Need clarification on renting equipment

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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krousseau
Posts: 1185
Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2006 4:02 pm
Location: California Motherlode

Post by krousseau » Sun Oct 22, 2006 11:46 pm

BCBS FEP Standard Option/PPO here.

Paid out about the same as Patrick. Met my deductible in sleep testing-so it was all co-pays. I have an auto and it was less than buying it online. About $160 initially for blower/humidifier/hose/filters & mask then $10/month for 9 more months. So about $260 total +/- $10.

About the deductible-chances are you are going to pay out $250 on the deductible next year anyway-it doesn't matter if it is on a machine again or something else-so don't think of it as paying the deductible twice on the same equipment. It is paid and its out of the way on the next medical bill.

I have found BCBS will pay pretty much the same rate for anything my Preferred Provider physician orders that I get at an in network DME. They pay for replacement masks, hoses etc at the same intervals as Medicare. If the doc orders something new (like a switch from nasal to full face mask they paid their 90%. I have not gone out of network unless I wanted something that a doc had not ordered-different nasal mask, a spare hose.

Went on Medicare in May and decided to keep the BCBS FEP as my secondary as it cost less & had better benefits than other good Medi-gap policies. So far that has been a good choice. I don't think I've paid anything for medical care since May 1-except my insurance premiums and drug copays-and it has been worth it. Some day when I decide I'm done with medical care I'll stop paying for health insurance and drugs and spend it on something more fun for as long as the show runs .

Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof.....Galbraith's Law