GD DME...

I know this is not a new rant, but I am seriously frustrated with the DME. They piled a couple of masks on me without saying a single word about them charging me nearly $200 each! If I had known that insurance wouldn't cover a dime and that the masks cost that much, I would have said "no, thank you!" I didn't even ask for a new mask! What's worse is that the masks didn't work at all and after only one night gave me a swollen nose for a week! They also just sent me a huge bill, which I received yesterday, Jan 20th, with a due date that was a week ago. Talk about being set up to fail. I guess this is one of those live and learn experiences, and I know not to be bamboozled again, but damn! Would it have been that hard to say, "Hey, here's a mask you might like to try. It'll cost you about $200 - would you like to try it?" But I guess that would be too honest. I am just drowning in medical bills, from this and multiple other health problems, so it's really getting me down.

That's greed in its truest form, kick your fellow man while he's down and take his money while you're at it.
Can you return the masks? Assuming they are unopened. After all you didn't order or ask for them it sounds like. I would return them and get documentation of it and refuse to pay.

Return the mask, and inform them that you know the manufacturers ALL offer thirty days exchange,
Especially when you are starting out. Did you by any chance get an Escape machine?
Have you had the bad mask since August? It may be too late.
In any case, these creeps do NOT deserve any future business, and let them know it!

mossytreesprite wrote:They piled a couple of masks on me without saying a single word about them charging me nearly $200 each!

Take them back and tell them you expect a full credit for something you did not order. If they balk, insist on seeing the manager.

After you get the credit tell them to go to hell and then get your stuff somewhere else.

mossytreesprite wrote:I know this is not a new rant, but I am seriously frustrated with the DME. They piled a couple of masks on me without saying a single word about them charging me nearly $200 each! If I had known that insurance wouldn't cover a dime and that the masks cost that much, I would have said "no, thank you!" I didn't even ask for a new mask! What's worse is that the masks didn't work at all and after only one night gave me a swollen nose for a week! They also just sent me a huge bill, which I received yesterday, Jan 20th, with a due date that was a week ago. Talk about being set up to fail. I guess this is one of those live and learn experiences, and I know not to be bamboozled again, but damn! Would it have been that hard to say, "Hey, here's a mask you might like to try. It'll cost you about $200 - would you like to try it?" But I guess that would be too honest. I am just drowning in medical bills, from this and multiple other health problems, so it's really getting me down.

I had to reread this several times.
I was wondering how or why you took possession of them if you didn't request them......and I'm still curious about that.
But, you apparently didn't question any of this till you got the bill. And, NOW you're pissed off.

And, you DID use them.......doesn't matter if they did or didn't "work".......you tried and wore them.

I'd say unless they have some sort of a return policy, you're stuck with the bill. It would probably have been different if you wouldn't have tried them.
If you didn't know BEFORE how the DMEs work, you sure do NOW.


Den

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Thanks for the responses. As I mentioned, this is a "live and learn" situation. The masks in question were given to me when the DME came over to bring me the ASV. I didn't think to question it at the time, which I see now was a mistake. Idk if I thought that insurance would cover it or what, but I really had no idea what her "kindly" gesture was going to cost me. I have struggled with masks - my face shape doesn't seem to conform to the ffm I have tried. I feel like a lot of my problems would be solved, mask-wise, if I could just keep my f-ing mouth closed... I'm sure that applies to more situations than masks though. I am going to call and complain - I feel duped on this stuff, and I don't think it's ethical to carelessly toss a couple bags of masks to a person and say "try this" without indicating a single detail about what said toss entails. I'll stop now - I'm sure there have been many "buyer beware"s on this site, but I'm adding my two cents. It's petty and relatively minor, I know, but sometimes a bunch of petty & minor things add up to a huge crushing weight...

mossytreesprite wrote:Thanks for the responses. As I mentioned, this is a "live and learn" situation. The masks in question were given to me when the DME came over to bring me the ASV. I didn't think to question it at the time, which I see now was a mistake. Idk if I thought that insurance would cover it or what, but I really had no idea what her "kindly" gesture was going to cost me. I have struggled with masks - my face shape doesn't seem to conform to the ffm I have tried. I feel like a lot of my problems would be solved, mask-wise, if I could just keep my f-ing mouth closed... I'm sure that applies to more situations than masks though. I am going to call and complain - I feel duped on this stuff, and I don't think it's ethical to carelessly toss a couple bags of masks to a person and say "try this" without indicating a single detail about what said toss entails. I'll stop now - I'm sure there have been many "buyer beware"s on this site, but I'm adding my two cents. It's petty and relatively minor, I know, but sometimes a bunch of petty & minor things add up to a huge crushing weight...

