New machine choices

[Browndog]

I have been using my machine for 5 happy years and my insurance will now buy a new one.

I am currently using a Phillips REMStar Plus C-Flex and it works great.

I'm looking for some feedcback on my choice for a new machine. My local provider has told me I have a choice of 2.

1. Respironics Dreamstation
2. Resmed AirSense 10

Any feedback pro's and con's would be great.

Thanks Bob

[LSAT]

I have been using my machine for 5 happy years and my insurance will now buy a new one.

I am currently using a Phillips REMStar Plus C-Flex and it works great.

I'm looking for some feedcback on my choice for a new machine. My local provider has told me I have a choice of 2.

1. Respironics Dreamstation
2. Resmed AirSense 10

Any feedback pro's and con's would be great.

Thanks Bob

I wouldn't accept either one...Ask for a Dreamstation AUTO...or an Airsense 10 AUTOSET. What you listed are the low end models

[Guest]

I have been using my machine for 5 happy years and my insurance will now buy a new one.

I am currently using a Phillips REMStar Plus C-Flex and it works great.

I'm looking for some feedcback on my choice for a new machine. My local provider has told me I have a choice of 2.

1. Respironics Dreamstation
2. Resmed AirSense 10

Any feedback pro's and con's would be great.

Thanks Bob

Bob your happy Remstar Plus model does not gather any useful data at all (aka a brick). Most folks here prefer to check their AHI & leak data using FREE software. It really is the only way to determine if your therapy is effective.

Spend some time searching and reading here to find out more esp. how to tell the models apart. Both companies make good cpap but just like cars there are diff models with diff options but your insurance pays the same price no matter which model or options you get.

[Browndog]

My local supplier says they usually only carry one but they just happen to have two, the two I listed above.

Doesn't seem like they are offering much, they are basically saying take what we have or nothing. No offer to order anything, they weren't very open to talking about anything other than their two machines.

[Pugsy]

Find out exactly which model they are offering.
There 3 different models for each brand you mentioned.

DreamStation CPAP
DreamStation Pro
DreamStation Auto CPAP

AirSense 10 CPAP
AirSense 10 Elite
Airsense 10 AutoSet and an AutoSet for Her

DreamStation CPAP and AirSense 10 CPAP are half assed bricks with extremely limited data...those I would avoid..

[Wulfman...]

My local supplier says they usually only carry one but they just happen to have two, the two I listed above.

Doesn't seem like they are offering much, they are basically saying take what we have or nothing. No offer to order anything, they weren't very open to talking about anything other than their two machines.

You stated in your first post that your insurance will buy a new one.

I have been using my machine for 5 happy years and my insurance will now buy a new one.

Insurance pays by the applicable insurance code......E0601......which is the very same code for ANY CPAP.......from the lowliest "brick" to the top-of-the-line APAP. You might as well get the best one you can get for the money. Your supplier is either a liar or stupid. They should be able to get whatever you want. Some of them are tied into one manufacturer, but not necessarily.
The worst scenario (which we often see on the forum) is that they give you the low-end machine so they make more profit and don't give a darn about your therapy.

You have been warned. Get the Auto (Philips/Respironics) or Autoset (Resmed)


Den

.

[OkyDoky]

Do not take a DreamStation CPAP it does not have full data.
Do not take an Airsense 10 CPAP it does not have full data.

The DME will say they have data but they are mostly concerned with the hours of usage for compliance. Not the full data that you need to evaluate your therapy.

You can find the models that have full data here. https://sleep.tnet.com/cmd

[Browndog]

Thanks for all of the feedback, I am going to ask them which they offer, if it isn't one of the preferred ones I will ask if they can order it. If not I may ask if they know of other local providers tha may. I am in Las Vegas NV, anybody else in Vegas and have experience with a local provider?

I may also call my insurance carrier and see what they say.

Keep the opinions coming.

Thanks Bob

[Guest]

My local supplier says they usually only carry one but they just happen to have two, the two I listed above.

Doesn't seem like they are offering much, they are basically saying take what we have or nothing. No offer to order anything, they weren't very open to talking about anything other than their two machines.

This is not unusual. They can and should order exactly what your doc orders. When you go to the pharmacy they don't say take this or leave it.

I may also call my insurance carrier and see what they say.

You need to do that so you can find out what other providers you can deal with. In fact, do this first.

[Wulfman...]

Thanks for all of the feedback, I am going to ask them which they offer, if it isn't one of the preferred ones I will ask if they can order it. If not I may ask if they know of other local providers tha may. I am in Las Vegas NV, anybody else in Vegas and have experience with a local provider?

I may also call my insurance carrier and see what they say.

Keep the opinions coming.

Thanks Bob

Definitely contact your insurance provider and ask for a list of "in-network" DME providers.


Den

.

[D.H.]

Do not take a DreamStation CPAP it does not have full data.

. . .

You can find the models that have full data here. https://sleep.tnet.com/cmd

Note that this applies only to the "bottom of the line" DreamStation CPAP. It does not apply to the DreamStation CPAP Pro or the DreamStation CPAP Auto.

[jtravel]

Do you have Medicare or Private insurance?
It's really important to find out how much this new machine is going to cost you out of pocket.
Deductibles and percentage the insurance actually covers.
They jack the prices way up and I found it was cheaper to buy my own machine without insurance with my current employer plan.
The top of the line machines can actually be purchased on your own for $400-$500 without insurance if you shop around.

[Browndog]

I have private insurance and am going to hit my deductible. I am mainly concerned with getting the best machine because I'll be stuck with it for the next 5 years.

[Holden4th]

Shopping around is always the best way to go and the suggestion to ask your insurer for a list of preferred DMEs is to be heeded. If they want your business then they will come to the party. If you go into negotiations armed with enough knowledge then you can get the best deal.

We don't have the luxury of getting a machine supplied via insurance here in Australia and the cost of machines is exorbitant as a result.

[Hannibal 2]

Shopping around is always the best way to go and the suggestion to ask your insurer for a list of preferred DMEs is to be heeded. If they want your business then they will come to the party. If you go into negotiations armed with enough knowledge then you can get the best deal.

We don't have the luxury of getting a machine supplied via insurance here in Australia and the cost of machines is exorbitant as a result.

I just paid £635 in the UK for an AirSense 10 AutoSet, how does that compare with Aus? This is with Tax removed and MySleep discount

I paid a lot more than this for hearing aids and this device is far more important so I consider it money well spent, even if you have take out a loan.

Edit: I got the 'For Her' model with Pugsy's advice as it has an extra algorithm which I may or may not need, but the machine is the same price so a no brainer really.