Advice urgently sought, please

I live in Germany, where, via VitalAire, my healthcare insurance has covered the total cost of my Res Med S9 CPAP and H5i Humidifier. I have no idea what the cost of these machines and VitalAire's service would be if I were paying these amounts myself.

I was unaware (remiss of me, I'm sure) that on July 2nd 2015, the first year's contract with VitalAire ran out. Yes, I received from Vital Aire in May, I think it was, their request for a doctor's statement (Rezept) that I continue to need the machines. At that time I was not in Germany but in South America, where I am now, travelling. I asked my doctor in Germany to provide and send to VitalAire a statement of my continued need of the machines but she has declined to provide this, as I'm not in Germany. (Communication has been unsartisfactory and I found out about this refusal only a couple of hours ago.) On 3rd July I received a reminder from VitalAire, asking when they could expect to receive in their office my doctor's statement. I didn't tell them I'm not in Germany but said I'd ask my doctor about the matter (which I've done). In the meantime, they might also like to contact her. Whether they've done this, I don't know. I mailed them only yesterday so there hasn't been much time for a reply.

My intention is to return to Germany in early January, 2016 to attend to various essential matters, including my apnea check-up. I would like to tell VitalAire all this but on the basis of my experience with them over the matter of a 10-Euro payment and the fact that they're German, I suspect they might be less than flexible. I could fly back to Germany soon, see my doctor and get from her her statement about my need, but this will be costly and inconvenient, especially as my wife is with me and she'd need to stay in a hotel somewhere while I was away. Also, "soon" might not be good enough for VitalAire. A good solution from my point of view would be to pay a deposit to VitalAire and whatever fee/charge they demanded. In January, when I go to Germany, this deposit would, I hope, be returned to me. (I can't return the machine. I'm here in Chile and I need it!)

I wonder if anyone reading this has found themselves in a similar situation, or can suggest what VitalAire's response might be and how much money they might demand from me now that the machines aren't being covered by my health insurance. What should I do? Please advise. Many thanks.

Could you find a local doctor that might co-operate and send a letter?

You need to see a doctor locally and it would help to bring a copy of your sleep study (your doctor's office should be able to fax it to the local doctor). This doctor would be able to then confirm with you that you are benefiting from your machine. It's pretty clear that your German doctor is not going to provide anything without seeing you. It's a game you are forced to play if you want someone else paying for your machine. I don't know how much more time you have left for the payments on your machine - might be cheaper or simply less hassle to just pay it off. Same thing happens here in the US unless you are a chronic patient.