New with hilarious results

[peepskidoo]

Hi. I decided to join this forum because I was getting stressed by something. I did a search on "Apria Billing Problems" and got a ton of results. So I guess I'm not the only one with a problem. I hope it's ok to talk about my experience even though it's apparently been talked about before.

I got an email telling me I owed money each month, which was a surprise to me. I talked to my insurance company. The guy had to call me back because he had to research the issue. He told me the money was a monthly copay. Ok, I guess.

So I was getting an email bill each month, sometimes no email, but when they did send one, I promptly paid it. So this year, I get a bill for twice the amount I usually pay. I know they don't ever answer email queries and the phone wait is epoch, so I figure that's for two months, so I pay it.

Now, I get a statement that I own even more. I tried calling and decided not to wait the 20 minutes they estimated which turns into 45 minutes. I'm tempted to not pay, but I think they could probably turn off my machine remotely. I want to tear my hair out. I guess I'll go the insurance company route again. But sheesh!

I guess this isn't so hilarious after all.

[Pugsy]

They can't turn off the machine remotely even if they wanted to.
When did you get your machine? What insurance do you have? Is there a new deductible involved since Jan 1?

[peepskidoo]

I've had this machine for almost a year. I have Blue Shield through Medicare. Apria never gives me any information, just a bill, so I don't know if the copay has increased. Can they do that? I'm fretting because it seems to be on an upward trend with no declaration.

[Pugsy]

Is it regular straight Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan through Blue Cross?

If it is a Medicare Advantage plan you need to get the Evidence of Coverage from you insurance company and see exactly how they handle cpap machines.
Rental for a certain period then you own it...called a capped rental...usually 13 months like regular Medicare.
Or unlimited rental and you never own it and get to pay co pay forever.
Or if it is straight Medicare which usually does the 13 month capped rental.

[peepskidoo]

I took your advice and found this:

In Original Medicare, people who rent certain types of DME own the equipment after paying copayments for the item for 13 months. As a member of Blue Shield 65 Plus, however, you usually will not acquire ownership of rented DME items no matter how many copayments you make for the item while a member of our plan.

==There was nothing specific about cpap machines, so I'm guessing it falls in this category.

I'll call tomorrow and get the copay info.

[USMCVet]

I've had this machine for almost a year. I have Blue Shield through Medicare. Apria never gives me any information, just a bill, so I don't know if the copay has increased. Can they do that? I'm fretting because it seems to be on an upward trend with no declaration.

You need to get original agreement and terms with insurance. Have whoever is billing you show proof of what you owe. You are entitled to that information. They can't bill you for something you never agreed to expressly or through insurance.

[USMCVet]

I took your advice and found this:

In Original Medicare, people who rent certain types of DME own the equipment after paying copayments for the item for 13 months. As a member of Blue Shield 65 Plus, however, you usually will not acquire ownership of rented DME items no matter how many copayments you make for the item while a member of our plan.

==There was nothing specific about cpap machines, so I'm guessing it falls in this category.

I'll call tomorrow and get the copay info.

Find out for sure. If you never own it then return it and buy your own outright.

[ajack]

you can buy a new dreamstation full data auto for 350-370 off amazon sellers, resmed are a bit dearer, but is my choice. contact them for better prices.

[D.H.]

Twice the amount? Exactly?

If that's the case, it's quite possible that that you skipped a payment or they did not record a payment (yet).

[peepskidoo]

First, thank you for all the ideas from all of you. I'm exhausted from being on the phone or I would reply to each of you individually.

Like I say, I just got off the phone with Apria. Yes I had a long wait, but it was worth it (I think). The $28 charge from last month was indeed a missed payment. If they don't send me an email, I don't think to pay them, but that's another issue. So, apparently what the charges are for are from sometime in October when I ordered mask supplies and paid for them (by phone) according to what the phone person said my share was. Then, for who knows why, the insurance company didn't pay their agreed upon amount, so I was billed for that also. Of course, no one thought to put that information on my statement.

I'll think about buying my own machine - when I get some energy back. (I also called Amazon to see why they were billing me for a newspaper I cancelled six months ago. They can't give a refund because...even the person I talked to didn't understand why not, but at least it was cancelled - I hope.) Sigh.