Need DME Recommendation

Popozeto wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 05, 2021 9:43 pm

I forgot to add I have United Health thru medicare.

The UHC medicare advantage plan??? If so, my condolences..I used to have them.
Or is it straight regular Medicare that happens to have United Health run through them???
UHC is a Medicare payor (people get the EOMB with United Health showing on it but it's a straight Medicare thing) in some areas and they also offer a Medicare Advantage plan. Very confusing to people.
Though they do use the replacement schedule for cpap supplies that Medicare uses.

I suggest you shop for a new DME at your first opportunity...waiting 6 months to get 3 months worth of supplies is totally unacceptable.

Most DMEs that accept Medicare will also accept the UHC Medicare Advantage plan though....so you can go to the Medicare website and plug in your zip code and get a list of DMEs in your area that accept Medicare. Then start calling and explaining your situation and see who wants your business.

I called my local DME (ACS), and my suspicions were confirmed.
The Medicare allowable is less than their cost of acquisition--
Out of state is also a no-go, even before shipping.
We can thank Respironics for not making the Fitlife with a replaceable cushion,
and pricing it too high for ready availability.
Just another fine choice by number two--aiming ever lower.

Thanks for ya'll's recommendations! I gave Aeroflow a call yesterday. The lady (Debbie) was real nice and they are able to get me the Fitlife Total mask in an extra large. They don't keep the mask in stock, so it has to be ordered... but that's ok with me. It's always been unpopular mask, so they hardly let the mask gather dust on the shelf. It was like a breath of fresh air not dealing with Crapia!

Thanks for the recommendation! Crapia is going to call in a couple weeks and I'm gonna have to say goodbye to them.

Any suggestions on how I'm Gonna tell them to "hit the road?" Remember, I'm a gentleman. or at least I try to!

Sheriff

Sheriff Buford wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 08, 2021 4:08 am

Any suggestions on how I'm Gonna tell them to "hit the road?"

The way I handled it was to not answer any more of their calls or emails. Remember while they are calling you its less time they have to call someone else. The world will thank you.

Sheriff Buford wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 08, 2021 4:08 am

Thanks for the recommendation! Crapia is going to call in a couple weeks and I'm gonna have to say goodbye to them.

Any suggestions on how I'm Gonna tell them to "hit the road?" Remember, I'm a gentleman. or at least I try to!

Sheriff

I would just say "your services are no longer needed."
You're under no obligation to explain why unless you want to.

I fired several different DMEs.
One, I told them who was getting my business--the others, I ghosted.
Sheriff, I suggest you block their number--NOW.
They will eventually figure it out.

SleepGeek wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 08, 2021 6:35 am

The way I handled it was to not answer any more of their calls or emails. Remember while they are calling you its less time they have to call someone else. The world will thank you.

Many years later they still send me postcards and mailings.

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 08, 2021 6:43 am

I fired several different DMEs.
One, I told them who was getting my business--the others, I ghosted.
Sheriff, I suggest you block their number--NOW.
They will eventually figure it out.

IMO that just gives them FREE time to go bother someone else.

Hopefully Sheriff has not given a credit card to Apria. Sheriff if you have I would *report it lost* immediately or you will face trying to get a refund for supplies you never asked for.

I foolishly gave those creeps my debit card number.
About a month later, Target's records were compromised by hackers.
My new card, with new numbers, cost me nothing. Serendipity.
Apria called--I told them I closed that account--and theirs.

Sheriff Buford wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 08, 2021 4:08 am

Crapia is going to call in a couple weeks

Will they? When I changed covered DMEs (i.e., under insurance), the old one was no longer covered so they were "removed" by my insurance . They never contacted me again.

I have used a few different DMEs since I started treatment. The one I started with, lost their MediCare contract for a short period of time. I tried using an on-line DME, but gave up on them because they would never send me what I requested. They would send what they thought I needed. I tried to use a local DME that was on the MediCare list of approved suppliers, but I did not like how they operated. I was looking for a place to purchase masks and mask cushions, only. They insisted I bring my machine in so they could check it before they would sell me a mask. I informed them that my usage of the machine was verified every six months by my sleep clinic, walked out, and never went back. My original DME has gotten their MediCare contract back, so we use them, now.

SleepGeek wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 08, 2021 8:21 am

SleepGeek wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 08, 2021 6:35 am

The way I handled it was to not answer any more of their calls or emails. Remember while they are calling you its less time they have to call someone else. The world will thank you.

Many years later they still send me postcards and mailings.

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 08, 2021 6:43 am

I fired several different DMEs.
One, I told them who was getting my business--the others, I ghosted.
Sheriff, I suggest you block their number--NOW.
They will eventually figure it out.

IMO that just gives them FREE time to go bother someone else.

Hopefully Sheriff has not given a credit card to Apria. Sheriff if you have I would *report it lost* immediately or you will face trying to get a refund for supplies you never asked for.

Never did. That didn't stop them from continually askin". Sheriff

Sheriff Buford wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 09, 2021 5:24 am

SleepGeek wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 08, 2021 8:21 am

Hopefully Sheriff has not given a credit card to Apria. Sheriff if you have I would *report it lost* immediately or you will face trying to get a refund for supplies you never asked for.

Never did. That didn't stop them from continually askin". Sheriff

Good Sheriff, very good Sheriff