cpap companies

[newbie's daughter]

My mom has been using her cpap machine for about 7 months now and the company we got it through leaves A LOT to be desired......I am just trying to find out if they have the market cornered on the machines or if a person has a choice on where they get them. HELP!

[Irene P.]

Many people, including me, purchase cpap equipment and supplies onlline. Cpap.com is my favorite place, along with cpapauction.com.

[KatieW]

My mom has been using her cpap machine for about 7 months now and the company we got it through leaves A LOT to be desired......I am just trying to find out if they have the market cornered on the machines or if a person has a choice on where they get them. HELP!

If your mom has health insurance that covers her cpap equipment, contact them and ask what Durable Medical Equipment Suppliers they have contracts with.

If that's not an issue, and she is paying out of pocket, she can buy from whoever she wants--or on-line. Many of us buy from cpap.com.

[Slinky]

If she has insurance coverage for DME equipment and NEEDS to use that insurance because she can't afford to buy out of pocket (check the difference between local and online DME prices!!! And also check the difference between her insurance copays and the online DME prices!!!).

By all means her insurance company should be notified of the shoddy service she receives from her current local DME provider.

[treenajones]

can you please explain what DME stands for?

[pmcall57]

DME = durable medical equipment. The abbreviation "DME" is often used to refer to companies that sell medical equipment, including CPAP machines (and lots of other stuff). There are big DME companies like Apria and little DME companies that are more local. And some online DME companies like cpap.com.

[mattman]

DME as stated stands for Durable Medical Equipment. The term is used both to describe the companies that provide medical equipment as well as being used to describe the equipment itself (You might here someone say "I got my DME stuff from a local DME". What they might really be saying is "I got a CPAP machine and an oxygen concentrator from Bob's Medical Supply Company."

The term DME is used as compared to say, soft goods like cervical collars or ace bandages which are also medical items but are not 'durable' meaning they aren't expected to last and be supported past the actual sale.

If your supplies and equipment are being billed through insurance and you wish to continue using your insurance you can check with your insurance company to find a list of local 'In Network Providers'. Those are companies which can provide equipment and bill your insurance.

Be aware that your insurance company has pre-determined how much your equipment will cost. Your local DME doesn't control that price, so the pricing will be basically the same no matter which DME company you go to.

If you don't want to go through your Insurance you can check around, including online, to see about buying your equipment cash upfront. Note that cash prices will almost always be far, cheaper than going through Insurance. There are many online providers. This website, for example, is owned and operated by the company several have already mentioned. With insurance companies, you have the 3-6 month delay in getting payments (often even longer) which drives up the cost and also Insurance Companies require DME providers to charge the full amount to a cash paying customer (What's called the Submitted Amount) where the Insurance Company will only pay 40-60% of that same amount (Called the Allowable Amount) so it's kind of a double whammy.

Do know that there are usually several DME companies in any given area. I firmly believe most are good and provide quality patient care. If, however, your current one does not then by all means shop around and try to find another. Depending on cirumstances it can be difficult but talk to the other companies, explain exactly what's going on that you are unhappy with, talk about what you hope to see done differently and treat them like a partner in your continuing care and you should be treated the same in return.

Good Luck -

mattman