Where to rent a PAP device and other DMEs in Markham, ON?

[antinatalism]

In Dec 2019 I did a PSG and the Sleep Medicine Dr's report diagnosed me with sleep apnea. On 1/13 I'm scheduled to consult the "Sleep Medicine Dr" to discuss the results, and on the same day I intend to obtain and rent a PAP device. I don't have the Rx yet, but I thought to ask this now to stay ahead of the game. I live in Markham, ON, but can travel across GTA.

1. Please recommend trust-worthy DME providers that can rent PAP devices? I'm assuming that I can't know which device fits me until I sample the device for a few months.

2. Renting masks and tubes appears unsanitary, but what other DMEs can be rented?

[Julie]

Why would you think they'd be unsanitary?

[harrywr2]

My experience in the US with rental from DME-
$350+ for disposables- Hose, heated hose, water tub and mask kit. Then $45/month for rental. (I know I got hosed on the price of the hoses)

In hindsight I would have just bought a low hours used unit on a popular online private party sales website and washed the included hoses and tub with soap and water then bought a mask kit separately. A Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset including tub and hoses with a few hundred hours goes for about what I paid for disposables at the DME. Then a mask kit goes for $100-$150 depending on mask. In the event that the Airsense 10 Autoset didn't meet my needs(say I needed BiPap machine) I would have still had a complete set of disposables.

If Insurance/Government Healthcare is helping to pay then the DME is the only option.

[Cruiser1234]

My experience in the US with rental from DME-
$350+ for disposables- Hose, heated hose, water tub and mask kit. Then $45/month for rental. (I know I got hosed on the price of the hoses)

In hindsight I would have just bought a low hours used unit on a popular online private party sales website and washed the included hoses and tub with soap and water then bought a mask kit separately. A Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset including tub and hoses with a few hundred hours goes for about what I paid for disposables at the DME. Then a mask kit goes for $100-$150 depending on mask. In the event that the Airsense 10 Autoset didn't meet my needs(say I needed BiPap machine) I would have still had a complete set of disposables.

If Insurance/Government Healthcare is helping to pay then the DME is the only option.

It will very likely be a different scenario in Ontario. I got a rental for 1mth free through the CPAP clinic in the building where my sleep doctor is. They give you a rental unit and hose/mask which have been cleaned very well - it smells like the sterilizer/cleaner when you get it - they do not use the SoClean or other Ozone.

DM me if you want to know more about my experience. I am near you.

[Dog Slobber]

Being in Ontario you are eligible to get a machine 75% funded by the OHIP ADP program. And if you have private insurance than it should cover the bulk of what the ADP program does not cover.

Renting PAP devices simply isn't very common here.

Your sleep clinic Dr. and clinic should refer you to a DME who will handle the ADP funding.

When it's time to actually get your device, in all likelihood you will be prescribed a CPAP machine. If that's the case, there is a loop-hole where the Resmed Airsense 10 AutoSet for Her qualifies for ADP funding. That *is* the machine you want to get instead of a lesser featured CPAP device.

[zonker]

When it's time to actually get your device, in all likelihood you will be prescribed a CPAP machine. If that's the case, there is a loop-hole where the Resmed Airsense 10 AutoSet for Her qualifies for ADP funding. That *is* the machine you want to get instead of a lesser featured CPAP device.

that is outstanding!

wish i lived in ontario.

[Hose_Head]

You didn't say exactly what your appointment with the sleep doctor is for. Have you had your sleep study?

It's been a number of years since I went through this process but when I did it, you needed two sleep studies. The first was to determine whether you had sleep apnea or not (and also whether you suffered from any of other possible sleep conditions). If that study showed you had sleep apnea, you were then loaned a basic cpap for a few weeks (to allow you to get used to sleeping with cpap) and then you had your second sleep test, this time while using a lab supplied auto-pap. This second sleep study is also called a titration study. Its purpose is to determine what pressure setting you need, and whether you need a basic cpap, auto-pap, bilevel pap, or whatever. It was only after you went to see your sleep doctor AFTER the titration study that were given your prescription so that you could buy your equipment. All of this was funded by OHIP.

It's possible that today, the titration study portion of this process has been replaced by an at-home period using an auto-pap. For most cases, this will give your sleep doctor all the information that's needed to establish your prescription pressure. After this at-home test, you then would get your prescription and buy your equipment.

Ontario OHIP ADP will pay for 75% of the cost of your equipment, as others have said.

BTW, usually, the sleep doctor will direct you to a DME for the loaner equipment/purchase equipment. You may go elsewhere for it if you wish. There are a number of DME's in this business who will be glad to have your business. Some are better than others. But my observation is that it depends more on the individual employees that you end of dealing with than the company. YMMV.

