a call back from APRIA RIPOFF saying that they ever got the prescription. I was in my doctors office on Thursday morning. @ 0915hrs I stood there and watched the secretary fax it to local APRIA RIPOFF office in San Diego, Ca.
I called APRIA RIPOFF @ 1530hrs on Thursday to see how long it would take to get the machine and that's when they started their bovine excrement.

[timbalionguy]

It just amazes me that a company like Apria can stay in business. It means to me that there must be a lot of 'sheeple' out there who follow Apria's instruction's to the letter, believing that their doctor and DME are one step below God, and never to be questioned. These sheeple don't even realize they are getting substandard therapy. And by the time they figure it out, they are dead from the substandard therapy. And Apria is making money off these poor, misguided souls' backs. Obscene.

Greed is the real problem with the health care system, and no one seems to want to deal with it.

[GumbyCT]

So true Timba. I know when I had Cigna I had to put up with Apria and didn't know any better either. I am sure there are many more who don't know any better still. They must be in bed at the top of some Co.'s sleeping, of course.

[Patrick A]

So true Timba. I know when I had Cigna I had to put up with Apria and didn't know any better either. I am sure there are many more who don't know any better still. They must be in bed at the top of some Co.'s sleeping, of course.

I wish I had known in 2005 what I know now. I would never have let APRIA RIPOFF get away with the bovine excment that they pulled for the first year that I was on Cpap

[SleepyT]

So, Patrick...how's the new machine?

[Patrick A]

So, Patrick...how's the new machine?

The new machine is great.

[builta]

Hi Patrick,

Glad to hear that you actually have working machines. I, like you, always carry 2 Auto Bi-Levels when I travel. I like my m-series units as I can run them directly off the 12 volt and never need the "bricks." I haven't had one fail yet (lucky I guess--knock on my "wooden fore head.")

Are you going to try to submit your CPAP.com bill to get "some" of your money back?