Got my S9 Autoset but has 2953 hours on it...

[macsnjets]

Hi, So after worrying about not getting the machine I wanted I got to the DME and they pulled out an S9 AutoSet as I had asked my Doc for. Everything seemed great until I got home and fiddling with the unit I see it already has 2953 hours run time. That equates to a year at 8 hours of sleep a night. Isn't the DME obligated to give me a new unit. Insurance will only pay for a new unit every so many years. I shouldn't have a problem exchanging it, should I ?
Thanks

[Pugsy]

Isn't the DME obligated to give me a new unit.

Unfortunately not necessarily.

What is your insurance? Is this an out right purchase or a rent to own for so many months and then you own it.

I would be pitching a hissy fit though. I bet they charged full new price for it. While I wouldn't get all upset with a few hours on something... nearly 3,000 hours is a whole different story.

[greatunclebill]

talk to your insurance first before anything. some insurance companies are ok with paying for used units.

[macsnjets]

I have Aetna insurance. To the best of my knowledge its a purchase, not a rental but I'm going to call my insurance in the morning. For now, I'm going to use it tonight.
Thanks

[mcdover]

I know this doesn't make you feel any better, but think about it like one of those Rent-to-Own places. Do you think they throw away a tv that some guy rented for a couple of months and then returned it? Nope, goes out on the next guy who comes in. I personally don't put out used equipment on my customers, but I am an extremely rare case. CPAP is viewed no differently than a hospital bed, or a wheelchair to a insurance company that rents instead of purchases outright.

[ughwhatname]

Though if they are renting to own, and the insurance company will only replace every five years, it seems at the very least, the OP should get a year credit toward the replacement.

I know this doesn't make you feel any better, but think about it like one of those Rent-to-Own places. Do you think they throw away a tv that some guy rented for a couple of months and then returned it? Nope, goes out on the next guy who comes in. I personally don't put out used equipment on my customers, but I am an extremely rare case. CPAP is viewed no differently than a hospital bed, or a wheelchair to a insurance company that rents instead of purchases outright.

[mcdover]

Though if they are renting to own, and the insurance company will only replace every five years, it seems at the very least, the OP should get a year credit toward the replacement.

I know this doesn't make you feel any better, but think about it like one of those Rent-to-Own places. Do you think they throw away a tv that some guy rented for a couple of months and then returned it? Nope, goes out on the next guy who comes in. I personally don't put out used equipment on my customers, but I am an extremely rare case. CPAP is viewed no differently than a hospital bed, or a wheelchair to a insurance company that rents instead of purchases outright.

You would think, but they don't. Lot's of changes are occurring now with Medicare, and unfortunately most of them are NOT good for the patient. Medicare is about to be worthless to those who have it as their insurance. Very few will be participating providers, and the ones that are, will be forced to put out the cheapest machine they can put their hands on. If you think things are bad now, just wait.

[RandyJ]

If your insurance is paying for a 10 or 12 month rental to own, I would insist on a zero hour machine. And I wouldn't use it before returning it.

[Guest]

The DME billing/insurance department typically has to use a 'modifier' when billing insurance for equipment. There is a modifier for new and another for used. Guarantee you that they used the modifier for new, even though they gave you a used machine. They also didn't know that you would be able to tell you difference. You might want to call the manufacturer and check to see how much warranty is left on it.

[wardmiller]

When I got my S9 from the DME I soon found it had been used a couple of months prior for about 100 hours. That was three months ago. I complained to the DME and they gave me a bunch of BS the machine had been refurbished "like new". They never would tell me the price, said it depended on what Medicare would allow -- like it was the first Medicare case they ever handled! They have yet to bill me.

If the DME were smart -- and they obviously aren't -- they would have reset the hours to zero and avoided all the discussion.

The machine is life-limited, however, and in your case it has one less year to live.

[mcdover]

If your insurance is paying for a 10 or 12 month rental to own, I would insist on a zero hour machine. And I wouldn't use it before returning it.

What if it's a 13 month rental like with Medicare?

[RandyJ]

What if it's a 13 month rental like with Medicare?

The OP indicated that he/she had Aetna insurance, but in any case 10 or 13 payments of $80 (to use an average, for argument's sake) plus the cost of humidifier is too much for a machine with nearly 3000 hours on it.

[jules]

Aetna used to be rent forever when I first joined here.

[mcdover]

What if it's a 13 month rental like with Medicare?

The OP indicated that he/she had Aetna insurance, but in any case 10 or 13 payments of $80 (to use an average, for argument's sake) plus the cost of humidifier is too much for a machine with nearly 3000 hours on it.

I didn't see the post where the insurance was given.

I'm thinking Aetna purchases outright or rents for three months then purchases. It's one or the other, but either way, you are right $1000+ is way too much for a 3000 hour machine, but here's the dig, if the OP went in-network the price Aetna will pay for the machine is probably a lot less than $1000.

[Pugsy]

If the DME were smart -- and they obviously aren't -- they would have reset the hours to zero and avoided all the discussion.

DME can reset patient therapy hours but they can't reset the total run hours.
Reset the therapy hours and erase the SD card to start with zero therapy data and no one is the wiser if no one looks at the run hours.