what should be changed every 6 months?

[palerider]

Don't forget filters.

change 'em when they get dirty... don't wait for the 'thick coat of felt' stage.

An associate at the sewing center related that a lady came in asking how often to replace the filter under the presser foot.
She had an accumulated pad of lint there because she had no clue that area needed to be CLEANED!

*facepalm*

[dwood003]

Tell your supplier you will call when you need supplies. If they are forcing you to get unneeded supplies, they are taking advantage of insurance and we all end up paying.
Get a copy of your prescription and you can buy wherever you want. Find out what other providers are covered under your insurance.
If they are telling you it is required by the insurance that is underhanded and wrong. Allowed maybe but not required except for their profit.

Medicare determines who the supplier in your area is; its who they got the best deal from. It is in their best interest to use it's recommendations, if you have it you'll use it.
I use Express Scripts for my prescription's, if I order direct from them it cost me nothing. They email me a reminder, I order online they fax the Dr. for renewals, its in the mail. Insurance companies want you healthy.

I paid into Medicare and earned Tricare for Life, nobody picked up my tab.

[LSAT]

Tell your supplier you will call when you need supplies. If they are forcing you to get unneeded supplies, they are taking advantage of insurance and we all end up paying.
Get a copy of your prescription and you can buy wherever you want. Find out what other providers are covered under your insurance.
If they are telling you it is required by the insurance that is underhanded and wrong. Allowed maybe but not required except for their profit.

Medicare determines who the supplier in your area is; its who they got the best deal from. It is in their best interest to use it's recommendations, if you have it you'll use it.
I use Express Scripts for my prescription's, if I order direct from them it cost me nothing. They email me a reminder, I order online they fax the Dr. for renewals, its in the mail. Insurance companies want you healthy.

I paid into Medicare and earned Tricare for Life, nobody picked up my tab.

Reordering prescriptions regularly is different from replenishing CPAP equipment. Most equipment doesn't need replacing on schedule unless something is damaged or wears out. I am on Medicare and could stock a store if I took new supplies every time I was able. Meanwhile, my hose is over 2 years old...my mask is almost 2 years old with 2 cushion replacements and my humidifier cup is the original that came with my machine 30 months ago. Because you can, doesn't mean you should. Too many people take advantage of their insurance and Medicare and that's why our medical care system is in crisis.

[chunkyfrog]

Years ago, cowhands would endeavor to change their long johns at least twice a year--whether it was needed or not.

[Goofproof]

I change my micro orgassisms, every time I have one. Jim

[JeffL]

My DME is always eager to replace everything at the recommended intervals, but even though my cost is $0 (after medicare and supplemental), I don't like wasting money. I used the same heated airline for 5 years (until the machine was replaced), I replaced the nasal pillows once in 5 years, the head gear once, the tank once (only because I was sent one that was easier to clean), and filters every couple of months (even though they look clean as new). I just keep everything clean. Mileage may vary for others.

[palerider]

My DME is always eager to replace everything at the recommended intervals,

because PROFIT.

[dwood003]

Because you can, doesn't mean you should. Too many people take advantage of their insurance and Medicare and that's why our medical care system is in crisis.

And you're probably getting off topic when lecturing other member's choices.

[LSAT]

Because you can, doesn't mean you should. Too many people take advantage of their insurance and Medicare and that's why our medical care system is in crisis.

And you're probably getting off topic when lecturing other member's choices.

This is your statement in this post......"I use Express Scripts for my prescription's, if I order direct from them it cost me nothing. They email me a reminder, I order online they fax the Dr. for renewals, its in the mail. Insurance companies want you healthy. " What has that got to do with ordering CPAP supplies....Isn't that "off topic"?

[OkyDoky]

Tell your supplier you will call when you need supplies. If they are forcing you to get unneeded supplies, they are taking advantage of insurance and we all end up paying.
Get a copy of your prescription and you can buy wherever you want. Find out what other providers are covered under your insurance.
If they are telling you it is required by the insurance that is underhanded and wrong. Allowed maybe but not required except for their profit.

Medicare determines who the supplier in your area is; its who they got the best deal from. It is in their best interest to use it's recommendations, if you have it you'll use it.
I use Express Scripts for my prescription's, if I order direct from them it cost me nothing. They email me a reminder, I order online they fax the Dr. for renewals, its in the mail. Insurance companies want you healthy.

I paid into Medicare and earned Tricare for Life, nobody picked up my tab.

It all depends whose paying for it. My supplier has my prescription, emails me every 3 month with a list of what I'm eligible for along with a multiple choice list of why I need it as required by the insurance. If I don't need something and I don't select it, I can't check out until I do. Go figure!

You quoted me in your above comment. I was replying to your comment that " If I don't need something and I don't select it, I can't check out until I do".
I assumed that was a problem for you. But guess I was wrong.

[Okie bipap]

I must side with LSAT in this. I, too, use medicare and tricare for life. I do not let my DME determine when I need supplies. I decide what I need and when I need them. When I recently signed up with a new DME, they immediately sent me supplies I did not need. I called them up made them return them. I told them it is against medicare rules to automaticly send supplies based on what medicare says I can have when I didn't order them. I informed them that if they didn't take the supplies back, I would file a formal complaint with medicare and tricare.

[palerider]

Because you can, doesn't mean you should. Too many people take advantage of their insurance and Medicare and that's why our medical care system is in crisis.

And you're probably getting off topic when lecturing other member's choices.

sounds completely on topic... discouraging stupid activities is part of what this forum is about.

[palerider]

Because you can, doesn't mean you should. Too many people take advantage of their insurance and Medicare and that's why our medical care system is in crisis.

And you're probably getting off topic when lecturing other member's choices.

This is your statement in this post......"I use Express Scripts for my prescription's, if I order direct from them it cost me nothing. They email me a reminder, I order online they fax the Dr. for renewals, its in the mail. Insurance companies want you healthy. " What has that got to do with ordering CPAP supplies....Isn't that "off topic"?

not to mention delusional... "Insurance companies want you healthy" nooo, insurance companies want you to never file a claim!

[Denial Dave]

I just placed my order for supplies with Apria & they alerted me that the last time that I ordered anything was March 2016.

Yep, sounds about right. I typically place an order about once a year. My typical order is 3 mask cushions, 1 headgear. Total out of pocket cost for me was a $19 co-pay.

I tend to buy my filters via CPAP.com or E-Bay in the 6-12 pack.

Sorry, but I'm a mere mortal and have to replace my cushions every 3-4 months and my headgear on an annual basis.

[Wulfman...]

I just placed my order for supplies with Apria & they alerted me that the last time that I ordered anything was March 2016.

Yep, sounds about right. I typically place an order about once a year. My typical order is 3 mask cushions, 1 headgear. Total out of pocket cost for me was a $19 co-pay.

I tend to buy my filters via CPAP.com or E-Bay in the 6-12 pack.

Sorry, but I'm a mere mortal and have to replace my cushions every 3-4 months and my headgear on an annual basis.

"There can be only one." ("Highlander" movie)


Den

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