Apria... this can't lead to anything good. See photo.

[Sir NoddinOff]

Medicare won't pay for dental care, hearing aids, and most glasses.
I believe it's only a matter of time until they won't cover cpap--or anything past the bare minimum.

CF, you may be right. I found this out the hard way. My wife ordered hearing aids last year (medium tier quality) and Medicare paid nothing on the $3200 bill. Fortunately our Healthnet supplemental paid $2000 up front so we were only out of pocket $1200.

When I got my new glasses last year, Medicare paid my full optometrist's bill, however didn't pay anything towards the actual glasses themselves and neither would my supplemental. Boom, I was out of pocket to the tune of about $800 for new glasses, as I recall. I happen to wear bifocals, plus the frames are titanium because I cant stand any weight on the bridge of my messed-up nose. That was literally the first time in my whole adult life I've paid for a pair of glasses. I suppose Medicare's thinking is that we'll help you find out what's wrong with you, but you're on your own sorting out the financing to solve your problem Woo Ha -I paid my whole adult life for this great Medicare service... maybe I should have become indigent and gone with Medicaid. Wonder what they pay for?

[9forus]

I guess I am lucky. My DME bills my insurance (a Medicare Advantage plan that is likely to change each year with whomever gives me no monthly payments ) and sends me a bill in the mail for my 20 % copay of the allowed amount after my insurance has paid them...and I send a check. I never get a bill until insurance has paid. I just now realized that never once have they even asked for a credit card.

We use a regional DME for my sons oxygen and pulse ox, plus his formula. They have never asked me for a CC either. They just send me a bill after insurance pays their portion, then I mail a check. They are beyond helpful. No complaints after 2 years of using them.

[Scootergirl]

I have a wad of that pink paper from when I picked up my CPAP machine. I did give them my CC number early on, not knowing any better. I haven't been billed anything and they've gone through my insurance so far - I did get another wad of paper when I exchanged my machine, but when I received my filters they came in a small package, with one piece of paper. I'm hoping I don't have any issues with them as it was extremely difficult to find a DME in my area that deals with CPAP.

[bwexler]

For those who assumed I paid with cash, nope. My advantage plan pays everything up to $500 per item. So $389 a month is less than $500, paid in full. Likewise masks, filters, hoses etc.
The only dispute was when they insisted I take a humidifier tank that had not been pre approved. The insurance never paid and neither did I. They billed me for a while, I complained, it went away eventually.

[xyz]

Well, I'm still trying to figure out how to solve the problem of paying without giving Apria my cc number.

I found that the website nerdwallet.com has an excellent article on prepaid debit cards. I figured that getting one and putting just enough on it to pay my small co-insurance cost might work.

The nice thing is that when the balance on prepaid cards go to zero, no more can be charged against it. You know, in case an unscrupulous merchant tries to charge you for something you didn't get or didn't want. Know any of those?

nerdwallet even has a "calculate prepaid card fees" feature. For the way I would use it, the American Express Serve card is best, only a $12/yr fee.

So I called Apria and was told they don't take American Express. &^%$($@!

The next cheapest Visa or Master card that is available in my area (according to nerdwallet) has a $49/yr service charge. Not a good deal.

Can anyone think of a solution for this?


bwexler:
> The only dispute was when they insisted I take a humidifier tank that had not been pre approved.
> The insurance never paid and neither did I.

If Apria had his cc number, they probably would have charged him.

[chunkyfrog]

I spoke too soon; --just got a robo-call from Apria in Los Angeles. Apparently they still want my cc#.
I will ignore them until they mail me a bill, then I will get confirmation from Medicare and Aetna.
If Aetna has already paid them, I will get written confirmation, and forward it to Medicare--double billing is supposedly a federal offence.
Methinks this is going to be a regular thing. I also see that Apria no longer has the green "M" in the Medicare page.
I've been getting "reminder calls" from the previous local DME--They haven't seen me for about 3 years, but, maybe . . . ?
---they are in a more convenient location.
Edit: A new, non-chain DME is in town; they have the green "M", and I'm planning to check them out in person.
Unlike the others in town, their primary machine is the Autoset (the other 2 are P/R only, with masks from both)
I will give the local Apria a chance to call off the dogs, but assuming they don't, I'm moving my business.
Life is too short to wait for things to get worse before acting.

