Is CPAP a Scam?

I received my cpap machine about 18 months ago. I had to seal down the top of the mask with duct tape each night so it wouldn't blow in my eyes. After 3 night I had to throw it away. I also receive boxes of supplies periodically on my front porch. I just take them straight to the trash. In doing my 2016 budget to actuals, I see I was charged for this little scam to the tune of $107 per month. Do you know how I get them to stop? Thanks.

I'm not sure if you're trolling? You must not seal the air vent with duct tape or eventually you'll suffocate.

CPAP is a total scam designed to trick you into living a longer, healthier life. I hope you manage to fall for it completely while there is still time.

sounds like the mask was not fitting you.

There are very many different masks in various sizes and fitting options - did you explore any others but the one you had?

There are many doctors who know apnea as a science but nothing about how to set up the equipment properly. We can help you finding the right pressure(s) so you can breathe and get better.

There are even more ways to mess up your life by not treating apnea, but you need to ask for help. We can give you that in many ways, but need some info to do it... like exactly which machine you have, what mask is it that lets air into your eyes (you're not the only one with that issue), and what pressure settings was your machine adjusted to.

Don't cut off your nose to spite your face... give things a better chance (and come back to this thread so we can follow things along properly).

And tell the DME to hold off on orders for now... there's time to deal with that anyhow, but you are being hustled a bit by them (if they can get away with it). That's NOT your issue now though - getting treated is.

CPAP is not a scam, however compliance with the machines and masks is low. The reasons range from poor equipment support especially in the beginning months of CPAP use, to negative patient attitudes about using this equipment, to problems with health insurance coverage paying for the stuff. Plus other reasons.

You sound like you had a poor fitting mask and you also sound like you dont have any motivation or enthusiasm regarding using your gear.

There are some CPAP/sleep apnea clinics that are scams, they are basically mills designed by unscrupulous doctors who just want to get you in for a night for a sleep study to bill your health insurance and get your copays and deductible. Ive been to ONE sleep medicine clinic I highly suspect was a mill set up.

CPAP changed my life for about seven years.

There are other approaches to treating sleep apnea besides CPAP, especially mild to moderate sleep apnea. The number one secondary approach right now is custom made oral appliances like Somnodents. However you gotta be motivated to use it, as it requires adjustment and break in and some patience.

The other approach is massive weight loss, like bariatric surgery. There are throat and nose surgeries for sleep apnea but none have a really good reputation.

Having sleep apnea that is untreated longterm is associated with being chronically sick in many different ways. Its also associated with earlier death and automobile accidents and legal problems that stem from such.

The Pammy wrote:I received my cpap machine about 18 months ago. I had to seal down the top of the mask with duct tape each night so it wouldn't blow in my eyes. After 3 night I had to throw it away. I also receive boxes of supplies periodically on my front porch. I just take them straight to the trash. In doing my 2016 budget to actuals, I see I was charged for this little scam to the tune of $107 per month. Do you know how I get them to stop? Thanks.

CPAP is only a scam if you pay all that money and don't use it.

The Pammy wrote:I received my cpap machine about 18 months ago. I had to seal down the top of the mask with duct tape each night so it wouldn't blow in my eyes. After 3 night I had to throw it away. I also receive boxes of supplies periodically on my front porch. I just take them straight to the trash. In doing my 2016 budget to actuals, I see I was charged for this little scam to the tune of $107 per month. Do you know how I get them to stop? Thanks.

How about calling them...If your insurance is paying for these supplies and you are not using the CPAP, your insurance can charge you with fraud if they find out.....They may make you pay for the supplies.Your fault for giving your DME your Credit Card and allowing this to happen.

bonjour wrote:sounds like the mask was not fitting you.

True enough - but, I cannot imagine a mask designed to fit an empty head.

On the money/insurance side it is a scam. My sleep study people had no interest in me succeeding. If you want to succeed, you are on your own. If you don't want to try , sell the stuff on craigslist to someone who can't afford insurance.

Fitting the right mask takes more than the 5 minutes they give you.

The Pammy wrote:I received my cpap machine about 18 months ago. I had to seal down the top of the mask with duct tape each night so it wouldn't blow in my eyes. After 3 night I had to throw it away. I also receive boxes of supplies periodically on my front porch. I just take them straight to the trash. In doing my 2016 budget to actuals, I see I was charged for this little scam to the tune of $107 per month. Do you know how I get them to stop? Thanks.

Uh, yeah, either make the effort to contact your doc or DME to get cpap to work for you or contact the DME to stop sending you supplies. Getting charged $107 a month should have made you actually do something about it much earlier. Your fault.

18 months, no compliance requirements, duct tape and now posting?

Total troll.

I don't like to use the "T" word, but, in this case . . .

The Pammy wrote:I received my cpap machine about 18 months ago. I had to seal down the top of the mask with duct tape each night so it wouldn't blow in my eyes. After 3 night I had to throw it away. I also receive boxes of supplies periodically on my front porch. I just take them straight to the trash. In doing my 2016 budget to actuals, I see I was charged for this little scam to the tune of $107 per month. Do you know how I get them to stop? Thanks.

If your getting charged Report the monthly charge to your credit card as a charge you did not authorize right away. You should have done this months ago.
If your on Medicare and the DR ordered the cpap then the DME that provided your original equipment obtained your credit card and has been charging you for replacement items based on the medicare schedule. They have been billing medicare and sending you the supplies. Maybe it's at no cost to you and the DME is billing and collecting from Medicare.
Medicare is being scammed in that case as well as all American Tax payers.

Some private insurance's are OK with automatic reorders, but with Medicare, it's a federal offence.
Considering the cost of this stuff, likely a FELONY.