Resmed

Hello - I am soon to be a first-time CPAP user, and am wondering about the differences in Resmed units. If my goal is to have a good unit at the best price, and cost is an issue, will I be at a disadvantage medically if I opt for a less expensive model? The therapist has selected the AirSense Auto. Would the AirSense Elite be a good alternative?

Thanks in advance.

James

Elite is a fixed pressure machine...the Autoset can be used as fixed or variable pressure. recommendation would be auto....very little difference in price. If you are purchasing out of pocket (without insurance) on line at cpap.com would be your best choice. If you would register on the forum you might get help messages.

A note to any readers:
BEWARE OF THE AIRSTART.
The low price reflects the corners cut in producing a "welfare level" machine.
You deserve better!

Will you be using insurance or paying totally out of pocket?
Have you been quoted any prices from the equipment supplier you are working with?

There are situations where having auto adjusting (apap mode) available comes in very handy and you won't have that option with the Elite.
Is it absolutely critical to have apap mode available...probably not but I will share what happened to me.
In REM stage sleep I need pressures of 16 to 18 cm to keep the airway open. In non REM sleep I need around 8 cm pressure to hold the airway open...huge difference in terms of comfort between 8 and 16.

If I was using the Elite machine I would have to use 16 to 18 cm pressure all night long just to cover REM stage sleep which actually amounts to about 20% of the night.

By using apap mode I can use less pressure for that 80% of the night I don't need those higher pressures and the machine goes up to 16 or 18 only when needed.

Now will this be something that happens to you....don't know but it is very common to have different pressure needs during different parts of the night.

The Air Sense auto is a very good machine. If given the choice, take the auto instead of the Elite. Both are full data machines, but the auto gives you more options. Many people need more pressure during REM sleep, or sometimes when sleeping on your back. With the elite, you would need to set it at the higher pressure all of the time, while the auto can be set to a range of pressure and you would only have the higher pressure when needed.

If cost is an issue, get a Philips Dreamstation from Amazon.com for $360. It will do anything a Resmed Airsense 10 autoset does, and more...

tedtomato wrote:If cost is an issue, get a Philips Dreamstation from Amazon.com for $360. It will do anything a Resmed Airsense 10 autoset does, and more...

simply not true.

Hello, and thank you for the replies. (I have registered for an account, but it has not been activated yet by admin.) I went with the ResMed AirSense 10 Autoset, and used it for the first time last evening. Philips DreamWear mask (under nose), Resmed ClimateLineAir. I was very satisfied, woke in much better form. Will keep active on site.

Question: I purchased through a supplier of DME, and with my Aetna policy I am liable for 50 percent of all cost for DME. Thing is, it seems I paid full amount ... all in for $900. Would anyone recommend that I contact Aetna? Other insight?

Best,

James

James B. wrote: Question: I purchased through a supplier of DME, and with my Aetna policy I am liable for 50 percent of all cost for DME. Thing is, it seems I paid full amount ... all in for $900. Would anyone recommend that I contact Aetna? Other insight?

I think you need to contact Aetna about your policy. Is it possible that you still need to meet an annual deductible on expenses (or just on durable medical equipment) before the insurance kicks in?