Can't decide to buy or "rent" Please help!
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- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:31 pm
Can't decide to buy or "rent" Please help!
Hello All,
I was diagnosed with severe OSA a few months ago. I started using a CPAP machine in June. Let me start off by saying I'm going to save everyone the trouble of hearing about my fears, questions, and blubbering about my denial and the general trouble I'm having getting used to this thing... at least until a later time. Right now my concern is finding a machine. My budget is 300.00 or less. I was given an Orion from my med supply store and after reading some of the older posts about it, I can see why they carry that one. My part of the "rent" for the machine is about $20 a month. I don't want my own machine to experiment, I just want to save money in the long run. (and the heck with these people who are charging my insurance co. $100.00 a month for a $125.00 machine on CPAP.COM.) My wife and I tried to find out how much the machines cost after Insurance has covered anywhere from 3-12 months, but none of the stores would budge. All they could say was "Don't buy one off the internet because you don't know what you are getting. They could be cheap knock-offs or they're probably used." The place that supplied my machine told my wife they paid $600.00 for it. We know it's probably part of a scheme to keep our business but my wife is worried about buying one. I need some direction and some reassurance for both of us. I'm looking at the Intellipap Standard because I'm only looking for the ability to see if the machine is doing it's job. That's about the only thing I really want it to do. The dinosaur I have now seems to be working, most nights, (based on how I feel when I get up and if I wake up in the middle of the night) I just want my own. Any suggestions (except about my inability to be concise ) would be greatly appreciated. Also are ther certain masks for certain machines? I have a Full Respironics one piece mask. Thanks so much for listening.
-Walter
I was diagnosed with severe OSA a few months ago. I started using a CPAP machine in June. Let me start off by saying I'm going to save everyone the trouble of hearing about my fears, questions, and blubbering about my denial and the general trouble I'm having getting used to this thing... at least until a later time. Right now my concern is finding a machine. My budget is 300.00 or less. I was given an Orion from my med supply store and after reading some of the older posts about it, I can see why they carry that one. My part of the "rent" for the machine is about $20 a month. I don't want my own machine to experiment, I just want to save money in the long run. (and the heck with these people who are charging my insurance co. $100.00 a month for a $125.00 machine on CPAP.COM.) My wife and I tried to find out how much the machines cost after Insurance has covered anywhere from 3-12 months, but none of the stores would budge. All they could say was "Don't buy one off the internet because you don't know what you are getting. They could be cheap knock-offs or they're probably used." The place that supplied my machine told my wife they paid $600.00 for it. We know it's probably part of a scheme to keep our business but my wife is worried about buying one. I need some direction and some reassurance for both of us. I'm looking at the Intellipap Standard because I'm only looking for the ability to see if the machine is doing it's job. That's about the only thing I really want it to do. The dinosaur I have now seems to be working, most nights, (based on how I feel when I get up and if I wake up in the middle of the night) I just want my own. Any suggestions (except about my inability to be concise ) would be greatly appreciated. Also are ther certain masks for certain machines? I have a Full Respironics one piece mask. Thanks so much for listening.
-Walter
Re: Can't decide to buy or "rent" Please help!
Walter,
As silly as it sounds, the most important part of whether you'll rent or buy is really based on your insurance coverage.
Medicare, for instance, will only let you rent. That lasts for 13 months, and following that you own the unit outright. It's probably one reason why there are some DMEs that won't give you a straight answer, since I've encountered a couple that actually do not sell machines since they only deal with Medicare. Incredible ripoff for the country when they're billing $1500 for a $600 machine, but that's another discussion.
So the first call you should be making is to your insurance company to find out what their policies are, not just for rent/buy, but also because you need to know your in and out of network copays as well as if they won't cover machines with certain features (for instance, Anthem decided in its idio...err infinite wisdom that you don't need EPR/C/A-Flex and now need a trial of a straight CPAP before you'd be allowed an Auto unit, despite DMEs getting reimbursed the same amount by them for all units). That'll give you an idea if it's cheaper to buy online or through a DME if you can find one that will sell you something. There are also used machines available, both through a site affiliated with this sites owner as well as places like Craigslist.
Definitely check out the yellow bulb "Our Wisdom" up top - has a lot of answers in terms of what you should be looking for in terms of a machine.
Good luck!
As silly as it sounds, the most important part of whether you'll rent or buy is really based on your insurance coverage.
