AETNA Rental vs Purchase

Hi

Have been reading through this board and found a lot of good info but need some guidance. I have been using my CPAP machine for 6 months and it has been a wonder, I dont know how I ever did without it. My problem is that my insurance policy changed and I receieved a letter from the machine supplier for rental charges. I did not know that Aetna was renting the machine, I did not get any paperwork stating that it was a rental.
My new insurance policy may not cover the device. I did 2 sleep studies, one to determine I had the problem andthe other to finalize the settings for the machine, also a followup in December to check my status. The machine is a Resmed S9 and the Doctor is tracking my progess via the memory card.
What are my options? Does Aetna have a responsibilty to purchase the machine for me or ? Appreciate any help you all might be able to gove me on this.

kurbennett wrote:Does Aetna have a responsibilty to purchase the machine for me or ? Appreciate any help you all might be able to gove me on this.

No, Aetna no longer has any responsibilty for your bills.

Aetna used to be my insurance company as well. 10 months into my rental, we switched insurance companies. Aetna wouldn't finish the rental agreement or pay off the machine. The new insurance wouldn't pick up the remaining contract from the DME because they weren't part of their "in-network" providers.
I called my new insurance (1199 SEIU) to see what I could work out. They told me, that as far as they were concerned, I was starting out fresh with them, and was entitled to get a brand new machine.
I spoke with my old DME, and explained the situation to them, that I had switched insurance, and asked about returning their machine, that I was "renting" from them. They said not to worry. They would just write off my machine, I could keep it, and not have any more payments due to them.

You NEED to call your new insurance, old DME, new DME and talk to THEM. If you don't get anywhere with your old DME, try having your doctor (who I assume sent you to that DME) give them a call. They might write off your rental as a gesture of good will so the doctor will continue refering future patients to them.