costs to much.far to much!

[wading thru the muck!]

Someday, perhaps more family doctors will take it upon themselves to begin prescribing autopaps without a sleep study for patients who are likely to have no more than mild OSA - as an initial screening for a week or two, if nothing else. Better that than no test at all, ever.

If I did not have insurance to pay the $5000 cost of my two sleep studies I would not have a cpap right now.

I think the cpap manufacturers need to push for indications to allow Docs to do this. This is how the phamaseutical industry dispenses their products. Studies are done to provide indications for Docs to prescribe the med...no overnight study...no thousands of dollars of tests. Just take the pills for a couple of months and we'll see if that helps the symptoms. I agree there are some people who have very serious OSA and related conditions, but most that go untreated are like rested gal (and myself) who have mild to moderate OSA and no complications. How can it hurt to try an auto-pap for a month and see how you feel.

If there is one thing that would advance the efficacy of the treatment of OSA that would be it.

That, and a comfortable mask that doesn't leak! HA!

[Miko]

After using the Resmed Autoset Spirit and confirming the results with the lab, I was amazed at the accuracy. The doctors need to be informed of the technological advances, but then again, the doctors get a referral fee for sending one to a sleep lab, irregardless of how long one must have to wait.

It's all about money. Just like the pharaceutical industry wants you to continue to buy their products and doctors treat the symptoms, not necessarily the problem. It's a huge and highly profitable industry. Imagine what would happen to these companies if people didnt need to take prescriptions?

[RestInSeattle]

Why should I pay my 1000 deductible and have the insurance pony up another 1000-2000 for the same machine and mask at a DME that I can get on line for $750. And I get all the parts , manuals, hose, not get duped into paying for it again...Just read about all the jacking around people get at sleep studies and DMEs . Not all are bad but by the posts on this forum there are more than a few "Bad Apples" out there . My study was a fair experience in a hospital. Got it all in 1 nite by good people.. My wifes was a nightmare at a different clinic..

Granted, you are seeing the "scamminess" of the insurance, DME market. In fact if it's possible, you may want to check with your insurance provider to see if you could do the following:

1. Get a perscription that you can fax from your sleep care physician.

2. Get a prior approval with the insurance company to do the purchase yourself and send them the bill.

3. Purchase the equipment online out of pocket.

4. Get reimbursed and save the insurance company some money and possibly reduce anything you pay out of pocket to normally cover the difference.

Not all insurance companies will do this, but enough will and it can help to save you and the insurance company money. Basically you've just cut out all the middlemen that seriously jack up the pricing.

Also the $2000-3000 that you normally see in the DME process to the insurance company is the "lease-to-own" racket. Insurance companies like to know that you can return the equipment if you can't maintain "compliance", but the intrest and fee's the DME apply and get away with legally would make organized crime envious. Ironically, the insurance company pays more for the "returnable" option than if they paid directly for the equipment and simply took it back if you couldn't be compliant with the therapy.

But the bean counters are usually not in communications with the legal and marketting departments and this wierd senario of paying soooooo much is continued. Like many other issues, don't expect this to change without some kind of insurance reform (which would worry me as the reforms always seem in favor of the companies or something other than the standard citizen of the US)

[sthnreb]

[quote="AirHog"]Engineering, material quality, tolerances, consistency and minimal failure rates all contribute to a more expensive product. I don't want the person assembling my cpap to be making two dollars a week either, preferably well trained and compensated. If you want junk to improve your quality of life buy an old pickup truck and cruise the neighborhood on garbage day. j/k

quote]

All that fancy stuff and my engineered, quality material and workmanship with high paid technicians, well trained and compensated, and it quit within the first two weeks. Took longer to get returned and went past the 30 days replacement. So, $1565 for this quality. It wasn't a old pickup truck but a brand spanking new model off the show room floor, straight from the factory with no mileage.

[NightHawkeye]

All that fancy stuff and my engineered, quality material and workmanship with high paid technicians, well trained and compensated, and it quit within the first two weeks. Took longer to get returned and went past the 30 days replacement. So, $1565 for this quality. It wasn't a old pickup truck but a brand spanking new model off the show room floor, straight from the factory with no mileage.

C'mon now sthnreb, full disclosure. Which model and manufacturer. Was that your spiffy new BiPAP Auto?

Regards,
Bill
PS: I had to return a Remstar Auto, but at least that was within 30 days.

[sthnreb]

[quote="NightHawkeye"]C'mon now sthnreb, full disclosure. Which model and manufacturer. Was that your spiffy new BiPAP Auto?
Regards,
Bill
PS: I had to return a Remstar Auto, but at least that was within 30 days.

[NightHawkeye]

Full disclosure could injure the seller. Don't need that anymore. Was from an internet retailer of new machines. And no, it's not my new Bipap Auto.

Somebody PM'ed me the link to your earlier thread back in August, sthnreb. Actually, I think it speaks well of the seller (even more so for leaving the thread intact), but not so well of the warranty service provided by the manufacturer.

Reinforces my belief that for warranty purposes, one is well served by buying with a credit card. That way you can return a product within 30 days if any indication of a problem is found.

Regards,
Bill

[Guest]

I did use a credit card, and to my advantage.