Medicare, for instance, will only let you rent. That lasts for 13 months, and following that you own the unit outright. It's probably one reason why there are some DMEs that won't give you a straight answer, since I've encountered a couple that actually do not sell machines since they only deal with Medicare. Incredible ripoff for the country when they're billing $1500 for a $600 machine, but that's another discussion.
So the first call you should be making is to your insurance company to find out what their policies are, not just for rent/buy, but also because you need to know your in and out of network copays as well as if they won't cover machines with certain features (for instance, Anthem decided in its idio...err infinite wisdom that you don't need EPR/C/A-Flex and now need a trial of a straight CPAP before you'd be allowed an Auto unit, despite DMEs getting reimbursed the same amount by them for all units). That'll give you an idea if it's cheaper to buy online or through a DME if you can find one that will sell you something. There are also used machines available, both through a site affiliated with this sites owner as well as places like Craigslist.
Definitely check out the yellow bulb "Our Wisdom" up top - has a lot of answers in terms of what you should be looking for in terms of a machine.
Good luck!
Re: Can't decide to buy or "rent" Please help!
If you buy from a reputable online dealer, you will get a fine machine with warranty. They only open up the box to set the unit with the pressure(s) from your Rx. Cpap.Com (the host of this forum) offers a large selection of machines and masks and will price-match if you find a better price at another dealer. You can also buy from cpapauction.com, but machines are often used, perhaps gently, and you'll get no warranty generally even on a "new" one. Like any auction site, you need to exchange email with the sellers, get photos, and buy with PayPal/credit card to give you some protection. You can get very good deals on the auction if you're patient.
If your budget is $300, that's not a lot for a new machine and humidifier, especially if you want one that will show you "it's doing its job" as you say. The IntelliPAP CPAP machine is a good one, but it will not provide any efficacy data, which is what tells you if xPAP is working for you. Compliance data is only necessary for insurance purposes and proves you are using the machine. If you have problems, you won't know why. (And just because you may not be having problems now, it doesn't mean you won't down the line.) If by "doing its job" you mean that the machine blows air, all you have to do is turn it on. You don't even need compliance data in that case.
Good luck.
If your budget is $300, that's not a lot for a new machine and humidifier, especially if you want one that will show you "it's doing its job" as you say. The IntelliPAP CPAP machine is a good one, but it will not provide any efficacy data, which is what tells you if xPAP is working for you. Compliance data is only necessary for insurance purposes and proves you are using the machine. If you have problems, you won't know why. (And just because you may not be having problems now, it doesn't mean you won't down the line.) If by "doing its job" you mean that the machine blows air, all you have to do is turn it on. You don't even need compliance data in that case.
Good luck.
_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Additional Comments: CPAP 6/5/2009, Rx: 11-16, OSCAR |
Re: Can't decide to buy or "rent" Please help!
The advantage of renting is that you get to "test drive" the machine and see if it's a fit for you.
For me, the algorithm of one machine was much better suited to my breathing than another.
I was so very grateful for the opportunity the sleep doc gave me to test out a few before plunking down the cash.
For me, the algorithm of one machine was much better suited to my breathing than another.
I was so very grateful for the opportunity the sleep doc gave me to test out a few before plunking down the cash.
_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine |
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Re: Can't decide to buy or "rent" Please help!
Well you have to buy as soon as possible. Renting has already been explianed why it happens.
If I were that low on cash, I would look for a discontinued machine. Your lucky as I was checking out the new remstar PR I found this site
http://www.youneedsleep.com/inc/sdetail/1090 I think they still want too much for it since the humidifier is not included.
I am using the c flex model that was just before this one with a swift LT mask. We just had a shoot out in this forum that featured the M series against the intellipap. I think it won too.
If I were that low on cash, I would look for a discontinued machine. Your lucky as I was checking out the new remstar PR I found this site
http://www.youneedsleep.com/inc/sdetail/1090 I think they still want too much for it since the humidifier is not included.
I am using the c flex model that was just before this one with a swift LT mask. We just had a shoot out in this forum that featured the M series against the intellipap. I think it won too.
Re: Can't decide to buy or "rent" Please help!
While it's true that some people do better with one algorithm versus another, algorithms are only a factor when choosing a automatic or bilevel. Walter's budget limits him to a straight CPAP machine, and hopefully he can find one with efficacy data.araminta wrote:The advantage of renting is that you get to "test drive" the machine and see if it's a fit for you.
