My insurance is great. 100%. I go back to the sleep doctor in another 3 weeks (4 weeks from start) and at that point we decide to buy or rent. Renting seems silly but probably comes in handy with more expensive units like BiPAP and APAP.
Should I buy or rent this system listed below? They're not too pricey comparitively. Any suggestions? How does one decide?
Should I buy or rent the CPAP?
13 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Should I buy or rent the CPAP?
_________________
| Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
| Mask: Eson™ 2 Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: EPAP: 8 IPAP: 15 PS: 3.0 |
My answer will be a little long-winded but here goes!
The Rent or Purchase option works out like this IN MOST CASES: ** See note at end
An insurance company will generally pay for 12 or 15 months on an item before it will no longer pay. This is called a capped rental (An item "Caps Out").
The decision to rent or to purchase depends on many factors.
A critical point is this though: IN MOST CASES, after the initial period is over, the item STILL WILL NOT BILL no matter which option you choose. There is a 6 month maitenence fee that is charged, but this is generally a very minimal charge.
For example - a CPAP (Or any type of xPAP for that matter) might rent for $94.95 per month. This is inclusive of all supplies to start with. After 10 months, you will be given the choice to rent or purchase.
If you choose purchase, it will rent for an additional 3 months, and then at that time you will own the equipment. No more charges will be billed. It is yours just as if you bought it yourself at a store.
If you choose the rental option, it will rent for an additional 3 months. At that time, it will flip to Capped Rental Status. No more charges will be billed. However, ownership of the equipment will be by whomever your equipment provider is. Every 6 months, a matienance fee will be billed to cover upkeep costs.
The biggest concept to understand though, in my opinion, is upkeep.
When you choose the purchase option, you are responsible for the costs of ALL repairs except for warranty issues. However, since you own the equipment, you may often be responsible for handling your own warranty problems. That depends upon the specific company. Some will help you out in the interest of being a good neighbor and some will not. Certainly there is no requirement that they do.
When you choose the rental option, all upkeep and maitenance is the responsibility of the equipment provider. If the unit goes bad, they have to fix it.
With many CPAPs this will be a very low priority issue. They generally run well. However, just be aware that if you choose the purchase option, you do run the chance of being put into a bad position.
My general opinion is this:
Once the machine is totally kaput or I've shuffled off this mortal coil, I've no need for the equipment. Why not just choose rental and let someone else worry all about it?
xPAP's can be a different story in that sometimes insurance companies will rent for the initial 3 months to ensure compliance, THEN flip to a rental or purchase.
Bingo
The Rent or Purchase option works out like this IN MOST CASES: ** See note at end
An insurance company will generally pay for 12 or 15 months on an item before it will no longer pay. This is called a capped rental (An item "Caps Out").
The decision to rent or to purchase depends on many factors.
A critical point is this though: IN MOST CASES, after the initial period is over, the item STILL WILL NOT BILL no matter which option you choose. There is a 6 month maitenence fee that is charged, but this is generally a very minimal charge.
For example - a CPAP (Or any type of xPAP for that matter) might rent for $94.95 per month. This is inclusive of all supplies to start with. After 10 months, you will be given the choice to rent or purchase.
If you choose purchase, it will rent for an additional 3 months, and then at that time you will own the equipment. No more charges will be billed. It is yours just as if you bought it yourself at a store.
If you choose the rental option, it will rent for an additional 3 months. At that time, it will flip to Capped Rental Status. No more charges will be billed. However, ownership of the equipment will be by whomever your equipment provider is. Every 6 months, a matienance fee will be billed to cover upkeep costs.
The biggest concept to understand though, in my opinion, is upkeep.
When you choose the purchase option, you are responsible for the costs of ALL repairs except for warranty issues. However, since you own the equipment, you may often be responsible for handling your own warranty problems. That depends upon the specific company. Some will help you out in the interest of being a good neighbor and some will not. Certainly there is no requirement that they do.
When you choose the rental option, all upkeep and maitenance is the responsibility of the equipment provider. If the unit goes bad, they have to fix it.
With many CPAPs this will be a very low priority issue. They generally run well. However, just be aware that if you choose the purchase option, you do run the chance of being put into a bad position.
My general opinion is this:
Once the machine is totally kaput or I've shuffled off this mortal coil, I've no need for the equipment. Why not just choose rental and let someone else worry all about it?
xPAP's can be a different story in that sometimes insurance companies will rent for the initial 3 months to ensure compliance, THEN flip to a rental or purchase.
