Aura and DME

seamaiden · Post by **seamaiden** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 10:29 am

While I would rather purchase directly from this host, my equipment is covered by my insurance. Told the dme that I wanted the Aura for my next replacement mask due July. Because they don't stock this, I agreed that they would not take it back if I didn't like it. Since there is no sizing, they were going to have it mailed directly to me. Received a voice message yesterday from the tech, saying he didn't know if the boss would approve it, since it will cost the dme $109 which is more expensive than any other mask they supply- no problem getting any other mask. (My hmo insurance pays them a contracted rate of $86.84 for each mask). Does this sound right? My dme will pay the same price to Aeiomed that cpap.com sells it for? Do I insist they provide a mask at a loss to them?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:30 am

As you, my DME did not carry the Aura, nor did they offer to get it for me. I purchased the Aura on-line and submitted the bill to my insurance company. I do not know how your HMO works, but I have a PPO and I received 80% of the cost.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:12 pm

you can insist all you want, but you wont get anywhere, lets find out why:

is it reasonable to expect a business to provide services for you at a loss?

the dme co couldnt get that mask for less than $109 (plus shipping most likely, and they would probably have to order 10 as most manufacturers have minimum order requirements) minus your insurance allowable of $87. They would lose $22 on the sale.

Is it wrong of them to not be able to lose $22 on the sale?

Does that make them evil?

Are they a not for profit organization?

Are they not entitled to a profit?

You people are insane, you want to demand the brand and style mask and machine and expect it for free just because you have insurance.

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:08 pm

Guest

You may think the people here are greedy and fiscally irresponsible, but consider this:

The cost the masks is going to be pretty much equal across the board for these masks. If you can find where a comfort curve has 40 dollars of extra materials in it than breeze does I would like to see it. They charge more for a CC because it is new and they believe that the market will pay the extra money for the advance in technology that they supposedly offer. So it is just as easy to say that the mask companies are the greedy ones for charging 120 dollars for a mask they can import from china for probably less than 20 dollars. Maybe 10. I don't see anywhere in the medical industry where profit is realy a concern. There is plenty to go around. All we ask is that they are fair with the prices we are charged.

BTW The apap I bought here for under 800 dollars would have cost me over 3600 dollars from a DME. Glad they are really running a tight profit margin.

fstanmyre · Post by **fstanmyre** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 9:25 pm

Denny has it right. Guest has manufacturing cost, and retail and wholesale prices a little bit mixed up.

fstanmyre · Post by **fstanmyre** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 9:49 pm

In case anybody is concerned about mask suppliers making profits, yahoo finance says Resmed made a gross profit of 70 million bucks on 108 million in revenues, in the LAST QUARTER. Their pricing is simply based on whatever they think the traffic will bear.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:03 pm

BTW The apap I bought here for under 800 dollars would have cost me over 3600 dollars from a DME. Glad they are really running a tight profit margin.

I spoke with my insurance provider about this type of thing this morning and they told me that the "Allowable amount" that they would pay the DME for the equipment (and therefore my %) would be much less than the "billable amount" and that it would be equivalent to the online cost for the equipment through them.

Is this BS???

johnnygoodman · Post by **johnnygoodman** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:13 pm

Greetings,

BillMyInsurance.com vends Auras. Not all HMO's are covered, but some are and its a possible way around your current trouble.

Here's the BMI Aura Product Page:

http://www.billmyinsurance.com/productp ... ?PNum=1759

Cheers,
Johnny

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:02 pm

Guest here is abviously a DME. If he will do a dearch on DME's he will find more than he can handle as to why almost all of us do think they are evil.

NOzsnAZ · Post by **NOzsnAZ** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:16 pm

LOL!

Sorry RNR I posted that question as "guest". I guess I wasn't logged in and when I entered the reply it wouldn't let me enter my username - it said it was already in use. I NOW realize that I need to log in BEFORE posting a reply.

It was a serious question and I'm really a newbie. I posted a topic /thread called "Help!" looking for some answers to my questions and then found this thread/topic.

I don't know anything about actual cost to me, my insurance and if it's "cheaper" to buy online vs. DME. I was just restating what my insurance company person told me. As I've said on the other thread, I'm meeting with my doctor on Thursday and just want to know what to ask and what to do.

I'll definitely do a DME search as you suggest.

I'm just overwhelmed by all the info and trying to "come up for air" as it were.

NOzsnAZ

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:35 pm

I think this is the same, excuse my French, nasty-ass "Guest" who thinks they sized me up by one post today on the Katrina thread. I wrote a thread on "Guest=Coward?" Please read it. This "person" hides behind his anonymity, thinks he knows everything and can be as rude and nasty as he likes. Please take a moment to read my thread.

And as for you "Guest," you are a real jerk (being polite) if you speak to the wonderful people on this site as you do. Go play in traffic or, better yet, learn some manners and then you'll be taken seriously. Until then, fluff is all you are. Real brave fluff...

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:53 pm

Calm down Lori,

I agree with you that anybody who hides behind "guest" is gutless.

They are baiting you just like I was being baited by another member that at least did not hide behind the "guest" tag. Don't get sucked in. They are not worth it. Those of us who use our real identity know you and don't buy into the nonsense.

NOzsnAZ · Post by **NOzsnAZ** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:56 pm

D'oh! I guess I'm paranoid. Must be from lack of sleep.

You all are speaking about the "Guest" who posted the DME making money posts back in July. Not my post from today at 1:03PM.

Glad it's not me...

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:56 pm

R&R,

You're right, as usual. I just get bothered by cowards who come on to a site that is nothing but positive and spew out nothing but negatives. Thanks for the wakeup call. I guess I needed it. It's just this post came on the heels of reading what "it" replied to me. People like this would never have the nerve to say things to your face, but are very brave when they can hide behind their anonymity.

You're right, not worth the time or energy expended.

Sleepless on LI · Post by **Sleepless on LI** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 3:59 pm

NOzsnAZ, NO!!! Not you, silly!!!

Mask

Mask

Aura and DME

Aura and DME

PS: