Does anyone actually pay DME "retail" prices

[indyredsfan]

I really don't understand the purpose of the ridiculously high "retail" prices charged by DME's for supplies. I can't see why anyone would ever actually pay them. I recently had to order filters for my ResMed S9. My insurance covers my supplies at 90% after my deductible is met. I knew I had not yet met my deductible for 2013, so I would be paying the total out of pocket. When I called the DME they quoted me a "retail" charge of $34.70 for a pack of two filters. I knew that I would only actually end up having to pay the discounted price negotiated by the insurance company with the DME. (The DME is "in network" for my insurance company.)

I asked the DME how much that would be, but they said they could not tell me until after the claim was filed. I thought about just ordering them online (pack of 6 for under $12.00). However I wanted whatever I did pay to add to my accumulating deductible, so I went ahead and placed the order. I have been watching my claims on the insurance company's web site to see what I needed to pay. It finally came through. The DME billed $34.70. That got knocked down to $5.50. As expected since I had not met my deductible, the entire $5.50 is my responsibility, and that amount was added to my accumulating deductible.

Would anyone actually pay $34.70 for two small, disposable filters? If you don't have insurance to help pay or at least get the heavily discounted insurance company rate, why would you go through the DME at all? The DME had previously quoted me a "retail" price of $360 for a full face mask and headgear, but I knew that price was fiction as well, and when I do need to order one it will be heavily discounted.

Does anyone ever pay the ridiculous "retail" DME prices?

[chunkyfrog]

We do know that ridiculous prices exist because somebody was fool enough to pay that much--at least in somebody's fantasy.

[49er]

The technician I dealt with at my first sleep doctor's office claimed that if I went through a DME, I would get better care. I didn't due to not having health insurance and couldn't get this guy to understand that.

Not sure why anyone would pay shark like prices if they don't have health insurance but I am sure someone does.

49er

I really don't understand the purpose of the ridiculously high "retail" prices charged by DME's for supplies. I can't see why anyone would ever actually pay them. I recently had to order filters for my ResMed S9. My insurance covers my supplies at 90% after my deductible is met. I knew I had not yet met my deductible for 2013, so I would be paying the total out of pocket. When I called the DME they quoted me a "retail" charge of $34.70 for a pack of two filters. I knew that I would only actually end up having to pay the discounted price negotiated by the insurance company with the DME. (The DME is "in network" for my insurance company.)

I asked the DME how much that would be, but they said they could not tell me until after the claim was filed. I thought about just ordering them online (pack of 6 for under $12.00). However I wanted whatever I did pay to add to my accumulating deductible, so I went ahead and placed the order. I have been watching my claims on the insurance company's web site to see what I needed to pay. It finally came through. The DME billed $34.70. That got knocked down to $5.50. As expected since I had not met my deductible, the entire $5.50 is my responsibility, and that amount was added to my accumulating deductible.

Would anyone actually pay $34.70 for two small, disposable filters? If you don't have insurance to help pay or at least get the heavily discounted insurance company rate, why would you go through the DME at all? The DME had previously quoted me a "retail" price of $360 for a full face mask and headgear, but I knew that price was fiction as well, and when I do need to order one it will be heavily discounted.

Does anyone ever pay the ridiculous "retail" DME prices?

[BlackSpinner]

They get it from sleep deprived people who have no insurance and are desperate.

Remember sleep deprivation is proven to impair short term memory and decision making. That makes people sitting ducks for the DME's. Quack quack quack.