Tricare Rent vs buy

[Cici]

Hi everyone...Eight-month newbie to OSA; I have Tricare Standard (now Extra). When I first got my machine, I had already met my out of pocket maximums so I spoke to Tricare about buying vs renting. They told me it was my choice, so I told my provider that I wanted to buy it vs rent it...they said no problem. Because everything was being paid at 100%, I didn't look at my EOBs as closely as I should have...fast forward to January when I started getting bills for my 20%. When I looked back at my EOBs more closely, sure enough, they are renting the machine to me. I called Tricare and they said the provider just needed to rebill it as a purchase instead of a rental...after much back and forth with the provider, they refuse to do so. The claim is over 90-days old so I am unable to appeal it. Lessons learned for future.

Anyhoo....I now have a few questions:

1. Since I have been paying for a rental for 8 months, will I have to pay the monthly rental fee forever or once I have paid for a certain amount of months, does the machine become mine?
2. If the above answer is renting forever, can I return the machine to the provider and start anew with another provider (I am quite unhappy with this provider for several reasons and was looking to switch anyway)?
3. If the above answer is renting forever, can I purchase a machine on my own, return the rental and submit the purchased machine to Tricare for reimbursement?

Each time I call Tricare I get a different answer so I was hoping someone on the boards may have some knowledge in this area.

Thanks so much,

[LSAT]

Medicare and many insurance companies "rent to own". They require a rental for 12-13 months and then you own the machine. Only your insurance company can verify that to you.

[Okie bipap]

I think Tricare follows the same guidelines as Medicare. You rent the machine for 13 months, then it is yours.

[SusanWink]

I have Tricare. After 13 months I will own my machine.

[Cici]

Thanks, everyone...since I am almost there I will remain with the same provider until the machine is mine.

Appreciate the answers so much...thank you!!!

[greatunclebill]

From personal experience with tricare, Tricare lets the DME decide if they want to do 13 month rent to own or outright purchase. in my case with my first and second machines the DME's decided to rent 13 months. On my wife's first machine a new DME decided to do an outright purchase. Now that we're both on Medicare and Tricare for life, there's no choice. Medicare dictates 13 month and Tricare for life does likewise with my 20% that they pay.