NOOB with question please

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
chaffeerat
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:10 am

NOOB with question please

Post by chaffeerat » Wed Jul 30, 2014 3:10 pm

Hello all. Long time lurker, I've learned so much from all you fine folks. I've been on CPAP one year exactly today. I use the PR system one, 460 series and a Quattro FFM. My pressure is 13, and AHI is always under 1. Any way, I got a bill from DME, for 6 payments of 37.60. January through June. I'm assuming this is for monthly rental. Does this sound legit? If so, how many months do I pay this monthly charge before I own it? I'm hoping I don't have to pay every month for the rest of my life! Again, thank you all for a wealth of information!

Steve

_________________
Mask

User avatar
Zeecat
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2014 7:57 am

Re: NOOB with question please

Post by Zeecat » Wed Jul 30, 2014 3:16 pm

I have a monthly rental fee, but it only lasts for three months. I'm guessing, as with all things insurance, this varies quite a bit.

_________________
Mask: Wisp Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: SleepyHead
Currently trying mask #5.
With humor it can all be done.

User avatar
Jeff241
Posts: 49
Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2014 6:58 am
Location: MN

Re: NOOB with question please

Post by Jeff241 » Wed Jul 30, 2014 3:21 pm

Any way, I got a bill from DME, for 6 payments of 37.60. January through June.
I would guess because the DME sent you a bill for 6 months that your rental period is 6 months.
Unless they have something hidden in their contract it's yours now.

Probably easiest just to call them and ask.

_________________
Mask: Pilairo Q Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Straight CPAP @ 12 cmH2O, EPR 2, Sleepyhead Software v0.9.8-1

User avatar
Tatooed Lady
Posts: 984
Joined: Sat Jun 07, 2014 6:18 pm
Location: Central Wisconsin

Re: NOOB with question please

Post by Tatooed Lady » Wed Jul 30, 2014 3:22 pm

I suggest calling the DME to ask what the bill is for, and how many months you'll be seeing one like it. When you get that info, check with your insurance company (assuming you've got one) to see if it's legitimate...that is, assuming what you're billed for isn't coming out of pocket (deductible not yet met). You SHOULD be able to get the answers you're looking for that way, instead of having people from all over the country speculating on how THEIR situation would work in that case.

_________________
Mask: Swift™ FX For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Precious and POW are very very good to me.
As Bette Davis famously said, “Old age ain’t for sissies.”
I'm with the band.
So.Many.TOYS!

User avatar
robysue
Posts: 7520
Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2010 2:30 pm
Location: Buffalo, NY
Contact:

Re: NOOB with question please

Post by robysue » Wed Jul 30, 2014 3:27 pm

chaffeerat wrote:Hello all. Long time lurker, I've learned so much from all you fine folks. I've been on CPAP one year exactly today. I use the PR system one, 460 series and a Quattro FFM. My pressure is 13, and AHI is always under 1. Any way, I got a bill from DME, for 6 payments of 37.60. January through June. I'm assuming this is for monthly rental. Does this sound legit?
It really depends on what your health insurance policy says about paying for CPAP equipment.

Most insurance companies have a "rent to own" policy when it comes to paying for the CPAP blower unit: You "rent" the machine for a predetermined period and at the end of that period you own the machine. Some companies do a three month rental. Some do a 10 month rental. Some do a 12 month rental. The monthly fee depends on several things:
  • The negotiated price of the blower unit in the contract between the insurance company and the DME
  • Your deductible (if any)
  • Your copay for durable medical expenses
  • Length of the rental period
Usually the monthly rental fee is the total cost of your out of pocket expenses (i.e. your copay and/or deductible) divided by the number of months in the contract.

For example: My husband picked up his PR System One 560 APAP this spring. Our insurance company requires a 50% copay for durable medical expenses, the negotiated price for a CPAP machine with the DME is (roughly) $900, and the rental period is for 10 months. We have no deductible beyond the 50% copay.

So of the $900 price tag for the blower unit, the insurance company is responible for $450 and we're responsible for $450. The $450 we're responsible for is split up into 10 payments of $45 each. After 10 months of payments, the machine is hubby's to keep (forever).

The first month's rental was due when we picked the machine up. The humidifier and (first) hose and (first) mask were paid for up front at the time we picked the machine up (and yes, we had a 50% copay on those items as well.)

If so, how many months do I pay this monthly charge before I own it? I'm hoping I don't have to pay every month for the rest of my life! Again, thank you all for a wealth of information!
You really need to call your own insurance company and find out the particulars for your health insurance policy's way of paying for PAP equipment.

_________________
Machine: DreamStation BiPAP® Auto Machine
Mask: Swift™ FX Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: PR System DreamStation and Humidifier. Max IPAP = 9, Min EPAP=4, Rise time setting = 3, minPS = 3, maxPS=5

chaffeerat
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:10 am

Re: NOOB with question please

Post by chaffeerat » Wed Jul 30, 2014 3:29 pm

Thank you for the replies. I've called twice, left a message twice, no return call. I also e-mailed, I'm waiting for an answer. Just thought I'd throw this out there while I was waiting....thanks again.

_________________
Mask

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63942
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: NOOB with question please

Post by Pugsy » Wed Jul 30, 2014 3:31 pm

Check with your insurance company directly to find out how long any rent to own contracts might be and what else you might expect.
Also....what is the status of your deductible since the first of the year.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

chaffeerat
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:10 am

Re: NOOB with question please

Post by chaffeerat » Wed Jul 30, 2014 3:55 pm

Just heard back from DME they said between 13-15 months rental payments, depending on Aetna. Seems awful pricy to me. Thank you all, you guys are awesome!

Steve

_________________
Mask

User avatar
Craig-Tx
Posts: 232
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:56 am
Location: Fort Worth, TX

Re: NOOB with question please

Post by Craig-Tx » Wed Jul 30, 2014 8:29 pm

chaffeerat wrote:Just heard back from DME they said between 13-15 months rental payments, depending on Aetna. Seems awful pricy to me. Thank you all, you guys are awesome!

Steve
I too have a insurance plan managed by Aetna. My understanding is that Aetna will only do rent-to-own. My particular policy is 10 months. (Yours may or may not be different.)

I found this out just today after picking up my new machine last week. I thought it was a purchase, but now it is looking like I'll have about 5 months I'll have to pay next year. (Doubt I'll meet my deductible next year like I did this year, so let's just say I'm not thrilled.)

_________________
Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ N20 Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Started PAP on 1/16/07. - Typical 90% pressure ~ 10 cm H20