Annoying

[jeresoph]

Hello everyone:

I have used Respironics Optilife masks and nasal pillows for a few years now and it seems to work well for me. The other day my supplies company that I have used ever since I went to my original ENT Doctor called for their regular 'Do you need any new supplies' inquiry? I said a replacement mask please and they said we no longer do business with Respironics and you should choose form Fisher and Paykel or Resmed. I have nothing against these companies but wanted to stick with my long-term winner. No can do they said and so I politely said goodbye.

So my questions are:

1) Can I switch supplies company until I find a supplies company that has a more comprehensive inventory and doesn't cut supplies without any notice to their customers?
2) I use Classic Sleep Care based in California and wonder if I should leave them and just get my mask via anyone who sells it.
3) Any recommendations for a good supplies company or is it all about who your Doctor recommends?

Thanks for any advice.

[Pugsy]

1...yes, you can always switch supply companies. Some extra paperwork is involved because they need some documentation from your doctor...and your doctor and insurance company should be able to work that out fairly easily if they will just do a little bit of paperwork.

2...I assume you are wanting to utilize your insurance and have your insurance pay before you pay anything or you just pay your normal co pay....if that is correct then you need to call up your insurance company and get a list of DME suppliers that they work with or have contracts with and then call up the ones on the list to see if they carry the mask and any other supplies that you may want or need.
Explain the situation to them...if they want your business they should be willing to help. If they don't sound very helpful...they don't want your business very badly.

3...can't really recommend one supplier since we don't know anything about your insurance and who they might have contracts with.
I might have the best supplier in the world but if they don't have a contract with your insurance company then they would be of no use to you.

Now...if you have Medicare by chance then we can expand the discussion a bit but for now I am talking about some other type of insurance.

Finally...if you do have some other insurance and a high deductible that you rarely meet then you might consider just buying some of the consumables out of pocket and not messing with insurance. So that is also an option.

Check Amazon and EBay....sometimes those mask parts are really inexpensive. I didn't see a complete mask package on Amazon just now but I saw some other parts.
So if buying out of pocket...there are ways to reduce the expense.

If you are just needing nasal pillows...tell me the size because I have a handful of new unused pillows (not in original package as they came out of a complete package) that need to find a good home. I don't remember the size off hand though.
Yours for free if you can use them because I have no use for them.

[D.H.]

If you're happy with what you're using, stick with it! Another brand might be OK, but it's best to stick with what you know.

[jeresoph]

1...yes, you can always switch supply companies. Some extra paperwork is involved because they need some documentation from your doctor...and your doctor and insurance company should be able to work that out fairly easily if they will just do a little bit of paperwork.

2...I assume you are wanting to utilize your insurance and have your insurance pay before you pay anything or you just pay your normal co pay....if that is correct then you need to call up your insurance company and get a list of DME suppliers that they work with or have contracts with and then call up the ones on the list to see if they carry the mask and any other supplies that you may want or need.
Explain the situation to them...if they want your business they should be willing to help. If they don't sound very helpful...they don't want your business very badly.

3...can't really recommend one supplier since we don't know anything about your insurance and who they might have contracts with.
I might have the best supplier in the world but if they don't have a contract with your insurance company then they would be of no use to you.

Now...if you have Medicare by chance then we can expand the discussion a bit but for now I am talking about some other type of insurance.

Finally...if you do have some other insurance and a high deductible that you rarely meet then you might consider just buying some of the consumables out of pocket and not messing with insurance. So that is also an option.

Check Amazon and EBay....sometimes those mask parts are really inexpensive. I didn't see a complete mask package on Amazon just now but I saw some other parts.
So if buying out of pocket...there are ways to reduce the expense.

If you are just needing nasal pillows...tell me the size because I have a handful of new unused pillows (not in original package as they came out of a complete package) that need to find a good home. I don't remember the size off hand though.
Yours for free if you can use them because I have no use for them.

Lady Pugsy:

You will always be royalty to me. And I thank you for your wonderfully practical and speedy response. Every sentence helped me with the steps I need to take. God bless you, and that's from someone who is an atheist.

As to your kind offer, I would love to get hold of any Optilife nasal Pillows. My size is medium. If you have any tell me how to contact you privately and I shall send you the shipping costs and stationery costs for an appropriate envelope.

Extremely grateful to you for all that you do on this site.

Jeresoph.

[Pugsy]

Let me check on the nasal pillows. I think that mainly the sizes were petite or small....don't think I have any mediums but I will check tomorrow and let you know if I have any in your size.