Start out, purchase online-better through home health?

[jimstime]

Hello folks,

I am sure as most of us know insurance doesn't cover it all. Having to take care of deductible first I will be purchasing my newly prescribed CPAP machine and appliances. In talking with the "Home Health Care" provider that was given my information I was told, "We will be giving you the Respironics 250, ballpark price about $1,000, or we can give you the cash price , $1,500." From what little research I have done in one night the minimum machine by Respironics with data compliance would be the 450, total package of mask/machine/cleaning supplies etc... totals about $750.

Would there really be a benefit going through a provider such as that? Or set by CPAP.com, read proper manuals, self educate as much as one can is just as well? Thankssssssssss, alot of helpful information in this forum.

[Janknitz]

If your out of pocket costs are going to be $1000 to $1500 dollars with the home health provider, there is probably no advantage to using the home health provider for an inferior machine. Cpap.com will set your machine up according to your prescription, and we can help if you need any further adjustments. The only issue is after the manufacturer's warranty expires, but most of these machines last a long time, so while it's a risk, it's a small one. And even if you have to buy another out of pocket, you won't be behind what you would have spent in the first place.

[Goofproof]

Check each way, like was said if your out of pocket was MORE than $750 you would be better off buying online from CPAP>COM. No way let them sell our on a dataless machine, a APAP is best because it has more options. Jim

[Elle]

Because I got my machine in December my deductible had already been covered and it didn't cost me anything.

My insurance company paid the DME $2205. for my S9 and the reason given for the difference in price between the DME and online is because the DME is supposed to provide support and follow up. They should be available to answer any questions you have and to make sure you are well fitted with a mask as well as letting you trial different masks until the right one is found. If you have a data capable machine you are able to send the SD Card in to them to have it read and they should adjust your settings to make sure you are getting the best therapy.

If they give you a non data (compliance only) machine then the only way to tell whether your therapy needs have changed would be to set you up with an auto machine for a bit or send you for another sleep study. If you were given a data machine first then you could either have them monitor your data or learn to do it yourself.

They are also supposed to follow up with the sleep doctor ( or maybe the insurer??) to let them know whether you are compliant. If your machine doesn't show a certain number of hours use you will not be covered.

Some DMEs are not very good at being supportive or doing follow up.

[Pugsy]

You can buy your machine online and use a DME store for masks if you like. That way you can utilize the mask manufacturers 30 days trial policy.
There is no law that you have to buy a machine from a DME to be able to use insurance to purchase masks.

If you are looking a Respironics....look at the latest 60 series APAP....it has a heated hose (which is a huge benefit) and it can be purchased from cpap.com for $650 (humidifier included)
I can help with the software that is needed for this machine. SleepyHead won't work yet (but will later) but EncoreBasic will work and it shows you all pertinent data including wave form.

The model 250 in the Respironics line only shows hours of use on that SD card.

Model 450 is the Pro (straight CPAP) full data

Model 550 is the Auto CPAP (APAP) full data 2 machines in one.....right now the only PR S1 machine with the heated hose is this one. Using a heated hose will greatly reducing annoying rainout. You may not think much about it now but next winter you will be happy to have it.

[Spinory]

I went to secondwindcpap.com and bought a used ResMed S9 Autoset for $625, everything but the SD card included-they were great. If I had not known it was a "used" machine, I would have thought it was new. I had 50% co-insurance so my out of pocket costs going through insurance would be the same as purchasing my machine and mask online/locally.

I bought a Swift FX nasal pillow mask at a local DME out of pocket so I could use the 30 day mask exchange program if it didn't work for me.

Pugsy has been incredibly helpful to me and this forum overall has been wonderful. Keep reading and asking questions-find out what you want and you will get it!

Good luck!

Heather