Are prices going up?

Paul B · Post by **Paul B** » Fri May 26, 2006 7:59 pm

http://www.cpapplus.com/CPAP_Supplies/CPAP_email.html

Bingo · Post by **Bingo** » Fri May 26, 2006 8:10 pm

I think that has to be some sort of hype trying to be stirred up by that website. I can't really think of another reason for something like that to be posted.

For one thing, the prices they quote are insane. No one pays $1,500.00 for a CPAP.

Add in the extremely inflammatory choice of words, and it begins to sound a whole lot like some of those internet emails you get explaining why Congress is wanting to pass a law taxing Stamps due to email.

Just my impression -

Bingo

wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Fri May 26, 2006 8:21 pm

The $1500 price for a $500 cpap is in line for what insurance companies are getting charged by many DME's.

I recently found this information out when I called about my CPAP due to a change of insurance.

I elected to buy out of pocket since I was basically paying for the CPAP with my co-pay and the insurance was paying $1000 for basically nothing.

Yes there needs to be some changes. The inurance copanies should be being billed the same as you or I, not some dramatically increased "usual and customary" fee schedule.

There is no wonder why insurance preiumims and healthcare cost in general are on such a rise.

SuxBeingU · Post by **SuxBeingU** » Fri May 26, 2006 8:55 pm

Don't let the ins co fool you. They get billed 1500 BUT have a contract with DMEs so they pay MAYBE 500.

I just got out of hospital. I was there for 11 hrs they ran a ton of tests, When I got the explanation of charges I was stunned

16K was the bill IF I had no insurance
200 is my Co Pay
2200 was what the INS actually paid Hospital

so Hospital gets 2400 for 11hr, which is still ridulous but INS saves almost 14K.

wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Fri May 26, 2006 9:09 pm

Even so, when your co-payment=what you would pay for CPAP over internet.... This mean that your insurance company is paying the $500, or whatever the amount may be for doing basicly nothing!!!!!

Bingo · Post by **Bingo** » Fri May 26, 2006 9:29 pm

Reimbursement for a CPAP will generally run around the $800 dollar range. There are a few rare cases where reimbursement will run up to $1200-$1300 range, however there are also dramatically extenuating circumstances that more than justify that charges.

Now add in that a traditional supplier is going to be required by law to have a very large number of expenses that an internet provider will not have, and the charges come very much in line.

By NO means is an insurance company "paying for nothing". It's the difference between a visit to a stockbrokers office and getting a consult on your investment portfolio and doing an online trade with E-Trade. Will actual PRODUCT be the same - yes. Will the purchase be totally different - absolutely.

Bingo

wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Fri May 26, 2006 10:15 pm

Point taken... but when I wind up basicly paying for the CPAP becasue they charged so much for it vs buying it online... I still get the opinion I have been ripped off.

Now maybe the 'extra" service you get might be worth it for a 1st time purchasher.

Still... product is product. A CPAP of same brand and model should be aproxmently the same price on-line or off.

Maybe the DMEs should simply charge a fee for their services.

As for the original post. I would doubt that CPAP on-line prices would be goign up. They may really be on the way down consider that AutoCPAPs are under consideration by the FDA to be sold without an Rx.

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DME_Guy · Post by **DME_Guy** » Fri May 26, 2006 10:48 pm

I think there is some hype in the amount of price increase but I do know of one Major CPAP manufacture that is implementing an Internet sales policy soon. The price for their equipment will probably increase on the Internet. Even their packaging for masks will be different so they know for sure that distributors aren't selling their masks at a distributor price on the Internet.

Once the one company does it, I think there will be a lot of pressure on the other companies to follow suit from the DMEs - mainly the national DMEs.

DME_Guy · Post by **DME_Guy** » Fri May 26, 2006 10:49 pm

Well said and very true.

[quote="Bingo"]Reimbursement for a CPAP will generally run around the $800 dollar range. There are a few rare cases where reimbursement will run up to $1200-$1300 range, however there are also dramatically extenuating circumstances that more than justify that charges.

Now add in that a traditional supplier is going to be required by law to have a very large number of expenses that an internet provider will not have, and the charges come very much in line.

By NO means is an insurance company "paying for nothing". It's the difference between a visit to a stockbrokers office and getting a consult on your investment portfolio and doing an online trade with E-Trade. Will actual PRODUCT be the same - yes. Will the purchase be totally different - absolutely.

Bingo

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Sat May 27, 2006 7:04 am

How soon are you talking about this major supplier changing things? I would like to be prepared and buy what I need before this happens.

DME_Guy · Post by **DME_Guy** » Sat May 27, 2006 8:09 am

I don't have an exact date but was told soon. Soon could mean next week or n 3 months. If I find out more, I'll post it up.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Sat May 27, 2006 8:36 am

thanks

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 27, 2006 8:36 am

Which supplier is rumored to be having these large increases?

RedThunder94 · Post by **RedThunder94** » Sat May 27, 2006 8:37 am

so it's true. this sux, i guess they don't wanna allow any loss in profits, friggin 'tards.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 27, 2006 8:46 am

Are prices going up? Yes.

Restriction #1 No dealing internationally (COMPLETED)

Restriction #2 No dealing to other dealers (IN PROGRESS)

Restriction #3 Minimum internet price levels (LEGAL COMPLETE, IMPLAMENTATION COMING)

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