CPAP vs. BiPAP

[D.H.]

Glad you found a suitable machine.

Why did they give him a Bi-PAP (rather that a CPAP)? Does he have Central (or "mixed") Sleep Apnea?

If you can't get the Bi-PAP that you were planning on, a CPAP with exhalation relief will probably do the trick unless he has Central Sleep Apnea and/or a prescription of 20 or higher.

[Pugsy]

If you can't get the Bi-PAP that you were planning on, a CPAP with exhalation relief will probably do the trick

No...cpap with exhale relief won't necessarily do the trick...at best the exhale relief will give 3 cm (ResMed) or 2 cm (Respironics) Pressure support (difference between inhale and exhale).
If someone needs more PS....cpap can't do it.
According to OP...pressure settings are 16 inhale and 12 exhale...that's PS of 4. There's not a cpap/apap machine anywhere that offers 4 PS.

[MrsRinPDX]

If you can't get the Bi-PAP that you were planning on, a CPAP with exhalation relief will probably do the trick

No...cpap with exhale relief won't necessarily do the trick...at best the exhale relief will give 3 cm (ResMed) or 2 cm (Respironics) Pressure support (difference between inhale and exhale).
If someone needs more PS....cpap can't do it.
According to OP...pressure settings are 16 inhale and 12 exhale...that's PS of 4. There's not a cpap/apap machine anywhere that offers 4 PS.

Thank you! I tried to explain that!

[yourbrokenoven]

Even after insurance, my cost for my BiPAP (Resmed VPAP S with H5i humidifier) in 2014 was in excess of $1200. I think the total cost would have been like $3000 out of pocket.

[MrsRinPDX]

Even after insurance, my cost for my BiPAP (Resmed VPAP S with H5i humidifier) in 2014 was in excess of $1200. I think the total cost would have been like $3000 out of pocket.

Just as an aside, I think it depends upon your insurance and it will vary upon the plan. In my case, I belong to a group BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon plan. They covered the ENTIRE amount of my BiPAP machine and supplies in 2017. (I had already met my $500 deductible earlier in the year.) Maybe they did the math and figured it was cheaper to treat someone with a sleep study AHI of 71 than to pay for a heart attack or stroke. I was shocked, but they paid the entire amount due.

[palerider]

Glad you found a suitable machine.

Why did they give him a Bi-PAP (rather that a CPAP)? Does he have Central (or "mixed") Sleep Apnea?

If you can't get the Bi-PAP that you were planning on, a CPAP with exhalation relief will probably do the trick unless he has Central Sleep Apnea and/or a prescription of 20 or higher.

No, there's much more to bilevels than just exhalation relief.