where to get supplies

[bkinder]

so i've been using Optigen since I got my machine, I canceled their constant supply schedules last year as I was not going through them like they thought I should, but I have had luck in calling them up and telling them, hey i need a new headgear or whatever, so yesterday I called them up and the lady said, you need this and this and this, and I said, just slow down, I dont need any of those things, can you please just send me 2 of these, and she said she couldn't, I told her I would pay for them, I just need two of these, and she said she couldn't send them to me. so i told her right then and there i wasn't going to use them anymore.

to make a long story short, are there only certain companies that take insurance? who do you use or recommend? My machine is paid for so that's not an issue.

thanks in advance.

[Pugsy]

Welcome to the forum.

What insurance do you use? Do you want insurance to pay for your supplies?
If you want your insurance involved then you have to check with your insurance company as to who they have contracts with because one of us might have the best DME in the world to offer you as a choice but if that DME doesn't have a contract with your insurance it wouldn't help you out any.

Now if you are willing to buy out of pocket and not use your insurance...world of opportunities depending on what you are wanting.

What is it that you are wanting/needing to replace?

[greatunclebill]

if the dme is telling you that you must buy things you really don't want, it's called insurance fraud. report them to your insurance company. and then stay with them and make them send you what you want.

[Okie bipap]

I quit using Optigen after I returned my second order I did not want. No matter what I requested, they would send what they thought I needed. We did get my wife's machine through them. They brought the machine right to the house and programmed it while sitting at our kitchen table. The machine is paid for now, and we agree looking for a new DME supplier.

[bkinder]

I use Tricare as my insurance, and what I was needing was the headgear for my mask, though I will probably eventually need other things as well, heated hose and what-not.

[Okie bipap]

I use Medicare as my primary insurance and Tricare for Life as my secondary insurance. If you are near a military base, check with the local Tricare office and see if they have a list of local DME providers that accept Tricare.

[palerider]

I use Tricare as my insurance, and what I was needing was the headgear for my mask, though I will probably eventually need other things as well, heated hose and what-not.

I get all my stuff off amazon and ebay... but if you have 100% coverage, then that's different.

[zoocrewphoto]

Most of my supplies have come from ebay and craigslist. I rarely make my deductible, so I would be stuck paying the full price out of pocket which is more expensive at a local dme. My mom uses the same equipment and has medicare. She hasn't been to a sleep doctor in years and would rather not waste an appointment and copay for that appointment.

We have tons of filters. The hoses last us a long time, and we have a backup of each. I was buying cushions via ebay. We still have the original mask frames. I have only replaced headgear once in several years. I got lucky a year ago and somebody posted on a mailing list that they were closing down a sleep lab and had new masks available for the cost of shipping. One of the masks was our style and size (quattro fx small). He ended up having more than he said he had. I think I got 9 of them for $27 shipping. We have only opened a couple so far. One of my backup climateline hoses came from Goodwill. Brand new in the bag. It was in the plumbing section, but it caught my eye. Score. I got my backup machine from craigslist. Found a spare humidifier at a small thrift store. And just recently (after my mom's machine issue), my boss offered me another machine. Her husband died in September, and he was using a Resmed Aisense 10 Autoset. So, my mom now has two machines which is great since she usually sleeps in the living room, but sometimes sleeps in her bedroom. She won't have to move the machine back and forth now. Oh, and I found a spare power cord at a goodwill a couple weeks ago. I will put it my car with my spare computer cord. These things tend to get left behind, so that would be a good place to keep the spare.

[Navy_Jay]

USN Ret - I'm using a Respironics Dreamstation Auto CPAP and I started with American Home Medical then they were bought out by Lincare who has the worst customer service. Lincare prices are $$ too, I've found the same supplies brand new on Amazon but Tricare won't reimburse me for them, so I'm shopping around now for companies that have an established relationship with TRICARE. Suggestions?

[Okie bipap]

Have you tried contacting Tricare to find out which companies they have contracts with? If you are living near a military installation, check with the Tricare office on the installation for a list of local suppliers that accept Tricare as primary insurance.

[Dorian]

I get mine from a local DME. All supplies are free with my insurance but the DME has done, in my opinion, shady things like substitute cheaper filters, take spare masks out of kits, etc. I told them to stop this or I would report them and find a new DME. They said they would honor my request- waiting for next supply drop.

[OldGnome]

My insurance does not cover my supplies. I get them through Amazon.