Apria hose caution

[dwrek]

Just received a new replacement hose (non heated) from Apria. It's my second hose from them, but they have gone generic with the product they sent. It is about 4 inches longer, white, much thinner and it stretched and buckled at the connector causing a pinch and my machine to overcompensate. So I flipped it around and it did the same on the other end. My ResMed hoses never did that. It's just another one of the pieces that I am getting that is more generic from them.

Even my new mask looks like it was fitted with a generic cushion as it's thinner and more flimsy than the OEM. When I've called to complain on other inferior replacements in the past they claim its the same part number and can't believe there is any quality difference.

If you get one of these hoses, check where it meets the rubber connector at the end for stretching so your airflow doesn't get constricted.

[Julie]

You can get very inexpensive hoses on your own (Cpapsupply.com) so unless you're peniless, why not get the ones you want?

[chunkyfrog]

So what was your co-pay on the hose?
I bought this:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... ubing.html
(not that price; call them for a better price)

[Denial Dave]

If you must deal with Apria, all you have to do is notify Apria that you do not want generic replacements.

Specify that you only want manufacturer replacement hoses, headgear, etc...

[chunkyfrog]

If they are anything like the Lincoln Apria: "That's all we can get."
Well, "sniff", and they don't need MY business!

[dwrek]

Thanks for the replies guys:
First, my main point in the original post was to warn people to watch out for this nameless white hose so in case someone else gets one they can be aware that there may be some product quality issues and to look for failure at the connector.

Second, I'm sure it was inexpensive to Apria and only a few bucks for me as my ins. as my copay is 10%, but note that there was no cost reduction to me when they decided to send generic. And in my opinion, an unsafe generic replacement which I had no idea I was getting.

Lastly, as Denial Dave points out, not all Apria's are are the same as mine has argued with me that I get the exact same product as OEM when I know as I hold the two in my hands that they are diff. Furthermore, they claim there is NO difference in the products. I quote,"Sir, we did not send a generic product. It can't be because it has the same part number and our warehouse verified there is only one product." I spoke to several supervisors who insisted they had the same part #. Which was never my issue, whatever they stamp on the package could be the same number but inside the otherwise non-labeled package is a different product.

Good point on cpap.com as a bought a few things from them but ins. won't cover orders from them.

[Kiralynx]

You can get very inexpensive hoses on your own (Cpapsupply.com) so unless you're peniless, why not get the ones you want?

I like supporting our hosts, CPAP.COM, but the problem is, we're paying for insurance to cover these supplies. So when it becomes necessary to purchase stuff elsewhere, as it has been for me for a number of masks, effectively, I end up paying twice for an item.

I find this annoying.

[Julie]

I mentioned that site because they tend to have a large variety of hoses vs other places, but Cpap.com is great for everything else.

[joshelmintz]

I just got Apria as my DME and the hose I was issued with my machine was very poorly made in my opinion. They switched me over from a Resmed machine to a Respironics and I am using the Resmed hose. Luckily I have three to rotate with, and I plan on tossing the new hose I just got.

[renatae]

They switched you over from a ResMed? Was there something wrong with your ResMed? Old, time to replace, something else? Did you object?

Sorry for all the questions but this is disturbing to me if they insisted on doing this and you wanted to keep your ResMed.

[joshelmintz]

Yes they took away my resmed. I was on a resmed BiPap for 2 years and still felt lousy. I had another sleep study a few weeks ago and it turns out that I have complex apnea. The resmed I was on was treating obstructive but wasn't designed to treat the centrals. During my sleep study they added a backup rate and said I did much better. So the sent me to Apria instead of my other DME. They gave me the respironics BiPAP st. Not a fan! Been having issues with bad leaks, and still feel bad. I did switch my mask going from a hybrid to the wisp nasal. Going to try that one tonight. But to answer your question no I did not get to object and really didn't know that there was much of a difference until now. If this doesn't work I may be getting an ASV and if that's the case I'm fighting for the resmed!

[Janknitz]

Crapria has NEVER gotten my hose order right. I like the performance hoses because they are lightweight and more flexible. The Kaiser sleep lab specified that hose for me, but Crapria always delivers the wrong one. It's not worth my time to fight with them because I'm too busy trying to deal with their constant billing errors.

I try not to order hoses from them because of this but they always talk me into it with a promise to deliver the correct one. And they never do. It's like Charlie Brown and Lucy holding the football for him to kick. So I have about five unopened crappy hoses and I've been using the same good hose for THREE YEARS. Sigh . . .

I hate them! I put off ordering the more expensive stuff as long as possible--can't afford to buy my own (with Kaisers negotiated prices my copays are low) but I HATE giving Crapria any money.

[GTOJim]

My wife recently ordered a new hose, requested a name brand, she received a generic. She phoned Apria and was told that is the only hose they carry, she returned it.

I know the generic hose Apria sent me a few years ago was pure junk, impossible to to get six months use out of it, unless you don't mind sleeping with the hose disconnected. Every night it came off either the CPAP or my mask, usually several times a night. A few times I was awake, not moving a muscle and the darn hose popped of the CPAP. With name brands I've used the same hose for over 3 years and never once had it pop off.

[deerhound]

Same thing with American Home Patient. Generic hose.

[pbriggs]

As I am new, I have not had to deal with this yet. Don't we have a choice, even with insurance, where we get our supplies from?