Can a prescription expire & what to do about cpap supplies

[anglett]

My doctor gave me a prescription because I was thinking of purchasing a second mask to have as a back up. I was thinking of buying one from cpap.com and use the prescription he gave me but it's from November. Does anyone know if there's an expiration on prescriptions?

Also, when I talked to the RT at the DME when I picked up my machine in November I asked her how I would get supplies for my machine, and she said that customer service would call me when it was time for them to send me things. I haven't heard from them and I tried to call them today and they were closed by the time I got off work. I'm not sure how often I should replace the filter. I was given a replacement schedule that is based on medicare allowances and she said my insurance should be similar. It says a filter should be replaced once a month and also a face mask interface. I've read a few posts though where a bunch of people don't replace the mask parts that often and with using the pad a cheek I believe it will help make it last longer than a month. With a filter though, I think I would like to have it replaced every month. Obviously though I've had my machine since the beginning of November and same filter.

Another question I have is would it be cheaper just to purchase the filters online through cpap.com rather than my DME because they're Apria. They didn't give me an itemized bill for anything I received to let me know how much anything cost. I wish they had a website where I could order things. It's one thing I hate is bad customer service and I'm worried that's what I'll get when I call them. I haven't heard too many good things about them although they were nice at the local office, but the local office won't supply what I need for replacements.

Also, I was trying to decide if I would do good getting the hypoallergenic filters for the S9. Does anyone use them and think they are better than the regular ones that come standard with the machine?

Basically, January has rolled around and so has my health insurance. I am back up to a $1,500 deductible and before my insurance pays out a single dime I have to meet that deductible so I will be paying every single penny of all doctor's visits, tests, prescriptions, supplies, etc. I need to find out what is going to be cheaper for me, either paying Apria for supplies that could cost more or buying online cheaper but it not counting toward my insurance deductible.

[Pugsy]

You might check EBay for the filters. I bought 24 white fine disposable filters for my machine for $11.99 with free shipping.
My DME charges $7 for one filter.

BTW cpap machine and mask RX may or may not have an expiration date. It depends on how the doctor wrote with. If there is an expiration date it is usually 1 year. My RX says lifetime on it.

[anglett]

Ok, thanks Pugsy, I'll check EBay. $7.00..wow seriously are they for real?

I meant to get him to write my mask prescription for lifetime but I forgot. The day I went into his office I had a migraine and I wasn't all there. I am kicking myself now since he's closed his practice and I am now searching for a new doc. I might be able to get him to right me another if I really need it but was going to go ahead and try to get this mask I was looking at and might be a little more comfortable than my current one.

[archangle]

Realize that if you are sure you are going to meet your deductible for the year, you should make purchasing decisions as if you don't have a deductible. If you buy a $100 item at the beginning of the year, you pay $100, but you get the $80 back later in the year because you meet your deductible earlier.

Of course, you have to come up with the $80 now, rather than later.

(Assumes 80% reimbursement rate.)

If you're buying through insurance, get replacement parts as they are offered until you have one or two spares of everything. Then order replacements as you wear them out.

[Bobby269]

Here's the website for Apria. http://apria.com/wps/portal/apria/home