DME and insurance venting!

So, I had my sleep study in January and they sent the prescription off to the DME - AHI of 80. Because I picked up a 550P in January, I was patient and had only called back the doctor's office once after 4 or 6 weeks to find out why I hadn't heard anything and they said that I should wait to hear from the DME.

Here we are at the beginning of May and I still haven't heard a word from the DME, so I call the doctor's office and have them give me the details on the DME. There is only one company that my insurance covers and I had poor service from them before on another insurance plan.

Got on the phone and started calling in early afternoon. The first three times, the phone went unanswered, no voicemail or anything. The fourth time, someone hurriedly picked up and I explained that I had been unable to get anyone on the phone to find out why I had not been contacted about the equipment prescription that had been sent to them. She apologized and put me on hold. I waited on hold for fifty minutes before I gave up without being able to ask anyone anything!

While waiting on hold, I went to yelp.com and looked up the DME. The ratings were horrible with many people complaining that the lowest rating they could give was one star - they needed negative numbers. There were a few lucky people who were happy, but those that weren't were extremely displeased.

So I call the insurance company to see what my options are and they tell me that my insurance ended a couple of days ago because I hadn't returned a form that I believe just arrived in the mail today!

I sure am glad that I picked up that 550P on craigslist in January! Now, I have to try to sort all this crap out. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Someone just posted a REDMED 9 on here that they picked up at Goodwill. That is a great machine --you might want to take a look and snap it up before someone else does.

sleeplessinaz wrote:Someone just posted a REDMED 9 on here that they picked up at Goodwill. That is a great machine --you might want to take a look and snap it up before someone else does.

it's best to mention WHICH s9... there's at least 14 different ones that I know of offhand

palerider wrote:

sleeplessinaz wrote:Someone just posted a REDMED 9 on here that they picked up at Goodwill. That is a great machine --you might want to take a look and snap it up before someone else does.

it's best to mention WHICH s9... there's at least 14 different ones that I know of offhand

It was an Elite, and the PRS1 550 Auto is still a better machine. The point here is the guy has a prescription that went unfilled and the DME won't provide any service and his insurance discontinued his policy for failing to return a form he just received. They must have heard he intends to file a claim.

Yaconsult, that's B.S. and I hope you get it worked out, and yeah, good thing you took care of yourself first by getting the Craigslist machine.

This sounds like the same cheap stunt BCBSNE would pull a couple times every year.
They claimed it had something to do with "other insurance" they apparently think
folks buy every couple of months for NO REASON WHATSOEVER!

Sleeprider wrote:

palerider wrote:

sleeplessinaz wrote:Someone just posted a REDMED 9 on here that they picked up at Goodwill. That is a great machine --you might want to take a look and snap it up before someone else does.

it's best to mention WHICH s9... there's at least 14 different ones that I know of offhand

It was an Elite,

I know what it was, thanks... I was pointing out to sleeplessinaz that saying "a RESMED 9", while it may be a somewhat common description, is rather lacking.

That is so aggravating. It becomes more complicated when you are dealing with Medicare and supplemental. I spent 45 minutes on the phone with my supplemental insurance company this morning. Finally figured out that their claimed benefit of 80/20 coverage for durable medical equipment is smoke and mirrors. They provide NO coverage for durable medical equipment beyond what Medicare pays for. Why they just don't SAY that is beyond me. The higher end coverage does cover it 100%. You'd think that would be a selling point - get this plan and it covers no durable equipment, get this other one, for more money, and it does.

Anyway, I hope you get your insurance straightened out. Then find out if they will provide reimbursement if you just go out and buy one online since their own choice of provider is very poor.

You can look at masks at our sponsor, cpap.com. Then come back here and tell us what mask you think you might like, someone might have a used one to send you. Or at least offer some guidance on their experience with that mask.

Do you have the machine settings from the study?