replacment supplies

[joshuamommie]

My DME told me today that my insurance won't cover any replacement during the 1-year rental period. Does this make sense to anyone else, it doesn't make sense to me, how am i supposed to make nasal pillows last a year when they are supposed to be replaced every 2 weeks... let alone filters for my machine and everything, this is frustrating to me, and doesn't make any sense to me...... i hope this isn't true, i am hoping to figure something out...

[Madalot]

My DME told me today that my insurance won't cover any replacement during the 1-year rental period. Does this make sense to anyone else, it doesn't make sense to me, how am i supposed to make nasal pillows last a year when they are supposed to be replaced every 2 weeks... let alone filters for my machine and everything, this is frustrating to me, and doesn't make any sense to me...... i hope this isn't true, i am hoping to figure something out...

Call you insurance company and ask them directly. If they say they cover them, ask them to put it in writing to you AND your DME.

[idamtnboy]

My DME told me today that my insurance won't cover any replacement during the 1-year rental period.

Bull crap. Time for a new DME.

[Babette]

What nasal pillows are required to be replaced every two weeks? Soonest I've ever heard of is 3 months on nasal pillows. And many of us make our seals last far longer than that.

What mask are you using?
B.

[StuUnderPressure]

Most of the time, the people you speak to at the insurance company knows as little as the DME.

You can probably find your specific policy information (benefits, what is covered & how often, etc.) online.

I find that by browsing that information myself online, I can almost always find the answer to any Question I might have.

Then print the applicable information & bring it to your DME.

If they still will not cooperate, find another DME.

Kind of off-topic, but I will post it anyway.

Just saw my GP this morning merely to get her to give me new prescriptions on 2 drugs. Although they always want to see you at least once a year, I have been able to finagle 2 years out of her.

They do everything electronically & are 100% paper free.
I have no problem with that, but when not administered properly, it can bite you in the XXX.

Anyway, 1 prescription (30 days) was to be sent to my local pharmacy.
The 2nd prescription (90 days) was to be sent to my mail-order pharmacy.

A couple of hours after my appointment, I got a call from the local pharmacy.
Said they did not have X in stock & it would have to be ordered.
I said X is a 90 day Rx & should not have been sent to you.
Fill only the Y 30 day Rx.
Pharmacy tells me they only got the X RX.

I called the Doctor's office & believe it or not, the girl tells me "we sent Y Rx to the local pharmacy, it went through, so they DID get it ." "We sent the X Rx to your mail order, it went through, so they also got what they were supposed to."

It took me 20 minutes on the phone to convince her that no matter what her computer says, that is NOT what happened.

30 Minutes later I get a call from both the local & mail order pharmacies.
Both finally got what they were supposed to get.

So sad that we as patients have to spend so much time "helping" the "medical professionals" do their job.

[2flamingos]

My insurance does not cover any supplies for 10 months after getting a machine. My DME gave me 2 extra pillows to get me through (roughly 3 months each - which is a valid length of time for them to last).

[chunkyfrog]

Our hosts and other online retailers are here to help you avoid the DME ripoff rates when your insurance is worthless.

[RogerSC]

My insurance does not cover any supplies for 10 months after getting a machine. My DME gave me 2 extra pillows to get me through (roughly 3 months each - which is a valid length of time for them to last).

Wow, first time I've heard of a DME giving anything away. Hold onto that one.

[hueyville]

Longer I participate here the more I like my insurance company. New mask every quarter, new filters every month, extra humidifier tank once per year, two hoses per year and new machine every three years unless doctor prescribes a change then they buy the new machine witbout complaint. 3rd trip of hear to lab last night and two more on schedule before end of year. Never asked for any compliance information. Basically anything doctor orders they pay and I get to buy from any vendor I choose.

[2flamingos]

Longer I participate here the more I like my insurance company. New mask every quarter, new filters every month, extra humidifier tank once per year, two hoses per year and new machine every three years unless doctor prescribes a change then they buy the new machine witbout complaint. 3rd trip of hear to lab last night and two more on schedule before end of year. Never asked for any compliance information. Basically anything doctor orders they pay and I get to buy from any vendor I choose.

WOW! Now that is good insurance!