Bingo
You make a very very good case for renting. I wouldn't want the machine to stop working after 5 years and have to pay to fix it, although I could just go through my insurance again to buy another one. But at that price (about $550 for the unit and another $125 for the Mirage Swift Nasal Pillows, it starts to get a little pricey.)
Hmmmm. Decisions decisions. I'm sure the representative will go into more details at my sleep disorder clinic. I got really lucky and my doctor recommended the sleep doctor who apparently brought this sort of thing to Texas in the first place. Dr. Duhon. I hear good things about him all over the place. Apparently, alot of the clinics are some sort of fly by night we diagnose MOST type oganizations who are diagnosing people who don't even have sleep apnea.
Then again, having the equipment purchased and owned by me is a great thing should my insurance change for the worse. I've never worked for a company that has as great of insurance as I do now. So I definitely don't want to leave ever!
Hmmmm. Decisions decisions. I'm sure the representative will go into more details at my sleep disorder clinic. I got really lucky and my doctor recommended the sleep doctor who apparently brought this sort of thing to Texas in the first place. Dr. Duhon. I hear good things about him all over the place. Apparently, alot of the clinics are some sort of fly by night we diagnose MOST type oganizations who are diagnosing people who don't even have sleep apnea.
Then again, having the equipment purchased and owned by me is a great thing should my insurance change for the worse. I've never worked for a company that has as great of insurance as I do now. So I definitely don't want to leave ever!
_________________
| Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
| Mask: Eson™ 2 Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: EPAP: 8 IPAP: 15 PS: 3.0 |
I should have mentioned, and you certainly reminded me:
Insurance companies will pay for new equipment APPROXIMATELY every 5 years.
Note that this is not simply a call up and get new equipment either. 5 years is the minimum expected usable lifetime of these sorts of machines.
If, after 5 years, a purcahsed unit is no longer working obtain a new Rx from your doctor. The new prescription would need to state the equipmetn needed, along with a notation that the old equipment was no longer functioning and was uneconomical to repair (Assuming this is the case).
Bingo
Insurance companies will pay for new equipment APPROXIMATELY every 5 years.
Note that this is not simply a call up and get new equipment either. 5 years is the minimum expected usable lifetime of these sorts of machines.
If, after 5 years, a purcahsed unit is no longer working obtain a new Rx from your doctor. The new prescription would need to state the equipmetn needed, along with a notation that the old equipment was no longer functioning and was uneconomical to repair (Assuming this is the case).
Bingo
This is NOT a delicate decision but it's sounding like renting is a very viable option but that buying it might also be a very viable option if these things run like say my television set. That thing has been running solid since 1999 or so. There are better models out there with fancier features (SDTV and HDTV to name a couple) but my set just keeps on ticking. It's an odd example but it'll work for this purpose. One day, it'll get older, like my friend's 17 year old TV and something WILL eventually go wrong with it. And THEN I'll replace it. Not just for a feature but to be able to see the thing. If I have to swat it on the side like i USED to older sets all the time, then I'll replace it long before that. Heheh.
Hmmmmm. This is a hard decision to make. But it sounds like when you're renting you don't have to pay EVERY SINGLE month that you have the unit. There IS a cut-off date, no? The only difference seems to be WHO owns it and who's going to fix it? No? Maintanence fee is low? Yes? How much is low? Is it once every 6 months or ever year?
Hmmmmm. This is a hard decision to make. But it sounds like when you're renting you don't have to pay EVERY SINGLE month that you have the unit. There IS a cut-off date, no? The only difference seems to be WHO owns it and who's going to fix it? No? Maintanence fee is low? Yes? How much is low? Is it once every 6 months or ever year?
_________________
| Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
| Mask: Eson™ 2 Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: EPAP: 8 IPAP: 15 PS: 3.0 |
Correct. The fees stop after the 13th or 15th month, depending on a couple factors. Usually it will be the 12th month.
The maitenance fee is only every 6 months, and that is billed to insurance.
The fees are very low, often in the 20-75 dollar range. If you have 80/20 insurance, you would only need to pay the 20%. Since you already said you have 100% coverage, you pay nothing.
Yes, the primary difference will also just be that if you choose rental, you are not responsible for any of the repair costs as long as you are renting, which can be forever if you choose.
