Canadian cpap.com users (Ontario OHIP)

gordogolfer · Post by **gordogolfer** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:03 am

In my case I got the basic CPAP through the local DME who processed all of the OHIP paper and I claimed the remainder through my company plan. Net cost $0.00 The fact I wanted an Auto CPAP did not matter so I took what I was given. I had no choice!!
Just bought an Auto from CPAP.com and I am pleased with all aspects of the purchase
I don't really ever want to deal in Ontario again for a CPAP. However I can still get the mask I want at no charge in Ontario so I guess I will buy masks locally

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:49 pm

this is definitely the way i will go the next time i get a machine, gordogolfer...the coverage is there through private insurance to get an upgraded mask every six months, but i don't think i would ever bother to deal with ADP or my supplier again when it comes to purchasing a machine

and as spottymaldoon said, the exorbitant prices are supposed to cover service and maintenance!! i've seen my RT 3 times in a year and i know more about my machine than she does...half the masks i inquire about they've never even heard of, and when i tell them about modifications to the interfaces that have helped me, they look at me like i have 8 heads...so yeah, thanks for all that great service!!

Boo · Post by **Boo** » Thu May 01, 2008 2:00 pm

The situation I face is that my private medical insurance will cover 80% of the cost of a CPAP/APAP - mask combo to a maximum of $2000.00 per 5 years. (In other words they pay back a maximum of $1600.00 every 5 years.) Also, unlike Ontario the BC government will not shell out a penny for medical equipment like a CPAP unless one is on income assistance.

The 2 local companies I have been dealing with have quoted me $2450.00 + mask and $2550.00 + mask for the exact same combo I can buy here at CPAP.COM for under $900.00 shipped! My insurance underwriter told me today that they will reimburse me 80 % for my equipment if I buy it from the US as long as the Doctor's orders accompanied my claim. So ........... $180.00 out of my own pocket is a lot more attractive than $1000.00 ++

Limestone · Post by **Limestone** » Thu May 01, 2008 2:23 pm

I'm in Ontario where ADP covers 75% up to a max of $780.The local suppliers that I know of, Medigas & Vitalaire and probably our previous guest will sell you only you a very basic machine and a mask more suited for cutting Cristmas cookies.The support sucks and once they have their ADP check they do not want to see you again until to requalify ( 5 years time) and this game IS ALL ABOUT GETTING FOLKS REQUALIFIED.
DO NOT WASTE 18 MONTHS LIKE I DID.USE CPAP.COM AND START YOUR EFFECTIVE TREATMENT NOW!!!!

Bill

Hose_Head · Post by **Hose_Head** » Thu May 01, 2008 6:17 pm

For the record, I'm in Toronto. Everything you've read in this thread is correct. OHIP pays a max of 75% for a basic machine and mask. You must buy from a supplier that's on their list.

I lucked into a sympathetic sleep doctor who agreed to prescribe an APAP for me. He has to fill out additional paperwork for this for OHIP. Cost from the DME for APAP is $1585 of which OHIP pays $1188.75. Because I didn't opt for the basic mask, I had to pay the full price of the mask that I chose (Activa). Total cost billed to me was $621 (APAP, humidifer and Mask). I could NOT have bought these items from cpap.com for this price. Fortunately, I have lots of secondary insurance that I anticipate will cover this amount in full.

I disliked my initial DME (lazy, unprofessional) and ditched them in favour of a new one, HomeLife care in Pickering Ontario. HomeLife care is much better. They've been helpful, answered questions, showed me options, and provided loaners to set me up with equipment I liked.

Note that if you get stuck with a lousy DME, you CAN switch to a different one.

You also can buy online from a store like cpap.com. I have ordered from CPAP.com and can recommend them. Do your homework: it may be cheaper this way.

Fredman · Post by **Fredman** » Thu May 01, 2008 9:04 pm

I am Canadian - The prices for CPAP, mask and supplies are way cheaper on CPAP.COM.

I haven't yet checked but I am going to check to see if my insurance will reimburse from CPAP.Com. I had one Canadian say that he had been reimbursed from a Canadian Insurance company, so that is encouraging.

Just received my Encore Viewer software and USB Smartcard reader from CPAP.COM.

I am going to buy my masks from them...take this info to the Bank.

Mirage Activa Nasal Mask from Edmonton, Alberta DME's $225.00
Mirage Activa Nasal Mask from CPAP.COM $135.95 plus $17.00 shipping.

Canadian dollar is near par to the US Dollar. So to the one liner dude that says buy Canadian...you go ahead and pay the extra $70.00! YOU BUY CANADIAN, I will buy NORTH AMERICAN. I do like to support Canadian companies but there is some gouging going on here. Obviously they pocket the $70.00 plus their margin!

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Thu May 01, 2008 9:13 pm

Doesn't cpap.com also match prices, if a lower one is found on the Internet?

granti55 · Post by **granti55** » Thu May 01, 2008 11:41 pm

Hi there I live in Saskatchewan and SaskHealth gives you a Resmed S8 Elite. but you have to buy mask hose etc. My work plan pays up to $2000 for a machine, so I have a M series auto cpap humidifier mask hose etc. which cost $1800 in Saskatoon and I bought my mask hose, humidifier etc. from cpap.com for the S8 along with software and card readers for both machines

Claire · Post by **Claire** » Fri May 02, 2008 6:32 am

I'm in Ottawa and found that, after OHIP coverage, I owed about $600. Fortunately I have private coverage for that. Even if I didn't, this price is cheaper than buying all the equipment from the US.