You may have an argument with them concerning that situation. If you're not going to keep them, try taking them back and use that situation as the reason for wanting to return them. May work.......
I don't think you mentioned whether it's been less or more than 30 days since that happened. If it's less than 30, that might help with the return, too.


Den

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At least your DME sent your something.

I picked up my machine from Apria Healthcare. Pretty much with "here you go, if you have questions, watch the DVD." Thankfully my doc specified the heated air hose, and a few other details, so that was taken care of.

I did learn about the larger head gear, so it wouldn't crush my nose as I have a big head (size 8 3/8 hat)

Called Apria back to ask about the replacement program. I have to talk with their folks who do the billing, but despite calling once a week, zero response. Just an answering machine, but they don't know pricing or what the program details. Sigh. All I can figure out is the insurance company pays the DME to not supply anything, leaving us to fend for ourselves.

Thankfully I found the forum.

mossytreesprite wrote:They also just sent me a huge bill, which I received yesterday, Jan 20th, with a due date that was a week ago. Talk about being set up to fail..

You are assuming that they did their billing right. That is too much to expect from them.

TexasTom wrote:At least your DME sent your something.

I picked up my machine from Apria Healthcare. Pretty much with "here you go, if you have questions, watch the DVD." Thankfully my doc specified the heated air hose, and a few other details, so that was taken care of.

I did learn about the larger head gear, so it wouldn't crush my nose as I have a big head (size 8 3/8 hat)

Called Apria back to ask about the replacement program. I have to talk with their folks who do the billing, but despite calling once a week, zero response. Just an answering machine, but they don't know pricing or what the program details. Sigh. All I can figure out is the insurance company pays the DME to not supply anything, leaving us to fend for ourselves.

Thankfully I found the forum.

I called Apria today to revoke the auto shipment program from my account. They are way over priced and I do not plan to try and hit my deductibles from paying for supplies from them.

My guess is that they were pulling out sample masks for you to try on. Manufacturers provide sample masks for FREE to the DME's. DME's don't want to have the time and effort to clean the masks to use on multiple patients, so if the sample mask doesn't work for you, they are supposed to throw it away (but many will just let you keep it).

Now it appears that they are trying to charge you for the sample masks you tried on. That should be your argument. "The DME brought out multiple SAMPLE masks for me to try and the fact that he left them in my home when they didn't work for me is NOT my problem. Eventually I chose X. I will not pay for the sample masks that didn't work for me, it was not my choice to keep them--you can pick them up if you want them back."

Contact the state agency that regulates the DME and file a complaint. They were sample masks as far as you were informed, you never agreed to buy these masks that didn't work for you, there was no Advance Beneficiary Notice to inform you that these sample masks would be charged and you would have to pay for them out of pocket because your insurance only covers one mask during a specific time period.

I don't think you mentioned whether it's been less or more than 30 days since that happened. If it's less than 30, that might help with the return, too.

You're quite right, Den, I did forget to mention this fact. It has been more than thirty days (Nov 8th to be exact). The catch here is that I just now got the bill for items that have been racking up since September. It's January 20th, 2015 and the bill lists stuff from Sept 20, 2014, and this is the first I've heard of it!!!! Seriously, are these guys getting business advice from Beelzebub?!?

Great suggestions everyone - I will formulate my reply and strike while the iron is...lukewarm?

These rascals usually pull out a blanket ABN and insist on a signature before you get ANYTHING.

Good Point - I know I signed a form for the ASV (which was a temp I had for 5 days), but I did not sign a form for the mask (unless they updated it later to include the masks). I may have to eat this cost, but I would be ashamed to not at least try to get some of the $ removed.

mossytreesprite wrote:Good Point - I know I signed a form for the ASV (which was a temp I had for 5 days), but I did not sign a form for the mask (unless they updated it later to include the masks). I may have to eat this cost, but I would be ashamed to not at least try to get some of the $ removed.

First call and talk to a supervisor. There is no guarantee the bill was right to begin with. Also call your insurance and ask about the billings.