You also cannot switch from rental to purchase down the line, unless you end up needing all new equipment with a new prescription (Such as if you needed to change from a CPAP to a BiLevel machine). In that case, with the new equipment the procedure starts over again, with the 13/15 month rental and option to purchase.
For any more specific questions, I would contact your equipment provider. They will be a much better source of more detailed answers!
Bingo
The maitenance fee is only every 6 months, and that is billed to insurance.
The fees are very low, often in the 20-75 dollar range. If you have 80/20 insurance, you would only need to pay the 20%. Since you already said you have 100% coverage, you pay nothing.
Yes, the primary difference will also just be that if you choose rental, you are not responsible for any of the repair costs as long as you are renting, which can be forever if you choose.
You also cannot switch from rental to purchase down the line, unless you end up needing all new equipment with a new prescription (Such as if you needed to change from a CPAP to a BiLevel machine). In that case, with the new equipment the procedure starts over again, with the 13/15 month rental and option to purchase.
For any more specific questions, I would contact your equipment provider. They will be a much better source of more detailed answers!
Bingo
Interesting issue for you. Especially since your insurance covers 100%.
Very lucky for you. The issue I would look at is just how much is this annual maintenance fee? Is it enough that you could buy another machine with it in 3 or 4 years? Warrenty is 2 years, so that much you should be covered on either way. And who pays this maintenance charge? You or the insurance company. Do you have to pay the maintenance for the first two years while it is under factory warrenty?
Seems to me it is like the "do I buy the service contract on the mp3 player I just bought, and the refridgerator, and the microwave, and the boom box....... Or do I accept the risk that maybe one of these items only will fail and the money I saved on all those contracts will be used to replace the one failed unit? (If the maintenance fee is out of your pocket). And probably the replacement for the item that fails will come from a different manufacturer.
Also, is the purchase cost the same as the total of the rental costs? Or is it more? One would expect that due to the time value of money the rental cost should be slightly higher (or there should be a cash discount).
I don't like renting things purely because I pay and pay and in the end I have nothing. Technically if the insurance will buy you a new one in 5 years, and the old one is still working, if you buy it you will own a backup or can dispose of the old one as you will. Might be some residual cash value there, don't know.
So anyway, you need to lay out each situation. See how much of whose money is being spent and decide if you think your current insurance situation will continue and only then can you make a good sound decision.
Very lucky for you. The issue I would look at is just how much is this annual maintenance fee? Is it enough that you could buy another machine with it in 3 or 4 years? Warrenty is 2 years, so that much you should be covered on either way. And who pays this maintenance charge? You or the insurance company. Do you have to pay the maintenance for the first two years while it is under factory warrenty?
Seems to me it is like the "do I buy the service contract on the mp3 player I just bought, and the refridgerator, and the microwave, and the boom box....... Or do I accept the risk that maybe one of these items only will fail and the money I saved on all those contracts will be used to replace the one failed unit? (If the maintenance fee is out of your pocket). And probably the replacement for the item that fails will come from a different manufacturer.
Also, is the purchase cost the same as the total of the rental costs? Or is it more? One would expect that due to the time value of money the rental cost should be slightly higher (or there should be a cash discount).
I don't like renting things purely because I pay and pay and in the end I have nothing. Technically if the insurance will buy you a new one in 5 years, and the old one is still working, if you buy it you will own a backup or can dispose of the old one as you will. Might be some residual cash value there, don't know.
So anyway, you need to lay out each situation. See how much of whose money is being spent and decide if you think your current insurance situation will continue and only then can you make a good sound decision.
Good points. I hope to be at my current job in 5 years, for one. But if not, I'd like to atleast own one of these hot little convertibles....lol...I mean CPAP machines for my very own. I wouldn't actually buy a 2nd until I really NEED one. Well.....maybe a back-up would be nice but I'm assuming I have to bring in the dead machine or something silly like that (who can really blame the insurance companies if there are lotsa people frauding them.)
Sure, if I NEEDED a Bi-PAP or APAP, I'm going to get one. For sure! But in this case I'm weighing everything. On one hand the machine could die in less than 5 years and I would be out of luck up to and including 5 years unless I suddenly NEEDED the Bi-PAP or APAP at that moment. Hard to imagine. But in this case, with a unit that usually lasts 5 years without problems, It almost sounds like I should buy it. I mean, it COULD last 5 years. It COULD last 15 years! I'm hoping for the latter.
