Medicare Question

[ErnieH]

I know with Medicare you're allowed a new machine every 5 years. Yesterday my Resmed S9 fried. I'm not due for a new one until April 2019. Has anyone dealt with this situation with Medicare, and what happened? Thank God my buddy has a spare one I can use until this is resolved.

Thanks,
ErnieH

[LSAT]

See your DME....If it can be repaired, they should handle it. If the cost to repair is more than the value of the machine, Medicare should replace the machine.

[zorki1c]

Although the machines have a two-year guarantee, (I think) my DME will repair or replace for a full five years.

[greatunclebill]

when my last one was paid off in 13 months i got a notice from insurance stating that i owned it and was responsible for any maintenance or repairs. yours may be different. i don't know how medicare or your secondary insurance handle it. be careful dealing with the dme regarding repairs. get it in writing because we know dme's lie.

[Okie bipap]

Medicare will pay 80% of the repair cost to repair your machine. See the following site for information:
https://www.medicareinteractive.org/get ... aintenance

[SewTired]

Contact your DME. Presuming Medicare bought your machine in the first place, the DME is contracted to repair or replace if the machine is less than 5 years old from date of purchase. This assumes you have original Medicare. Advantage plans work differently.

Your situation is exactly why I have a backup machine. It took my brother 7 weeks to get his machine back repaired and he had no machine for backup. Didn't go well since you couldn't get rentals then.

Note: if your machine dies within the 2 year period, the warranty covers it so other than maybe an incidental shipping cost, any repairs should be free.