Parts, Parts, and more parts, but never the ones I want

[robysue]

Once more I'm cleaning Kaa and getting ready for a trip and it dawns on me that I just don't understand my insurance company's replacement schedule.

I have more long hoses in good condition than you can shake a stick at: My insurance company replaces them every three months if I want a new hose. I've been PAPing now for almost three years. In that time, I have had exactly two hoses develop problems with holes/rips. One was my very first hose back when I was using an S9 and the stress on the coupling as the hose bent coming out from the back of the S9 eventually lead to a small tear that was repairable with duct tape. A second hose developed the same problem about the time I switched over to the System One. I've also "lost" one hose due to it developing a "crushed" area where the stiff ribbing sort of collapsed. But this still leaves me with something like five or six fully functional hoses. I one retire to the closet when I get tired of three (or more) hoses hanging on my hose hooks. I date them so I always know which to retire.

My insurance company replaces the humidifier tank every six months. I've never had one break. I've never had any hint of pink slime or any other color of slime for that matter. It didn't use to be so bad: I like to cycle through two tanks at a time. When a new one comes, I retire the cloudiest of the old ones to the back corner of the closet. But now I also have the dang useless (to me) cover for a Series 60 tank in the box to throw away as soon as I open it. And I hate tossing brand new things into the trash. So even though these tops are useless to me, they too tend to get thrown into the back corner of the closet.

I've got more grey reusable filters than I care to think about. And no good way to date them. Insurance replaces them either once every three months or once every six months---I can't remember. But they never seem to wear out. And I wash them regularly.

I've also got a large collection of unused Swift FX thin cloth covers for the sides of the silicone frame. They're unused because I use a Padacheek frame cover that covers the entire silicone strap.

In short, I'm amazed and a bit appalled at how much "garbage" PAPing generates. But other than worn out pillows and dirty white filters I hate tossing it all in the trash. So all the parts just get retired to the closet.

But what about pillows and white filters--- the two kinds of parts that I care about replacing??

Insurance pays for one white filter a month and I really ought to change them weekly since I don't keep the house all that clean. I buy them on-line and it's not too bad, even with shipping.

And then there are the nasal pillows. My stupid insurance company will pay (50%) for my choice of ONE PILLOW or ONE MASK every six months. You read that right: No replacement pillows between masks. If I pick up a pillow today, I have to wait six months to get either a new mask or a new set of pillows. And try as hard as I can, I just can't make one set of pillows last six months. And I really prefer to rotate a pair of pillows. And pillows (even at CPAP.com) are ridiculously expensive. $22 plus shipping for a single pair.

Yes, I know about the Great Pillow Exchange and have participated in it. But the fact remains: I am frustrated by my insurance's overly stingy replacement schedule for pillows. And right now my newer pair is about 2 1/2 months old and they're starting to bother me, and my insurance won't pay for another replacement until November.

Sorry for the rant folks.

But out of curiosity: What do folks do with all their retired equipment? Toss it in the trash? Stuff it in a closest "just in case"? (But seriously, how many hoses do I need for "just in case"?) Creative re-use of the equipment?

[LSAT]

Just because insurance will replace it doesn't mean a person has to take it. If it's not worn out and still usable why get another one just to stuff in a closet or replace a perfectly good item when its still usable. I don't save anything because I use my supplies until they wear out and are unusable.(Of course, I have a backup for everything.) I agree that most insurance replacement schedules don't make sense.

An idea to reuse an old hose is to cut it with a scissors and use it to cover cords that run along the baseboards.

[Janknitz]

I have a collection of hoses I don't want and didn't need because Crapria ALWAYS sends the wrong ones (I like the performance hoses) and it's not worth the trouble to fight with them about. I ask them not to send them, and they always talk me into it. I feel like Charlie Brown and the football--he KNOWS Lucy is going to pull it away at the last second, but he always tries to kick it anyway.

If anybody is desperate for a hose . . .

[pootsie]

Crapria

LOL

I just spoke with the very friendly lady at my local office last week, to get six new filters and a new FX pillow.

I received a giant box (mostly with air packaging) containing the pillow, FOUR filters, and one new hose that no one ever mentioned.

So, yeah, I have an extra hose. And I also have an extra Swift FX size large nasal pillow to trade for the medium.

And I've only been on CPAP for three months!

[Stormynights]

Send extras to Pugsy. Someone will need them. Pugsy buys stuff to give away.

[ems]

I sent one mask that didn't work for me to someone on the forum. Then I got another one that didn't work and sent it to a different friend.

I don't have that much "stuff"... just a small draw full.

BTW... thanks, robysue, for reminding me to check my filter!

[xdman911]

I called and ordered a Wisp Nasal Pillow Replacement (My Insurance Covers 2 a month) and the bill says Nasal Pillow and $27.51 being billed to insurance for payment. They sent me the entire fit pack to include all 3 size pillows, head gear and small hose. I looked at the reference number on the bill and it doesn't match the packaging. Error on their part hopefully turns into something nice for me. Waiting on a call back tomorrow to see what they are going to do. As far as I remember the lady said they do not accept any cpap returns. They accidently double shipped filters and said they would zero out the balance as the insurance would only pay for one pack every 3 months. (2 filters a month)

[mgaggie]

First world problems...

I have no insurance, so I have to pay for everything out of pocket.

[Goofproof]

Think like Nancy R, just say know, the ins company needs your ok to bill. Stop ok-ing the billing. When the money drys up so will the oversupply. Jim

I keep spares for everything and rotate the stock so it remains fresh, but I also tell Lincare I don't want what I don't need.

[robysue]

I called and ordered a Wisp Nasal Pillow Replacement (My Insurance Covers 2 a month)

And I'm green with envy since it will be November before I'm "entitled" to get my next pair of pillows through my insurance.

My main DME used to help me out with this problem: When the pillows would get to the point where I was fighting with them (leaks and inverted cone problems) two or three months early, they'd often give me a pair gratis to tide me over until my insurance would pay for a pair. But the main DME no longer stocks ResMed masks, and the secondary DME that I use only for masks is, alas, not so accommodating.

[robysue]

I keep spares for everything and rotate the stock so it remains fresh, but I also tell Lincare I don't want what I don't need.

Yeah, I could easily fix the problem of excess hoses by simply telling the DME "no, I don't think I'll pick one up this month." I've done that sometimes. Other times, I've gone ahead and bought them mainly just to stick my insurance company with some kind of a charge since they WON'T pay for the part I really want and need to replace .....

In other words, the problem I can't fix is my insurance company's excessively stingy replacement cycle for nasal pillows

[Goofproof]

I keep spares for everything and rotate the stock so it remains fresh, but I also tell Lincare I don't want what I don't need.

Yeah, I could easily fix the problem of excess hoses by simply telling the DME "no, I don't think I'll pick one up this month." I've done that sometimes. Other times, I've gone ahead and bought them mainly just to stick my insurance company with some kind of a charge since they WON'T pay for the part I really want and need to replace .....

In other words, the problem I can't fix is my insurance company's excessively stingy replacement cycle for nasal pillows

The problem is probably caused by medicare replacement cycles, most use that for a guideline. The other solution stock up and resell, using the cash to buy onling what you need, I know, a pain! The masks I use outlast the replacement time for repair parts. Jim