It's still a hard decision to make. In the end I don't own the rental but they pay to fix it at anytime it needs it. It sounds like no money out of pocket either way.
I think I'm going to buy it. What if I wasn't working here next month? Rental fees would be all mine to pay and buying one would become cheaper then. When would I NEED to buy one under that scenario? Only if it breaks during the first 5 years. Even then it's well worth the money to feel like THIS every day. It's an hour before I get off work and I feel great. The day seems to be going by even faster than before. It's because I'm not falling asleep all day long and all night long. My wife seriously thought I had narcalepsy.
Sure, if I NEEDED a Bi-PAP or APAP, I'm going to get one. For sure! But in this case I'm weighing everything. On one hand the machine could die in less than 5 years and I would be out of luck up to and including 5 years unless I suddenly NEEDED the Bi-PAP or APAP at that moment. Hard to imagine. But in this case, with a unit that usually lasts 5 years without problems, It almost sounds like I should buy it. I mean, it COULD last 5 years. It COULD last 15 years! I'm hoping for the latter.
It's still a hard decision to make. In the end I don't own the rental but they pay to fix it at anytime it needs it. It sounds like no money out of pocket either way.
I think I'm going to buy it. What if I wasn't working here next month? Rental fees would be all mine to pay and buying one would become cheaper then. When would I NEED to buy one under that scenario? Only if it breaks during the first 5 years. Even then it's well worth the money to feel like THIS every day. It's an hour before I get off work and I feel great. The day seems to be going by even faster than before. It's because I'm not falling asleep all day long and all night long. My wife seriously thought I had narcalepsy.
_________________
| Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
| Mask: Eson™ 2 Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: EPAP: 8 IPAP: 15 PS: 3.0 |
If your insurance will pay 100%, it's a no brainer IMO. Can you guarantee that you'll be at the same company 5 years from now or even that if you are, you will be offered the same great insurance? My employer's insurance plan changes about every 2 years. Sometimes they improve the plan, but most of the time the premium goes up and the pay-out goes down.
As for the equipment, my Remstar Choice is still running after 9 years of almost daily use. Besides, I'm feeling a bit left out since mine doesn't have all the fancy bells and whistles I've been reading so much about. Seems like you'd want to trade it in every 5 years or so for the latest and greatest.
Just my thoughts. Which ever way you choose to go, you'll have done the right thing - getting your therapy started!
As for the equipment, my Remstar Choice is still running after 9 years of almost daily use. Besides, I'm feeling a bit left out since mine doesn't have all the fancy bells and whistles I've been reading so much about. Seems like you'd want to trade it in every 5 years or so for the latest and greatest.
Just my thoughts. Which ever way you choose to go, you'll have done the right thing - getting your therapy started!
_________________
| Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
| Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Sorry. I forgot to say...purchase it, of course!
_________________
| Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
| Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Hmmmm. Still thinking. I still have lots of time to decide. Who determines if I need CPAP or APAP? Or Bi-PAP? Me? The sleep doctor? They gave me a CPAP with C-Flex to try out. Perhaps one setting works well for me? Perhaps not. Time will tell. But vs. nothing at all, it would be very hard to tell if I could be getting even better rest. I've gone from awful to good or even very good. Maybe even excellent within a month or two.
What if I start off using CPAP and need to upgrade? Would renting make that easier? Or would buying?
What if I start off using CPAP and need to upgrade? Would renting make that easier? Or would buying?
_________________
| Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
| Mask: Eson™ 2 Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: EPAP: 8 IPAP: 15 PS: 3.0 |
I thought I had made my decision but I had another question so I edited it and added this one to show it updated on the list.
_________________
| Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier |
| Mask: Eson™ 2 Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear |
| Additional Comments: EPAP: 8 IPAP: 15 PS: 3.0 |
I haven't read all of the previous responses, but here's my 2 cents.
I would buy a Remstar Auto with cflex. Your machine is the newest Respironics M, but it's still a cpap.
I would buy a Remstar Auto with cflex. Your machine is the newest Respironics M, but it's still a cpap.
_________________
| Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine |
| Humidifier: DreamStation Heated Humidifier |
| Additional Comments: Compliant since April 2003. (De-cap-itated Aura). |
13 posts
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