For me, the algorithm of one machine was much better suited to my breathing than another.
I was so very grateful for the opportunity the sleep doc gave me to test out a few before plunking down the cash.
_________________
Machine: DreamStation BiPAP® Auto Machine |
Mask: DreamWear Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear |
jeff
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- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:31 pm
Re: Can't decide to buy or "rent" Please help!
Thanks for the quick responses.
old64mb, I will definately give my ins. co. a call. It still puzzles me that the supply co. I'm dealing with now, already has the info I need but they won't tell me until it's been covered by ins. for a year. They're taking money from me and the ins. co. and are still not giving any info.
twokatmew, the machine I'm looking at is this one https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/devil ... ystem.html. Unless I'm missing something or misread it, it does have smartcode for all the info I might need. I'm not interested in a humidifer at this time and sorry I was unclear but by "doing it's job" I meant, reducing my events to <5 (per my Dr.) It still begs the question, how can this machine be posted on CPAP.COM at that price yet on the DeVilbiss site for $600.00. I'm not trying to be confused about this, but if I just went with what I know now, spending $20 a month for what I have now is $240 dollars after a year or buying this one now, it's a no brainer. But, am I missing something in the translation?
To the others, I really don't mind straight CPAP, and not interested in experimenting at this time. If this were 5 months ago before my wife lost her job, dropping $1000. wouldn't have been a problem. So at least for now this is where I am. I feel confident that before long I'll be looking for another new machine and money won't be too much of an issue. Thanks for your responses. I really do appreciate your time and caring.
-Walter
old64mb, I will definately give my ins. co. a call. It still puzzles me that the supply co. I'm dealing with now, already has the info I need but they won't tell me until it's been covered by ins. for a year. They're taking money from me and the ins. co. and are still not giving any info.
twokatmew, the machine I'm looking at is this one https://www.cpap.com/cpap-machine/devil ... ystem.html. Unless I'm missing something or misread it, it does have smartcode for all the info I might need. I'm not interested in a humidifer at this time and sorry I was unclear but by "doing it's job" I meant, reducing my events to <5 (per my Dr.) It still begs the question, how can this machine be posted on CPAP.COM at that price yet on the DeVilbiss site for $600.00. I'm not trying to be confused about this, but if I just went with what I know now, spending $20 a month for what I have now is $240 dollars after a year or buying this one now, it's a no brainer. But, am I missing something in the translation?
To the others, I really don't mind straight CPAP, and not interested in experimenting at this time. If this were 5 months ago before my wife lost her job, dropping $1000. wouldn't have been a problem. So at least for now this is where I am. I feel confident that before long I'll be looking for another new machine and money won't be too much of an issue. Thanks for your responses. I really do appreciate your time and caring.
-Walter
Re: Can't decide to buy or "rent" Please help!
The machine you are looking at only shows compliance data. It will only tell you how many hours you've used the machine.
Brenda
Brenda
_________________
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control |
Additional Comments: Love my papillow, Aussie heated hose and PAD-A-CHEEKS! Also use Optilife, UMFF(with PADACHEEK gasket), and Headrest masks Pressure; 10.5 |
Re: Can't decide to buy or "rent" Please help!
If I were in your needs and financial situation, I would continue renting UNTIL I found a machine that I wanted (slightly used or sometimes even new) and which I could afford from a seller on http://www.cpapauction.com . I got a lightly used Sandman Auto APAP (25 hrs) in your price range and it's been extremely good, now with 1749 hrs 49 mins on it by me only. It is a fantastic machine and it was in your price range. I did not have, nor need, nor even want insurance to control / pay for my therapy. Be patient and you can find a great machine in your price range or for less on cpapauction.com (run by cpap.com the same as this forum) or even scour Craig's list, though you should be more wary of seller's on Craig's list. There is little to no good reason for you or insurance companies for you, to pay high profit full margin DME prices for PAP machines unless you want someone else to spoonfeed you. (Nothing personal, I'm part of that "you".)
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Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Additional Comments: Dental Appliance to keep my Mouth Shut & No Jaw Advancement, Contec CMS-50E Oximeter & v.98 software |
I MUST stay off my back to reduce OSA & snoring. I use a small backpack of solid styrofoam to keep me on my side (tennis balls too small), & use DIY customized soft foam pillow to keep my head in a side sleeping position to eliminate most OSA.