APAP Testing Woes (not in the US)

SamCurt · Post by **SamCurt** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:21 pm

In Hong Kong, there are 5-6 DMEs selling CPAPs, and since they are the importers of the brands they sell, all of them, as I have pressed, refused to provide anything outside the brands they carry. This also covers masks by the same company.

So when my dad needed a APAP, and needed to test around. The policies is that if you want to test, OK, it's taken as a 1-month rent. That's not the real problem IMO, till they asked for, per DME, an equivalent of US$125 for masks and hoses. Some company guarantee that when you have the mask already, you can get this fee waived; but some don't.

Sigh.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:10 pm

cpap.com sends stuff to Hong Kong, can't you just order it directly from them on-line and have it sent via USPS ->Hong Kong Post? We can have stuff shipped here from HK and it only cost about $7 US and took only a week.

SamCurt · Post by **SamCurt** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 6:23 am

[quote="Anonymous"]cpap.com sends stuff to Hong Kong, can't you just order it directly from them on-line and have it sent via USPS ->Hong Kong Post? We can have stuff shipped here from HK and it only cost about $7 US and took only a week.

My dad is still trying different APAPs; how can he have a decision yet to buy one?

GoofyUT · Post by **GoofyUT** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 6:40 am

GOOD FOR YOUR DAD (and you)!!!!!

Keep trying different APAP machines until you find the oen that works best for you!!!!!

The financial policies of the suppliers in HK may be difficult, but in the end, what you and your father are doing will pay off in SPADES!!! It is, after all, his health and welfare that you are ensuring through your thoughtful diligence.

GOOD WORK!!!!!

Chuck

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): APAP

Bearded_One · Post by **Bearded_One** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 6:57 am

He shouldn't need to try out more than 2, maybe 3 APAPs to find one that works for him, and in the meantime he will be able to try out a couple different masks to see which one he likes. If he brings his own mask and hose when he picks up the APAP the DME shouldn't require that he buy a new one. US$125 for a mask and hose from a DME is not all that expensive. Does insurance cover any part of the masks?

SamCurt · Post by **SamCurt** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:02 am

Bearded_one:

In HK people don't usually have medical insurance, since, like Europe, it has national medical system. However, CPAPs are excluded from this unless proven financial need.

Two or three? There are 9 APAPs sold here:

Respie RemStar and M-series
P-B 420E
Weinmann SOMNOsmart2
Viasys Delphinus
Breas iSleep 20i
DeVilbiss RPM
Hoffrichter AutoTREND (ie the APAP brother of TREND110)

The problem is how to just take 2-3 from this list...

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): 420E, APAP

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 4:57 pm

As a recommendation, go for the Remstar AUTO (I prefer the older box model).

Reason I say this is that you will get the best assistance here as that model is well understood and is a very well built machine.

Of the other brands you mention the PB420E is also well understood here & would get you good feedback.

But, if you choose one of the obscure models you will find it hard to get good help. This doesn't mean that they aren't good. Just less supportable.

Also once you dad has his machine, if one of the 2 mentioned, you will be able to buy supplies from cpap.com. As they said, shipping to HK is quite inexpensive. It actually costs quite a bit more to ship to Australia/NZ - HK is such a popular transit point that postal charges are low.

DSM

Bearded_One · Post by **Bearded_One** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:32 am

SamCurt; Wow, if he rented 9 different machines for a month each from American DMEs, without insurance, he would have paid enough out of pocket to buy two or three machines with masks from cpap.com. If he rented a machine from a DME in the US for like 10 months, his rental term would be over and he would own the machine.

Is it standard procedure for people in Hong Kong to rent 9 different machines from about 7 different DMEs before buying one?

APAP Testing Woes (not in the US)

APAP Testing Woes (not in the US)

Good job!!!