[bwexler]

If I ever determine that I actually owe Apria any money I will hand them a check. If they refuse my check I will probably snap a couple pictures of them handing the check back to me along with a close up of the check.
Any hassle and I will consider them with my check in their hand proof of payment.

Apria will never get access to my credit card.

[squid13]

A new, non-chain DME is in town; they have the green "M",

chunkyfrog I'm going to show my ignorance, what does the green "M" mean?

[zoocrewphoto]

Well, I'm still trying to figure out how to solve the problem of paying without giving Apria my cc number.

I found that the website nerdwallet.com has an excellent article on prepaid debit cards. I figured that getting one and putting just enough on it to pay my small co-insurance cost might work.

The nice thing is that when the balance on prepaid cards go to zero, no more can be charged against it. You know, in case an unscrupulous merchant tries to charge you for something you didn't get or didn't want. Know any of those?

nerdwallet even has a "calculate prepaid card fees" feature. For the way I would use it, the American Express Serve card is best, only a $12/yr fee.

So I called Apria and was told they don't take American Express. &^%$($@!

The next cheapest Visa or Master card that is available in my area (according to nerdwallet) has a $49/yr service charge. Not a good deal.

Can anyone think of a solution for this?

Any chance your employer might offer anything like this? I work for a grocery store, and they wanted to eliminate paper paychecks, so they offered paypower accounts free to all employees. I get direct deposit to my checking account, but I got the free paypower account, and I can add cash to it at the grocery at no charge. Since I don't keep money in that account all the time, that is the one I use for places where I would really not want my account on file. I only add money when I want to use it for something.

I did check their website, and their regular account is $5.95 a month, so that is more expensive than your example above.

Something else you might try is a paypal account with debit card. No monthly fee. I think it takes about 3 days to transfer money into the account. Again, it would decline a charge if there is no money in the account. You could make it work like a prepaid card.



bwexler:
> The only dispute was when they insisted I take a humidifier tank that had not been pre approved.
> The insurance never paid and neither did I.

If Apria had his cc number, they probably would have charged him.

[chunkyfrog]

Update: I just got off the phone with a very nice guy at the local Apria.
He says that the main office will NOT send out supplies without a valid cc# on file.
--even if your supplement pays all the deductibles and co-pays.
I'm going down to the new brick and mortar to get acquainted.
The owner sounds intrigued by data--maybe I'll bring my netbook with sleepyhead and my latest data.

[Kiralynx]

Update: I just got off the phone with a very nice guy at the local Apria.
He says that the main office will NOT send out supplies without a valid cc# on file. --even if your supplement pays all the deductibles and co-pays. I'm going down to the new brick and mortar to get acquainted. The owner sounds intrigued by data--maybe I'll bring my netbook with sleepyhead and my latest data.

Wow. I am SO glad I have taken my script for my new machine to a different DME. In fact, the RT just called and APOLOGIZED for the fact that FedEx did not deliver my machine to them today, so we needed to change my set-up appointment from tomorrow morning to Monday afternoon!

[library lady]

Kiralynx, I hope you said "never mind, I don't want it anymore, I'm going to ge it elsewhere"

[squid13]

Why would she say that, it's not the DME's fault that she chose to deal with that FEDEX couldn't make the delivery as scheduled. If you check they say expected delivery date.

[codinqueen]

The Stark anti-kickback law prohibits physicians from referring patients to companies they own, invest in, or get money from. Could pertain to just Medicare or Medicaid patients, I am not sure. If you stop using a certain DME your MD should not care. If he does, I would be looking for a new physician who follows the laws. If he is taking kick-backs, that is a conflict of interest.

[Janknitz]

The truly stupid thing with Crapria is that they want my CC every time, but they don't charge it--they ALWAYS send a bill and won't even charge my CC when I authorize it. I keep getting bills. Idiots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!