Do you purchase a new mask every six months?

[HoseCrusher]

I am going on just about a year now on the Swift FX. The fabric strap is faded from washing, but other than that it is working well.

Under high magnification I see no cracks in the pillows and I am still on the original set. I do see some cracks around some of the vent holes, but I am not worried about that.

I wash my mask daily and since the fit of the Swift FX is so loose, I don't expect anything to stretch out. I anticipate I will wear my mask out washing it...

Now, the little hose that goes from the main hose to the mask is different. In the same period of time I have destroyed 8 of those little hoses. I think I have hope for that problem. A couple of months ago I purchased the Pad A Cheek hose cover for that little hose. By adding some grippy material to both ends of the cover, I can now grip both fittings of that little hose and let the hose cover add additional strength to the hose. With a little over two months on the same hose, something seems to be working.

[Slinky]

Ever since I found out I could get replacements for free, I've been taking advantage of it.

My insurance goes by the Medicare guidelines, and covers 100% of the cost from my DME. Apparently, neither my insurance nor my DME have come across patients who know their rights before. Both of them had to "check" to see if I was entitled to replacements.....I am!

I have to admit, my insurance covers me for a new mask and tubing every 3 months and I take advantage of it why not, they're paying for it.

*sigh* You don't get nuttin' fer nuttin', Santa Claus is dead. Those replacements are NOT free!!! "They" are NOT paying for them. You and I and every taxpayer and insurance covered citizen of the USA is paying for these accessories.

[LinkC]

Those replacements are NOT free!!! "They" are NOT paying for them. You and I and every taxpayer and insurance covered citizen of the USA is paying for these accessories.

Ain't socialism great! Just think how "free" they'll get when ObamaCare kicks in!

[The Texan]

Those replacements are NOT free!!! "They" are NOT paying for them. You and I and every taxpayer and insurance covered citizen of the USA is paying for these accessories.

Ain't socialism great! Just think how "free" they'll get when ObamaCare kicks in!

That was my thoughts.....how much in 2014, probably more than I will be able to afford.

[smsfire2003]

Those replacements are NOT free!!! "They" are NOT paying for them. You and I and every taxpayer and insurance covered citizen of the USA is paying for these accessories.

Ain't socialism great! Just think how "free" they'll get when ObamaCare kicks in!

That was my thoughts.....how much in 2014, probably more than I will be able to afford.

Stock up now while you still can!
I don't just get masks every 3 months just for giggles, I've been trying alot of different styles trying to get the right fit without leaks, finally have after a good amount of time. I don't see the big deal about it, I work and pay for my insurance and pay my deductibles on equipment, never said "free".....

[mstevens]

I do get a new mask every 6 (ish) months, but it has nothing to do with bacteria. I used to use a Breeze Sleepgear, and inevitably all the adhesive pads had come off by then, the plenum was starting to crack, and various other bits were on the verge of breaking. Every time I replaced it was a "wow" moment and left me wondering how I could have lived with the old one. I've never had one last more than 8 months. When anything at all on that mask breaks, it's completely non-functional, too. Since I travel overseas to places where replacements aren't available, I always packed a spare in my check-through. My replacement recipe was that when I opened my new backup mask, I'd order a replacement for it. My average is about 2 1/2 per year.

I now use a Swift FX (for 2 weeks) and it's much less crispy and should be far less fragile than the Breeze Sleepgear. Nevertheless, on the 6-month anniversary of my original mask's purchase I will certainly get another, if only to have a spare ready to go. Eventually, the fabric parts will stretch, the hook-and-loop will lose its grabbiness, and the silicone bits will get sticky, icky, or change in flexibility. I suspect it will last considerably longer than the Breeze, but since I don't know how long I'll want that backup.

Mask replacement is definitely not a scam on the part of insurance companies; replacing a mask costs them more than your copay, so if you never replace your mask your insurance company wins. It's conceivable that a DME might have a financial stake in getting you to replace stuff as often as possible, but not your insurance.

I replace my HEPA filters monthly (very dusty house with a cat I like but am quite allergic to) and use a new "regular" filter when I travel, then discard it when I get home. I never replaced my H2i water tub (except when it broke) since it was cleanable. I ended up cleaning it every 2 or 3 months. I suspect I'll replace the disposable one in my H5i with a cleanable one at 3 or 4 months since I use our filtered tap water at home and bottled drinking water while traveling. I've never replaced a hose except when I've gotten a new machine.

I suspect the "proper" replacement schedule lies somewhere between manufacturer's recommendations, which is excessively conservative and expensive, and what most of us would do if we paid purely out-of-pocket, which is usually going to mean keeping things until a bit beyond the point at which they wear out or become gross.

[Komodo]

Ever since I found out I could get replacements for free, I've been taking advantage of it.

My insurance goes by the Medicare guidelines, and covers 100% of the cost from my DME. Apparently, neither my insurance nor my DME have come across patients who know their rights before. Both of them had to "check" to see if I was entitled to replacements.....I am!

