Ordering supplies online?

[Monstrosity]

I know a lot of people order online and have supplies sent to them. How is the shipping and turn around time? How does the insurance work for swapping out masks? How does the company work this out with your medical insurance company? Is this a painful/pain free process?

Thanks!

[Pugsy]

Most online sellers (like cpap.com) won't file with your private insurance in lieu of payment.
There are a few that will though. So if you are wanting your insurance company to pay so that you don't have to pay up front you will need to find one of those online sellers who have a contract with your particular insurance company.
Most won't offer a mask swapping exchange though. You would need to contact the online seller directly to find out what their actual policy is and what they need to get the process even set up...like documentation of need for cpap supplies and what your actual coverage is.

Some insurance companies will let you submit a claim form yourself and reimburse you what you paid up front depending on your coverage but again this is something you have to find out from your insurance company. Some consider online sellers totally out of network and won't pay anything at all even if you pay up front.

I suspect that the biggest hassle would be the initial setting up of the account...getting verification from the doctor as to medical need or getting the RX to the online seller that is willing to work with your particular insurance company.

Most of the forum members here that purchase on line are doing so without insurance being involved except a few people using Medicare mail order cpap supplies. We just pay for it up front and don't expect any insurance reimbursement.
If you are wanting your insurance to pay up front so you don't have to you will need first to start with finding an online seller that has a contract with your particular insurance company and go from there.

[surf_rower]

I know a lot of people order online and have supplies sent to them. How is the shipping and turn around time? How does the insurance work for swapping out masks? How does the company work this out with your medical insurance company? Is this a painful/pain free process?

Thanks!

I ordered my Tap Pap online from CPAP.com about two weeks ago. Quick and easy. Arrived in two or three days. The company contacted my doctor to get the approval. I am paying out of pocket for this mask, because I wanted to use my insurance allowance for a backup Swift FX mask, on the theory that it's not a bad idea to switch masks occasionally so the same areas don't get rubbed on for too long. However, if I had decided to switch, and my DME approved of the Tap Pap, I could have gotten the usual 50% paid by insurance. They did that when I switched out my first mask. (This is my third mask.)The CPAP.com return insurance was included in the price of the Tap Pap, so if I decide to return it before 30 days, I will get a refund. Pain free process.

[Monstrosity]

Thanks for the responses! I think I'll just stick to who I've been using. I was trying to avoid the 45 minute drive one way but think I'll just deal with it at this point.

[chunkyfrog]

Depending on your insurance (beginning of new plan year, deductibles, co-pays, etc),
it might be a good idea to "do the math". I used cpap.com exclusively for the past 2 years,
because of high deductibles, and the need to do some serious mask shopping
--unencumbered by moronic insurance schedules.
Now that I have some masks that work, I can trust Medicare and Apria to "get it right"--if they can.

[StuUnderPressure]

Thanks for the responses! I think I'll just stick to who I've been using. I was trying to avoid the 45 minute drive one way but think I'll just deal with it at this point.

Some DMEs have an online presence - Apria is 1 of them.
Cautionary note: Apria has a very bad reputation for service, although I know 1 person who got her AutoSet through them & uses their online service for supplies & she thinks they are great.

Other DMEs will ship the items to you, but there may be a shipping charge.
Depends what it is worth to you to avoid the 90 minute drive.

Although I don't really like the DME I am presently using, I keep them ONLY because they NEVER have what I want in stock. Their primary vendor is Respironics. Because they don't have it in stock they ship it to my house for no charge. Although they are only 5 blocks away, I E-Mail them a very concise list of what I want (including the ResMed Item Number AND the HCPCS Code of each item).

I usually get my supplies within 4 days from the day they order the stuff.
If I get my order to them in the morning or early afternoon, they will order it the same day.

[jencat824]

Nationwide Medical is a DME with online ordering, or phone ordering. They are strictly mail order, no actual store. I have used them several years without any problems. I have had situation where trying a mask & it didn't work out, so they send another type. The will only do this 3x in a 3month time frame, but I feel that is reasonable.

Just FYI,

Jen