New Machine on Order (Insurance Company Idiots)

[rayt435]

I have been using a Resmed S8 for about 34 months. The last visit to the Dr. showed that I had not used the machine 184 days during the last year. That is completely false as I have used the machine all but two nights. So the data logging is borked in the machine.

Insurance will not cover a new machine because it has not been three years on the current machine. Insurance will NOT pay for the repair of the old machine. Machine is also out of warranty. Repair costs were going to be high. Everything seems to work but the Dr. does not know if he can trust the numbers and does not trust the machine anymore. So a new machine is on order. I thought about waiting 3 months until the three years was up but my really, really lousy insurance changed those plans.

Insurance would have covered a new machine, rented over 10 months, and applied to my deductible. The insurance would have paid nothing because of my high deductible. Did I mention my insurance really, really sucks? Anyway, to get the S9 Resmed machine from the DME was going to cost $1700.00. Only through CPAP.COM the cost was about $1100.00. I called my insurance company to see if they would apply the $1100.00 to my deductible. They said no because CPAP.COM was not an authorized supplier.

I then asked the insurance company if part of their goal was to reduce healthcare costs. They said yes. I then asked why I would have to pay an additional $600.00 for the exact same product. They said they needed an approved provider. I questioned why the difference when the products were identical. They just said they needed an approved provider. I smell kickback somewhere along the line.

So I am footing the bill for a new Resmed S9 Autoset out of my own pocket with nothing applied to my deductible. For me to pay an additional $600 in the hopes that I may exceed my deductible this year is absolutely stupid. The healthcare system in this country is an absolute joke run by number crunchers that don't give a rats rearend about making people better.

Now what to do with the old S8 machine.

[Sheriff Buford]

You think it's bad now.... wait for O'bama-care... the healthcare in this country is the best in the world. The problem is ACCESS and INSURANCE.

Sheriff

[Pugsy]

now what to do with the old S8 machine.

Keep it for a back up machine. You never know when it might come in handy.
With the usage hours being buggered up kinda difficult to offer it for sale unless you disclose it and then that fact would greatly reduce the already reduced value do to hours of use and old technology.

[nanwilson]

If it were me...I would keep it as a back up. My backup is a straight cpap, but who cares, in case of an emergency I can use it.........its better than no machine.

[NateS]

You think it's bad now.... wait for O'bama-care... the healthcare in this country is the best in the world. The problem is ACCESS and INSURANCE.

Sheriff

Please show us the provision under which the original poster's dilemma would be made worse instead of better under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Pr ... e_Care_Act

[chunkyfrog]

I used my Flex to pay $853 for my S9 Autoset, as the best I could get from local DME buttheads was an Elite.
I spend upwards of two grand for a new hearing aid every 4 years --out of pocket, so the money was a no-brainer.
A casket costs way more than all that put together, and no one really enjoys it.

[Slartybartfast]

Y'know, that's a good way to think about it. My MIL passed away a couple of years ago. I called Costco and ordered a nice casket for $900 and change. Delivered within 24 hours. I paid a little more than that for my S9 AUtoset with humidifier and a few goodies, all out of pocket, but after haggling with the insurance company it was a no-brainer. Casket or APAP? Your choice.