Does ResMed allow US to export machines to Canada?

[luckyduckcanuck]

I read on here (it's an old thread from 2011 though) that ResMed will not allow shipment of their products to Canada. Is that still true? Because I ordered a machine last week from an online supplier (Airsense 10 for her) and the order went through. What scares me, though, is that it has been sitting in customs since the 24th - only 3 days - might be normal, but what if they don't allow it?

[Pugsy]

If it made it to customs it will probably make it through to you just fine.
The ResMed restriction applies to places like cpap.com and the agreement that ResMed makes them sign to get the wholesale contract. They have to agree to not ship outside the US or ResMed won't let them stock their products.

There's no ResMed police sitting in customs watching for their stuff crossing the borders.

Time in customs on either end is always a crap shoot. I sent some stuff to England once and it sat in customs in Chicago for 7 days but then once it left Chicago the guy got the stuff within 1 day of arriving in England.
Then once I sent some stuff to Japan and it to Japan real fast and stayed in their customs for a week.

Some stuff to Romania holds the record though...6 weeks in customs in Romania. I was ready to just chalk it up to lost forever....or most likely stolen forever. It was just a box of used cpap masks and not worth much to anyone except the person needing them.

[D.H.]

I suspect it will come through just fine! Please let us know.

Also, which province are you in?

[luckyduckcanuck]

Quote: "The ResMed restriction applies to places like cpap.com and the agreement that ResMed makes them sign to get the wholesale contract. They have to agree to not ship outside the US or ResMed won't let them stock their products. "

Lucky me then, because it was from a "place like cpap.com" - a big name which I won't name of course. But hey, good for me!

Since I'm afraid it's going to sit in customs and I want to get started right away I've made an appointment with the sleep place my doctor told me to go see to get me started on a trial (I didn't tell my doctor I already bought a machine.). So I'll do the one month trial using one of their machines and of course at the end of it I'll probably make them hopping mad when I disclose I've already got my own machine and won't be buying from them. I know I'll have to pay about $150 if I don't buy from them, but at least I can get started on treatment.

[luckyduckcanuck]

I suspect it will come through just fine! Please let us know.

Also, which province are you in?

I am in Alberta.

[Julie]

You can order Resmed from dealers here (they can get the machines) just not on your own from dealers in the US, though if you got yours from a private seller (no script, etc.) then there should be no problem except being hung up at Customs for (sometimes) weeks, which has nothing to do with Resmed, but a lot to do with ... Customs. If your seller put "Medical Device" on the package though, it could save you some trouble... did you discuss duty charges with them? You may have to pay a broker.

[luckyduckcanuck]

You can order Resmed from dealers here (they can get the machines) just not on your own from dealers in the US, though if you got yours from a private seller (no script, etc.) then there should be no problem except being hung up at Customs for (sometimes) weeks, which has nothing to do with Resmed, but a lot to do with ... Customs. If your seller put "Medical Device" on the package though, it could save you some trouble... did you discuss duty charges with them? You may have to pay a broker.

Ya, I was able to get it from an online dealer AND without a Px! (But now I actually do have a prescription, I wasn't sure my doctor would give me one but she did - after the fact and pre-dated)

You may have to pay a broker.

It is being sent USPS, and it cost $74.99 USD. So there should not be a brokerage fee. But even if there were, I now know how to totally avoid paying brokerage fees by clearing items myself - I did that last month on something. It isn't that hard and you don't have to go to the border to do it - so long as there is a CBSA clearing office nearby - mine was 10 mins. from my home. You either ask your package to be held for you for pickup or you refuse at the door, requesting a shipment number and telling them you will self clear. When it comes in and you are notified its here you take your sales invoice and the shipment number to the CBSA (which for me was about a mile from the UPS warehouse, and the CBSA will collect any duties and taxes and give you a paper which you take to UPS and they must give you the package without further charge. No brokerage fee.

[Pugsy]

It is being sent USPS, and it cost $74.99 USD. So there should not be a brokerage fee.

That's about right for shipping a machine outside the US using the USPS. I don't think I have ever been able to send one internationally for less than $75. There shouldn't be any broker fees because the post office doesn't do anything like that and the shipper fills out the customs form.

It probably won't take very long to clear customs and you will be all set.

Ya, I was able to get it from an online dealer AND without a Rx

I have a pretty good idea who you got it from and if it is who I think it is they get their ResMed machines from other sources and thus never signed an official contract with ResMed to buy wholesale from ResMed that would prohibit them from shipping outside the US.

[D.H.]

I did some googling. It seems that Alberta Health Services coverage does not generally cover CPAP machines (as of 2010; so that may be dated). Ironically, they do cover sleep studies and visits to sleep specialists. Some private supplemental plans may cover CPAP.

However, there is public assistance for indigent patients to obtain CPAP.

[luckyduckcanuck]

That is correct D.H. I do have a bit of coverage from my personal BC plan - $500 every 60 mos. I can buy supplies or machine - must be bought from a Canadian medical supplier (not Amazon), either online or brick and mortar.

[chunkyfrog]

Sad. I see the same thing happening here if the combover in chief gets his way.

[nanwilson]

I did some googling. It seems that Alberta Health Services coverage does not generally cover CPAP machines (as of 2010; so that may be dated). Ironically, they do cover sleep studies and visits to sleep specialists. Some private supplemental plans may cover CPAP.

However, there is public assistance for indigent patients to obtain CPAP.

Hmmm.... 2010 was 7 years ago. things change. and yes they do pay for cpap supplies and machines. I had mine paid for several years ago and get my supplies reimbursed. I am not "indigent" , just a senior citizen on a fixed income..... NOT on public assistance and do not have a supplemental plan. If do some googling, perhaps you should get the correct info that is up to date.

[D.H.]

I did some googling. It seems that Alberta Health Services coverage does not generally cover CPAP machines (as of 2010; so that may be dated). Ironically, they do cover sleep studies and visits to sleep specialists. Some private supplemental plans may cover CPAP.

However, there is public assistance for indigent patients to obtain CPAP.

Hmmm.... 2010 was 7 years ago. things change. and yes they do pay for cpap supplies and machines. I had mine paid for several years ago and get my supplies reimbursed. I am not "indigent" , just a senior citizen on a fixed income..... NOT on public assistance and do not have a supplemental plan. If do some googling, perhaps you should get the correct info that is up to date.

Actually, I think it was seniors or indigent.

Really, CPAP should be covered, as it really would prevent serious and expensive illness down the road. Typically, even an automatic CPAP machine (new) would cost somewhat less that US$1000. The cost of a heart attack or stroke is considerably higher (and that's just the monetary cost).

[D.H.]

Sad. I see the same thing happening here if the combover in chief gets his way.

Fortunately, the disastrous "repeal" was defeated. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail and Obamacare can get the "fine tuning" it needs.