Insurance change causes dilema

hgli2005 · Post by **hgli2005** » Wed May 02, 2007 9:08 pm

Due to a change in employment, my insurance has changed. The rental of my cpap was fully covered under the old plan. Under the new plan, I must use up a $1000 deductible before coverage kicks in. So I just got my first bill, $60/ month for rental. At this rate I will pay the quivalent of a new maching in 8-10 months. So it doesn't make much sense to continue to rent. I should buy a new maching and apply the cost to my deductible.

Checking the contract for my machine, it appears to be strictly month to month on the machine, I am not locked in for a year and I don't get the machine paid up at any point. So I would be renting forever, never using up the deductible and starting over each year. I can cancel and return the cpap at any time. The contract does state that I purchased the humidifier.

So I have generally been satisfied with the Remstar Pro 2, but I see there is a newer machine available, the Remstar M Series. If I buy a new Pro 2 I only need the machine and not the hunidifier. But if the M Pro is significantly better, I'm willing to pay the extra, only, what do I do with the old humidifier?

Any thoughts? Opinions on the M? I like that it is smaller, looks better and seems to travel better.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed May 02, 2007 9:21 pm

Stick with the Pro 2.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage-advanced.php?PNum=1608

Den (using my Pro 2 this month)

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Wed May 02, 2007 9:23 pm

I have 2 tank autos and a pro (not pro 2) From what I know there is some info available on the LED for the M series, but I have software so no need. I like old reliable. I am sure others will chime in with M being better.

If money is tight, the humidifier you have only goes with the tank, so you might save some there.

Personally if I were doing it I would get the Tank Auto while they are still available and you can still use your humidifier and you can check your titration periodically even if you use the auto as a straight cpap.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Wed May 02, 2007 11:09 pm

I would return the Rental and buy an autopap outright. Yes, the outright purchase of the machine would apply towards your annual deductible.

If you still have a copy of your cpap script, that is all you need. you can buy the machine on-line and then email or fax over a copy of the script. If you don't have that script, your GP can rewrite one, you don't need anything special, just get a humidifier with it.

cpap.com's prices are pretty hard to beat. Every year there is more and more people in your situation, they are jacking up the deductibles so high you might as well just buy your equipment outright than use insurance.

Just send your insurance an invoice like a prescription reimbursement, all they can do is reject the payment, but they will still have to apply the amount paid towards your deductible.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Thu May 03, 2007 1:07 am

The M isn't much different, honestly. Yes, bigger LCD. Blue lights. Whatever. It saves you some good cash, so stick with the tank.

hgli2005 · Post by **hgli2005** » Thu May 03, 2007 8:46 am

Thanks for all the comments so far. One comment I notice about the M is that is has a smaller tank for the humidifier. Is this a real problem? Currently with the Pro I fill up the tank to the line and in the morning I haven't even used half the water, so I am thinking it should be ok.