Even with insurance, buying supplies direct is often cheaper

I know this is not a surprise to many out here, but I thought I'd pass along a recent example of getting equipment through the local DME vs. online at our hosts.


The order:

AirFit P10 mask, new 6 foot standard tubing, 6-pack of disposable filters for PR Series 60, 2-pack of re-usable filters for PR Series 60

Cost online: ~ $135.00

Cost from DME (AFTER insurance reimbursement): ~ $195.00

So check your costs, even if you think you have a "good" insurance policy. I think that was my last purchase from my DME.

John

Yep - this is what chased me to buying with cash online. The insurance company paid more and I paid more, the only beneficiary was the money-grubbing DME (I'm sure some DMEs are wonderful - mine was not)

JohnO wrote:I know this is not a surprise to many out here, but I thought I'd pass along a recent example of getting equipment through the local DME vs. online at our hosts.


The order:

AirFit P10 mask, new 6 foot standard tubing, 6-pack of disposable filters for PR Series 60, 2-pack of re-usable filters for PR Series 60

Cost online: ~ $135.00

Cost from DME (AFTER insurance reimbursement): ~ $195.00

So check your costs, even if you think you have a "good" insurance policy. I think that was my last purchase from my DME.

John

This may be true for some insurance, but I have medicare and pay 20% of allowable amount.

ResMed Mirage Quattro...DME billed $275.00 for mask and headgear.
cpap.com charges $176.00
Medicare allows $97.07...My share $19.41 Ins Paid $77.66

Doesn't look like my DME is making very much on this sale

I bought a Resmed Airfit F10 full face mask from the company that sponsors this site, recently. Paid the advertised price of $150.00 plus S & H. I recently got a second one from my Apria brick and mortar DME. I saw on my insurance portal last night, Apria billed Aetna $669 for the exact same mask!!!!!!

All I can say is I prefer to use Internet companys as much as I can afford. I have insurance and get some of my gear using my insurance, but have found they dont "try hard" to treat me right and get it right. The Internet companies do seem to try to get it right more, from my experience.

Ive had only one brick and mortar DME that was any good and that was my very first one. All the rest sucked. My favorite equipment supplier is this one. You pay them money and get what you ordered, no bs, no whining and complaining.

I also like the idea of helping to put out of business brick and mortar DMEs and making it hard for their respiratory techs to find employment...because in my experiences most of the RTs dont try very hard and come across as lazy. So I'd rather give my money to someone who has some initiative.

Eric

The key is what insurance pays (negotiated amount), not the DME's list price. Our co-insurance (and any deductible) is only based on that (often much smaller) amount. My DME has a list price of over $400 on FFMs. However, I only pay 20% of an amount closer to the CPAP.com price for the mask. It depends on the insurance as to how good of a price they negotiate, but I'd be surprised if it was anywhere near the list price of an average brick & mortar DME. Usually the Explanation of Benefits will include the list price, insurance payment, the patient payment, and the balance (written off).

Since I am on Medicare, with a very good supplement, my total cost is my premium.
All I needed to do was find a competent DME who will supply the equipment of my choice--
--not Apria by a long shot!

JohnO wrote:I know this is not a surprise to many out here, but I thought I'd pass along a recent example of getting equipment through the local DME vs. online at our hosts.


The order:

AirFit P10 mask, new 6 foot standard tubing, 6-pack of disposable filters for PR Series 60, 2-pack of re-usable filters for PR Series 60

Cost online: ~ $135.00

Cost from DME (AFTER insurance reimbursement): ~ $195.00

So check your costs, even if you think you have a "good" insurance policy. I think that was my last purchase from my DME.

John

I just got a similar set of supplies - humidifier tank, P-10 mask, headgear, and pillows, heated hose, and a bunch of filters: $32 at my 20% copay of the negotiated rate.

My pet peeve is the little white filters for my PR machines. My insurance pays for a couple at a time and Apria sends them in a huge BOX. I buy them fifty at a time and the cost is about the same as my insurance copay, much less hassle, and more environmentally friendly.