Is a download usually required from a new Health Ins. Co.?

I just switched health insurance companies, and I called to let Lincare know, since I'm still being charged monthly to "rent" my new cpap machine. Then they called me back and said that I needed to bring in my card to download it for compliance.
I had this done about 3 months ago for my yearly "compliance check", but with a different Ins. co. Is this common for Insurance co's to ask for a new download, as opposed to just asking Lincare for the last one?
I will run it in this week. But I sure hope they don't charge me for doing it.

How long have you been on a rental plan so far?

When I switched from Bluecross to United Healthcare they did not ask.
When I switched from United Healthcare to Anthem Blue Cross they did ask.

I am looking at switching back to United Healthcare during open enrollment and it will be interesting to see what happens.

Most insurers have a "capped rental" process. That means you rent the machine for a period of time (many follow Medicare guidelines which are 13 months). After the 13 month rental period, the machine is yours.

The problem here is that you keep changing insurance companies, so that muddies the waters. It may be that your original insurance company had a capped rental that you reached before you changed the first time, or if you didn't you were darn close. Then you switched to another insurer, who may have had a different capped rental policy, as does insurer # 3. And my guess is this has been around 3 years or so, based on open enrollments?

Now the thing I'm trying to tell you is that Lincare may be making out like a bandit. They may be starting the rental clock over again every time you change insurers--so it's like getting paid for 3 machines instead of 1. Christmas comes to Lincare. Something stinks--I think it's Lincare.

If you are on Medicare and those are supplement plans, you have surely exceeded your 13 month capped rental. Call 1-800-MEDICARE and see what they have to say. If you are not on Medicare it's going to be a little more difficult to call insurance company #1 and find out what their rental policy is, then call insurer # 2 (easier if you're still with them) and find out what their policy is.

I strongly suspect the machine should have been yours long ago, but Lincare will keep playing this out as long as you don't catch on.

Jan...
She got a new S9 earlier this year I think it was...traded in her old S8. I don't remember how long she has had the S9 but it hasn't been all that long.

Thanks everyone.
Pugsy.....you have a good memory! I started using this around February. We switched from Anthem BCBS to United Health Care. UHC was good enough to transfer what I had paid into my deductible, (which met their deductible immediately), so everything since then has been paid for. I think I'll call UHC and make sure this download is necessary. I just don't trust Lincare.
I was so excited that I had met their deductible, that I had an appendectomy! haha They paid for everything!!! I think I might have some other non-essential organ removed.
Anyhow.......I think I will call UHC. I just don't trust Lincare.

Well Shoot..........I just called United Health Care and they said that Lincare is Out of Network. They said they use Apria Health Care. What a drag. I've never heard of them.
So why would Lincare be asking me to bring my card in??

They don't want to let go of the dug.
Thirsty puppy.

What's a "dug"?

I am sooooooooooo frustrated. Since we've switched insurances, I've spent hours on the phone with people with heavy accents that I have to struggle to understand!!
I called the Health Insurance and someone explained to me that they couldn't answer my questions, but Apria could. So I called them, and they said they couldn't answer the question, that United Health Care could.
Is it possible that I will just lose the several hundred dollars that I've already invested in this machine? If that's the case, do you think I can just pay it off myself and be done with it??
I'm soooo frustrated. Half the battle is trying to understand the heavy accents of the people who answer the United Health Care line.

dug, noun: the mamma or the nipple of a female mammal.
(A scientific term that is less-censored than the alternative)
UHC has horrible customer "service".
Note that they sell to seniors through AARP, probably for a healthy stipend.

Gotcha chunkyfrog!
Well........the plot sickens........I called Lincare and she had never heard that they are Out of Network, and said that they accept UHC all the time.
I'm not that crazy about Lincare, but it's local and easy for me to get to. Plus, I switch to Medicare in January, so I'd rather limp along with Lincare until then. I've also med my medical deductible, and my machine would be paid for.
Geez........everything goes wrong at once........other various issues to deal with. When it rains, it pours.

Country4ever wrote:Gotcha chunkyfrog!
Well........the plot sickens........I called Lincare and she had never heard that they are Out of Network, and said that they accept UHC all the time.
I'm not that crazy about Lincare, but it's local and easy for me to get to. Plus, I switch to Medicare in January, so I'd rather limp along with Lincare until then. I've also med my medical deductible, and my machine would be paid for.
Geez........everything goes wrong at once........other various issues to deal with. When it rains, it pours.

Lincare may think they are in network, but if they are not, your insurance will not pay as much as they would if they WERE in network. In other words...it will cost you a higher co pay.

The best solution would be to insist on a hard copy of local providers from your insurance.
GET IT IN WRITING!

Okay. I decided to call United Health Care back, and hopefully get a representative who spoke clear English, and I lucked out! She said that Lincare WAS in-network! Why the hell did the other guy say it wasn't? I've wasted several hours going round and round in circles because of his bad info.
So.....we'll see what's next and why Lincare wanted to download my data card. The UHC representative said she didn't think they required it. I don't see why Lincare would care if I was compliant or not......as long as they were getting their payment.