Another thing is that OHIP will do this every five years. It isn't a perfect system by any means, but I'm paying for it in my taxes and can't see the point of not using it.

Another issue is your DME. Mine is also a respiratory therapist. He doesn't charge me so I am assuming that he makes $$$ from what he sells. Does anyone know if respiratory therapists bill OHIP the way our doctors do?

At any rate, I've gotten terrific service from him and really appreciate his experience and knowledge.

Oh, and regarding wait times for sleep labs. My daughter has just been booked for a sleep lab in October!!! We have only 2 sleep labs in Ottawa, maybe that's the problem.

freepostg · Post by **freepostg** » Fri May 02, 2008 11:02 am

If I may, here is what I did;
I live in Ontario Canada--after getting my prescription, obtained the s8 Elite and upgraded swift 2 nasal mask from MediGas..ohip pays 750 and both private Insurance co.'s (wife and mine) pays the diff. less approx $150.00. \
I of course want an auto...so I go onto CPAP AUCTION and buy a brand new S8 Vantage with heated integrated humidifier (unopened) and boxed for $550.00 from a supplier in Texas. - Keep in mind these items are over $1000.00 on any website including our host.
As was possibly mentioned earlier, ohip will allow for a replacement every 5 yrs...but generally for a cpap only unless again you have a very understanding sleep doc....and most of us do not.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, swift, CPAP, Prescription, auto

pmnorth · Post by **pmnorth** » Sat May 03, 2008 12:13 pm

I had to wait several months for my first visit to the sleep lab here in Ottawa but since my AHI was very high (77) they arranged for me to come back within a couple of weeks. It seems that some triage occurs after the fist sleep lab visit. Based on the second visit I was provided with script for a CPAP machine. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan, (OHIP) the government insurance plan sets the price at $1040 to the local distributer for a CPAP, whichever I decide to choose.

I called around to several in Ottawa and found that what was provided varied considerably between distributers. Some provide a basic mask others do not. I chose a ResMed S8 Elite with HumidAire 3i integrated humidifier, hose, and carrying case for all. Since OHIP only pays for 75% I will pay $260 for this setup warranteed for three years. This supplier does not provide a basic mask, no big loss from what I read here. Right now the supplier is allowing me to try out various masks to see what fits best. I was quoted $300 for the ResMed Ultra Mirage full face mask.

The cpap.com site has a similar S8 package for $695 excluding shipping. I don’t know if I would also have to pay additional customs duty on this and the person I spoke with at cpap.com didn’t know either. The local dealers will not service any machine bought over the internet so if anything goes wrong the equipment must be shipped who knows where if it still covered by any warrantee.

Anyway $260 vs. $695 will get me going through the local company for the machine. One reason I chose the S* Elite is that it has data capability but requires additional peripherals: smart card reader and software. The price difference for any of this additional stuff is where the loc al distributer really nails the buyer. I was quoted $270 for just the card reader without the software. I bought it through cpap.com for $69 plus $17 shipping = $86. Once again I couldn’t find out what the customs duties might be (if any). Looks like masks will follow the same pattern.

Fredman · Post by **Fredman** » Sat May 03, 2008 12:17 pm

I just bought from CPAP.COM a smart card reader and software for analyzing my data on my Respironics Auto CPAP.

The $17.00 shipping covered everything. There was no customs or duty, if you look on their web page on shipping it states that if you use their shipping it is included.

I took about 10 days to make it's way from Texas to Alberta. Not bad for clearing customs etc. They use a shipper that utilizes Canada Post.

pmnorth · Post by **pmnorth** » Sat May 03, 2008 12:25 pm

Its great to hear that there won't be any duty on it. It takes about the same amount of time for a letter to get to or from Jacksonville, Florida to Ottawa. Seems like Canada Post has realized where their future lays, i.e. shipping atoms not data.

pmnorth · Post by **pmnorth** » Wed May 07, 2008 4:46 pm

I just got my card reader. It only took a week! That's faster than some of the letters that I have sent. Getting the card reader to actually read the card was a bit tricky, but after a few false starts I now have it going. Hurray!!

dmarsh · Post by **dmarsh** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:15 pm

I'd like to put in my two cents about OHIP, and CPAP coverage. I've had my CPAP (a Remstar from Flextronics) for 3 1/2 years. The warranty is good for 3 years and guess what? It starting coming up with wild errors and the repair bill (from the sleep management group) is almost $500!!!. ... I paid $1000 for the machine (well OHIP covered a chunk of that) so I can replace it through sleep management group for that amount... OR I discovered that most internet CPAP sites sell machines and masks for half and sometimes less than half of what these local Canadian firms cost. Like the other respondent I am never buying local again. It is sinister to nail people on health care device costs to the tune of 150% markup. Why buy from a gouging Canadian vendor when I can buy from accross the border for half the cost for the exact same machine????

Mask	Humidifier

Additional Comments: also have S8 Elite, humidifier, software,various other masks & card readers, Remstar Auto M, humidifier software etc.

Canadian cpap.com users (Ontario OHIP)

Re: Canadian cpap.com users (Ontario OHIP)