Does anyone actually like there DME?

[Atmosphere00]

So does anyone really like there DME?
All the information I have seen so far about people dealing with there DME's doesn't sound very positive : /
Any good DME stories?

[jnk...]

I like my original DME in much the same way I like little helpless kittens: They can be sorta cute and fuzzy and entertaining; I just don't depend on them to know much about . . . well . . . anything. At least, that's how I feel about the DME drones when I'm able to block out the memories of the lies told and the incompetence shown. But hey, who can hold little kittens responsible for what they do?

[Bill44133]

I just fired mine last week... I was using Community Surgical Supply.. I couldn't get them to send me supplies.
My orders would go NO PLACE..

My insurance company switch me to Apria and I feel like I am going from the frying pan into the fire.

I remain hopeful but I doubt it.

[Wulfman...]

So does anyone really like THEIR DME?
All the information I have seen so far about people dealing with there DME's doesn't sound very positive : /
Any good DME stories?

Yes.
I've used https://www.cpap.com almost exclusively since I started therapy in May of 2005.
I bought my initial equipment (along with several additional machines, masks and supplies) from them and have been very pleased with their service and support.
They're not a "brick & mortar" (local) DME, but they're still considered a DME.
I learned early on by reading this forum that most of the locals (and in particular, Apria and Lincare) were to be avoided.
I only met my deductible the first year of my therapy (with sleep studies and other doctor's visits) and I couldn't see spending extra money just to meet that deductible.
Besides, CPAP.COM sponsors this forum.


Den

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[Guest]

I have not had any problems with Apria, which seems to be unusual. I don't buy a lot of supplies from them, not as they would like - always shocked I do not want hoses, filters, etc etc. But I have called, requested specific items, and they arrive on my doorstep within 2-3 days. Billing goes through Carecentrix then Cigna, which much to my surprise seems to work also. Since I can usually buy for less elsewhere, I now only use them when I have met my deductible.

[LSAT]

I am extremely happy with my local DME. Often it's not the DME...it's the RT or salesperson.

[Cardsfan]

I've started about a yr and a half ago. I've used online https://www.cpap.com with excellent service. (not in my ins. plan)
Apria- in my ins. plan-- who knows?? Couldn't get them to return my calls.

Lincare- in my ins. plan-- That's who I deal with 90% of the time. The RT in my local office, is excellent. Their billing department was awful, but now I have been assigned a different person, and it is much better. I actually got my machine FREE because they did not do the paperwork on time to meet insurance payment schedule. (I called MANY times asking to be billed). So, it's the luck of the draw, it just depends on the people who get assigned to your account, and the people employed in your local office. My supplies that come from their supply warehouse (filters, masks, hoses, etc) seem to be OK. I deal with it to stay In network.

[hobbs]

I like mine; they sent a new S10 in February and I have not heard from them sense.

[Janknitz]

Just like any public forum, I think people who have complaints are going to be more vocal than people who are satisfied with their care. It takes being way more than satisfied for me to post something positive--I expect satisfactory service as the baseline--and I'm often disappointed.

So you have to take it with a grain of salt. YOUR Crapria or LinDoesn't Care office may be great, if you are lucky to find a small local provider still in business they might be wonderful. I would love to see more people tell about great providers so that people in the neighborhood can bring them their business.

But Medicare's agenda is to work only with a few competitive bid winners and then grind their profits down to the nubbins, so it's going to be harder and harder to find those good providers--they truly deserve accolades when you find them.

[Cardsfan]

You will find that items last much longer than the replacement schedule states. Once you have a spare of everything (in case of breakage) you are pretty much set. I get 3 months use out of a filter. The long hose can really last until it is damaged, which could be years if u are lucky. So you won't need your DME as much as you think.
The only time I buy replacements on their schedule is when I have met my deductible and trying to stock up when it is paid for by my insurance.

[CapnLoki]

I've had no problem with mine except that they call incessantly every 90 days. Since I'm covered by Medicare+supplement cost has not been an issue. If I was totally out of pocket I'd be using more pad-a-cheeks and a lot fewer masks.

[klv329]

Craigslist has been great so far, and I don't get robo calls from them.

[RogerSC]

Not me. They're not bad, except they endeavor to send me everything that Medicare will pay for. I have to ask them to call me before they send anything to find out what I need. Otherwise I'm awash in nasal pillows, filters, climateline tubing, humidifier tanks, you name it. I'd rather they store the extras at their place than at mine. I just want a basic set of backups, and if I need anything after that, I'll ask for it.

I've had to send a lot of stuff back...gets to be boring after while. This last time, I asked them to send just a new mask. They sent me 6 nasal pillows, lots of filters, climateline tubing, and a humidifier tank. So I sent back everything except the mask. And then they billed Medicare for the humidifier tank that I sent back, so more time on the phone with them about that.

Better than having a hard time getting supplies, I guess, but I'm tired of having to send things back. Now that I've been using the TAP PAP while my nose heals, I doubt that they even have that mask, so I'm probably stuck there. I do intend to go back to the Swift FX at some point, but not for a while. Next time they call me and are jumping up and down to send me stuff, I'll ask about the TAP PAP *sigh*.

[Okie bipap]

I have been very happy with my local DME. When my machine quit working, I took it in and walked out with a different machine in five minutes. Since hey were local, I could go in and pick up what I wanted. Now, I have to find a new one. They did not get the medicare contract for next year.

[chunkyfrog]

I like my current DME; but I fired three other local outfits.
Since Medicare and my supplement covers most of my stuff now,
I haven't needed much from cpap.com--(sorry guys);
but the way Medicare DME is going down the drain, I expect to be back.
It is so nice to have an alternative.