I have to admit, my insurance covers me for a new mask and tubing every 3 months and I take advantage of it why not, they're paying for it.

*sigh* You don't get nuttin' fer nuttin', Santa Claus is dead. Those replacements are NOT free!!! "They" are NOT paying for them. You and I and every taxpayer and insurance covered citizen of the USA is paying for these accessories.

Slinky, YOU, every taxpayer, and insurance covered citizen of the USA are NOT paying for these accessories, I am!

I pay for my health insurance. That $20 "free" cushion costs me $1000.00 in insurance premieum every month.

You're not going to make me feel guilty for taking advantage of the benefits of my insurance that I PAY FOR, and am ENTITLED TO!

[Wulfman]

Ever since I found out I could get replacements for free, I've been taking advantage of it.

My insurance goes by the Medicare guidelines, and covers 100% of the cost from my DME. Apparently, neither my insurance nor my DME have come across patients who know their rights before. Both of them had to "check" to see if I was entitled to replacements.....I am!

I have to admit, my insurance covers me for a new mask and tubing every 3 months and I take advantage of it why not, they're paying for it.

*sigh* You don't get nuttin' fer nuttin', Santa Claus is dead. Those replacements are NOT free!!! "They" are NOT paying for them. You and I and every taxpayer and insurance covered citizen of the USA is paying for these accessories.

Slinky, YOU, every taxpayer, and insurance covered citizen of the USA are NOT paying for these accessories, I am!

I pay for my health insurance. That $20 "free" cushion costs me $1000.00 in insurance premieum every month.

You're not going to make me feel guilty for taking advantage of the benefits of my insurance that I PAY FOR, and am ENTITLED TO!

Then, maybe you need to quit making statements like THIS, then.

Ever since I found out I could get replacements for free, I've been taking advantage of it.

Yes, we're ALL paying for our equipment, supplies and "whatever" in one way or another.........but, if we're paying insurance premiums, they use that money collectively to pay for the the payments to EVERYBODY who's making claims. The more people who submit claims to their insurance, the more it's going to cost EVERYBODY.......and the more they're going to jack up the premiums EVERYBODY pays. See a thread of logic here? The more claims they have to pay, the more they're going to make EVERYBODY cough up for future payments. And, generally speaking, the amounts that the insurance pays to DMEs are inflated prices (even though they're "negotiated" in most cases).


Den

[chrisp]

In 9 years I have had 2 masks. A resmed ultra mirage and a resmed Activa. I have replaced the headgear once and the face seal once. The bridge broke on the ultra mirage and I replaced it. Thats all. I don't use face cream, makeup, have a pet or beat my equipment. Its a scam by the DME's to get your $$$$.

[Komodo]

Yes, we're ALL paying for our equipment, supplies and "whatever" in one way or another.........but, if we're paying insurance premiums, they use that money collectively to pay for the the payments to EVERYBODY who's making claims. The more people who submit claims to their insurance, the more it's going to cost EVERYBODY.......and the more they're going to jack up the premiums EVERYBODY pays. See a thread of logic here? The more claims they have to pay, the more they're going to make EVERYBODY cough up for future payments. And, generally speaking, the amounts that the insurance pays to DMEs are inflated prices (even though they're "negotiated" in most cases).


Den

So what you're saying is, I should pay for insurance and not use it. Makes sense to me.

[DoriC]

Even though, as a Medicare recipient, we're entitled to a new mask every 3 months, I don't purchase one on that schedule if we're still doing OK with leaks, sometimes 6months, sometimes 8months. At the beginning we did need a new one every 3 months because we were messing up and abusing the cushions trying to adjust them. I think it's unfair and extremely costly to all of us to use government programs when not necessary just because we're "entitled". JMHO.

[BrownEyes]

at first I didnt think it was a big deal but now since I go wayyyy too long without replacing CPap equipment I am going to take full advantage of getting my equipment every six months

[Jersey Girl]

My insurance co allows for a completely new mask with headgear, new tubing, 2 filters every 3 months and in addition to the above, a new water chamber every 6 months. I am saving them for the time when one of us loses a job and we no longer have health insurance. Yes, I am stocking up, but just a little. I also trade my extra sizes of Swift FX nasal pillows on this forum to replace the nasal pillow when it is too flimsy to seal properly or the inside cones won't pop up properly any more. We pay dearly to have the insurance, yes, but we also need supplies on hand. One night my husband's hose sprung a huge leak (the new resmed climate control hose) and thank goodness we had a replacement waiting.

Regards to all,

Jersey Girl

[DoriC]

We have acquired enough backup to last a long time, masks, headgear,hoses,filters, an extra HH chamber but those were all purchased in the first year or so before we realized all those extras weren't always going to be used. I guess thinking about losing insurance benefits is something else to consider though.

[MARLAXXJON]

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