Question About Apria and the 30 day mask warranties

[firefoxsilver9]

I called my local Apria rep a few minutes ago requesting a new mask to try out (it will be my 3rd) and i asked her if i have to return the other 2 she gave me last week and she said no and that i wouldn't be charged extra for them. There mine to keep. Does that sound right? I assumed that if you get a mask and it doesn't work out for you you'll have to return it to get another one to try, not outright keep them and just receive another mask. Its a-OK with me to have a few extra masks lying around even if they don't exactly work for me but i don't want to get charged extra by my insurance, even if they will pay 90% of it.

side-question, she's ordering me a Liberty full face/nasal pillow mask. any experiences with that?

[LSAT]

Sounds like you have found one of the few good Apria locations. Many DMEs do this...they can get reimbursed from the mfg.

[firefoxsilver9]

Sounds like you have found one of the few good Apria locations. Many DMEs do this...they can get reimbursed from the mfg.

Awesome. Yeah I think they are terrific. No hassal at all so far. I count myself lucky considering all I've heard from other's experiences. Can't wait to try the new mask soon.

[Bobby269]

My Apria will allow you to exchange a mask one time.( The initial mask from them) But they don't charge for chin straps. There has been a few orders that they screwed up on sending the paper work to my insurance and they didn't get paid. It's been over 6 months and they haven't billed me.
There doesn't seem to be one rule for all of Apria.

[greatunclebill]

There doesn't seem to be one rule for all of Apria.

the one rule for apria is that there are no rules. when i first started 10 yrs ago, they were nice, exchanged masks and did all the prescription requests behind the scenes. billing always was unacceptable. then somewhere 3 or 4 years back i heard that they had made some corporate changes which trickled down to poor, very poor service. all of a sudden there were no mask exchanges, take it or leave it attitude and a general unfriendly attitude. this is not a small place, having an attached warehouse and delivery trucks. at one point i saw the same 'back at 2' sign in the window for 3 days in a row at different hour in the day. the place was dark and deserted. when we finally got an appointment, they bombed out. we were driving there for a 10am appt. at 9:50 they called to say the rt was sick and not coming in today. how about calling at 8am? at that moment we left them forever. i went to the doc's office for a prescription to a new dme and found out that my doc that had sent all patients to them for a long time was no longer sending them patients. the new dme said that medicare also cut them (the local office) off. i know others have a different opinion of them and that my problems may have been because of a poor local manager. all i can say be aware and verify, verify, verify. if something starts to smell, move on.

[Roobin]

When I exchanged a mask, my Apria rep said she was supposed to take back the old one. However, she went on to explain that she'd just have to throw it out. So, she instead offered to "pretend" to discard it, thereby allowing me to keep it.

[firefoxsilver9]

WOW that was quick. The Apria rep had to order the new mask and said it would arrive in 3 business days but i just got it today and i called her yesterday. It shipped from Georgia so i guess that's why i got it so fast. Last night i tried my Activa LT mask on the new machine and got a .71 AHI and near zero leaks and now that i have the climateline tubing i didn't get the water collecting in the mask that i usually got before. I might end up gravitating back to that mask if this one doesn't work out.

[firefoxsilver9]

The Liberty wasn't working out well so I called my local branch to get the ResMed Softgel to try out. She's also going to send a chinstrap. I tried the Quattro again last night and it was leaks galore.

[Starlette]

Good afternoon firefoxsilver9.

I hope you like your SoftGel. I've really enjoyed mine. For now, it's my backup. I'm a mouthbreather and really wanted a FFM. I chose Hybrid Full Face CPAP Mask with Nasal Pillows and Headgear. I really like it! My SoftGel is used more when I get either a very stuffed up nose and/or when I have a runny nose and can't use either my pillow masks or Hybrid.

Let's us know how you're doing and if there is any recommendations we can offer you should you have problems.

Starlette

[human_bipap_user]

I am also in my 30 day window with Apria. I started with the Quattro™ FX Full Face CPAP Mask but I kept getting leaks so have switched to Swift™ FX Nasal Pillow. They told me that they did not want the Quattro mask back and to use it as a spare. This was the Apria branch in Gilbert, AZ. So far no complaints. Hopefully the nasal pillow works out, it's my first night.

[Lizistired]

Good thread. I need to go talk to them about a full face before cold and sinus season sets in.
I have only gotten a new mask once and they pushed the "You need to have an appointment for fitting with the RT or you won't be able to return it......."
I had already tried the mask (Swift LT) thanks to a member here, (johnybee) and knew it would work, so I told them to just ship it to me, but with a full face/Hybrid, I think I need to get fitted. I have no idea what to try. The FF didn't work at my titration, I think it was a Mirage. I wish Sleepweaver would come out with a full face!

[firefoxsilver9]

I am also in my 30 day window with Apria. I started with the Quattro™ FX Full Face CPAP Mask but I kept getting leaks so have switched to Swift™ FX Nasal Pillow. They told me that they did not want the Quattro mask back and to use it as a spare. This was the Apria branch in Gilbert, AZ. So far no complaints. Hopefully the nasal pillow works out, it's my first night.

How did the Swift FX work for you? I had some comfort issues with my Softgel mask so I called my Apria rep this morning to try the Swift fx. Should be here tomorrow. I went back to the Liberty in the meantime.

[Denial Dave]

Im on week # 6 as part of myvtherapy.. im on my 3rd mask no charge, no disputes. Apria has been good to me.