Is this logical?

The RT at my DME called today...it apparently is my one month anniversary on CPAP. I took the opportunity to ask her some questions...about autopap and software and, and, and...all that stuff she REALLY did not want to discuss.

Why would you want Autopap when your prescription is for CPAP? Well...my prescription was written by an internal medicine doc who doesn't know s--t about sleep apnea, for one thing.

But aren't you feeling better? Better than WHAT? I haven't felt GOOD in 10-15 years...how could I possibly "FEEL" that I'm getting optimum treatment? Wouldn't it be better to quantitate it?

How do you like your mask? (Comfort-lite). Well, I really couldn't get it to get a good seal, so now I'm using a Swift and it is doing really well. OH! Where did you get THAT from. Oh, the internet. Well, personally, she says, I never recommend that mask, I've not been able to get a good fit for ANYBODY with it. (hmmmmm)

Me: Soooo, have I bought this Devilbiss machine or am I renting this or what? Well at three months we'll ask you if you are compliant and then your insurance could buy it. But wouldn't you rather just rent it forever and then when it is outdated you can just get a new machine?

At this point, I terminated the conversation because I was getting a definite headache. Is she full of it or WHAT?

I did use the BillMyInsurance website and found out that my Aetna insurance does NOT consider them a preferred provider. They recommended I buy my machine with my own money instead of using insurance. I think I'll put an Autopap on my Xmas list this year!

Jan in Colo.

Jan,

My DME called me once (a week after I started). Other than the one call I made to them about my not doing well with the machine, (which they could not deal with), I never hear from them, except when I get a bill each month. My insurance is also Aetna, but I only get 80% covered regardless of whether they are in plan or out of plan.

I love your statement about them thinking you will rent forever. Hah! Not a chance!

FF

Why oh why do the insurance companies wise up. And why do dme's think that they are entitled to all the profits just for delivering the cheapest cpap and mask they can and then nerver expect that they are to help us. Why do we even need them, lets fill the RX at the pharmacy like all others RX's. I just don't get it!

I got a telephone call from my DME supplier yesterday, what a joke they are, asked how I was doing with my Mask and CPAP unit. I told her that I thought that trying to get hold of their raspatory customer service department Sucks, I called there a couple of weeks ago and was on hold for almost 45 min. (more like permanent ignore.) I am sure glad that I am not on oxygen and needed something to help me even breath. I needed to get a part for my nebulizer I called their pharmacy, and no problem but try to call and ask about getting a part for a CPAP machine what a joke, I wanted to get a new filter for my machine, after making repeated phone calls and telling them I would complain to my Ins. Co. they finally called me back after three days. And do not try to call them to pay the co-pay bill they send you that's an even bigger joke I was reading in the local newspaper that the parent company is for sale but they also just completed a merger with another company in New Jersey

Don't pay their co-pay! One, tell them to come get it if they want you to pay it, they will drop it, two, I bet you will get their attention.

My insurance will pay for a new machine every 3 years. (although unclear about my share of the copay).

After 2 years my machine was outdated and falling apart and not the machine I wanted. I really doubt if I was renting that the DME would have given me a new machine at this point.

Luckily??? I changed jobs, got a new DME and new insurance so I could replace my machine after 2 years....Although I am still waiting to find out what my copay will be, which NO ONE seems to be able to tell me, either at the DME or the insurance company. You MAY hear me howling about that yet...

My insurance company said they would rent the machine for me until they reach the sale price of $1057.00 my monthly co-pay is only $10.57 and it's paid for in a period of 10 months, that includes the humidifier , I know that's a rip off; but it's a lot better than $6875.00 I believe it was just for the REMstar plus and I believe the humidifier was almost $700.00 I don't have the paper work here I know they charged my insurance carrier $875.00 for a walker for me, but the U.S. DOL finally paid for it and they only paid $200.75 for it. I have BCBS FEHB So I feel fortunanite to have them approve and pay for DME for me. I can't believe that they paid for my Nebulizer in full. I don't know how that happened?

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, DME

My DME said that I could continue to pay them rent on the machine and they would give me a new unit if it ever went bad on me, let's see now if I pay them $10.57 a month for lets say three years that's approx. $380.57. but the machine is guaranteed by the manufacture for 2 years from date of purchase. Free replacement or repair. I think I will stay they I am, but I'm going to buy another unit on-line with a Humidifier for less than $700.00 and have an extra one.

My insurance pays 100% for durable medical equipment. I should have no out-of-pocket expense.

So I might take the advice of calling the insurance company and asking if I can buy it myself from CPAP.com and then submit the bill for reimbursement....at 100%? We can dream can't we?

And I need to ask how long they will rent that stupid machine for me. Sounds like the DME will find it most profitable if insurance rents it forever and ever.

And exactly....how hard would it be to get them to replace it because I think it is outdated? It is not going to be cost-effective for them to cooperate with me....it will be a major hassle!

More questions to ask I guess.

Jan in Colo.