My advice is that you are best to stick with purchase from a brick and mortar DME at this phase of your entry into the world of CPAP. Their prices may be extreme for things not price controlled by OHIP-ADP, but their assistance in getting set up and dealing with initial problems can be invaluable. Once you get established as a hose-head, you then can branch out to purchasing supplies/replacement equipment from online suppliers. That will save you money down the road.

When it comes time to purchasing your equipment, make sure you get a fully data capable machine, and preferably an auto pap. It's unlikely that the sleep doctor will prescribe anything more than a basic, non-auto pap. You can get around this, as others have advised, by buying a Resmed Autoset 10 for Her, which Ontario OHIP ADP treats as a basic cpap.

Oh, and avoid falling into the So-Clean trap. Search this board for information why.

You've come to the right place. There's tonnes of excellent advice available on this board from people who have been there and done that.

[Cruiser1234]

Great info - but be very careful of what the DME charges. They knew I had good insurance, so suddenly it became almost $1000 plus the Ontario subsidy. Not sure how an upgraded mask (F20), SD card and a few filters were an extra $800, but be very careful of that.

They are very slick and know how to maximize insurance billings.

[Dog Slobber]

Great info - but be very careful of what the DME charges. They knew I had good insurance, so suddenly it became almost $1000 plus the Ontario subsidy. Not sure how an upgraded mask (F20), SD card and a few filters were an extra $800, but be very careful of that.

They are very slick and know how to maximize insurance billings.

Yup, mine did too.

They "sold" me what they referred to as an upgrade package which included:

• Two ResMed filters
• Two (maybe 3 can't remember) CPAP wipes
• The SD Cardboard that should have come with it anyway
• The CPAP hose inside hose cleaner

At a price I'm ashamed to admit. I didn't know any better, fortunately insurance covered most of it.

But their dishonest cost them a lot more for me anyway, because of this and other lies I haven't spent a cent with them since.

[Cruiser1234]

Great info - but be very careful of what the DME charges. They knew I had good insurance, so suddenly it became almost $1000 plus the Ontario subsidy. Not sure how an upgraded mask (F20), SD card and a few filters were an extra $800, but be very careful of that.

They are very slick and know how to maximize insurance billings.

Yup, mine did too.

They "sold" me what they referred to as an upgrade package which included:

• Two ResMed filters
• Two (maybe 3 can't remember) CPAP wipes
• The SD Cardboard that should have come with it anyway
• The CPAP hose inside hose cleaner

At a price I'm ashamed to admit. I didn't know any better, fortunately insurance covered most of it.

But their dishonest cost them a lot more for me anyway, because of this and other lies I haven't spent a cent with them since.

My exact experience minus the wipe and hose cleaner. I also haven't been back since.

I get that they are trying to make money, but their rates were outright robbery. I would understand $200 for a mask, or maybe even $250, but not $350.

[Cpapian]

On 1/13 I'm scheduled to consult the "Sleep Medicine Dr", and on the same day I intend to obtain and rent a PAP device. I don't have the Rx yet, but I thought to ask this now to stay ahead of the game. I live in Markham, ON, but can travel across GTA.

1. Please recommend trust-worthy DME providers that can rent PAP devices? I'm assuming that I can't know which device fits me until I sample the device for a few months.

2. Renting masks and tubes appears unsanitary, but what other DMEs can be rented?

MedPro has a location near Fairview Mall. You will need to book well in Advance for your appointment. I believe, between rentals, they put machines, masks in the autoclave. But, they don't wash things, so the germs may be gone, but the dirt remains. And of course its free. Your dr has to write the Rx indicating a rental. So you would need two Rxs. One for the rental and another for the purchase. I don't know if the dr would give you both at the same time. Mine were given about 5 months apart and after a titration study.

When you call to make your appointment ..... ask them about sanitation of their machines to be sure you are comfortable with their process. I would recommend washing your mask when you get home (if it's not new). The rentals could be older machines (maybe 1 generation back) but the algorithms that run the machines I understand to be "basically" the same.

When you do get you forever machine, talk to us here at the forum about how to ensure you are getting a new machine.

As far as one members comments about being ripped off .... ask the price of everything. The basic ADP provided machine includes a machine, carrying case, unheated hose, and a very basic mask that may be a generic variety. Extra filters, a heated hose, a ResMed or Respironics mask are all extras. At the DMEs office they cost tons more than online .... sometimes double.

While you are in your rental period try a few different masks so you can see what works best for you. Faces and heads come in infinite shapes and sizes ..... so the mask selection is the most personal of all. When you find a mask you like, you can purchase online and get a better price (if you don't have Extended Health coverage).

For my first purchase, I bought everything from the DME knowing I was being charged a premium. I did this because I wanted one place to go to if had problems. Also my Extended Health covered the cost. Ongoing, I purchase online unless I want to try a new mask.