need a first machine, and short on money!!!

You can sometimes get CPAP machines at swap meets and garage sales. You could also try your local craigslist. As for swap meets, The trick is finding the right kind of swap meet... A lot of them sell a lot of cheap made-in-china junk. It's just like a regular retain store, except it's held outside. These are the ones you want to avoid. You want one where they sell actual stuff from peoples garages.

There is one around here, in Orange County, CA, that is a lot more like a traditional swap meet. There is a lot of stuff from peoples garages and storage units. It's held at Golden West College, and the best day to go is on a Saturday because that's when they have a lot of people from the local community selling their stuff. CPAP machines don't turn up all that often, but you might find one if you keep looking. I ended up buying one for $35. It was a low-hours respironics bi-pap.

Any ways, it's just a though. You might try going by one, or asking any friends you have that go to keep an eye open for you.

Well, I've been looking for a back-up system myself. But I'm a little wary of anything used. I've weighed various options, and would also like to keep the cost under $500.
There is one well-known Internet shopping site that offers a new AEIOMed Everest II 's for $199. There is another site called secondwindpap.com that have stand-alone humidifiers (that fit all cpaps) for $60. They are used, but I'd be more likely to accept a used humidifier than a used cpap. (of course the Everest would require a backup battery for those times when the power goes out, but I'm not going to worry about that til next fall. It costs about $175)
So it is possible. I was wondering if there is someone on the forum who may or may not concur with this plan. Maybe it would help me and you.
Jay

If you are in Austin ... I would get this one

http://austin.craigslist.org/for/997683804.html

bigmarksae wrote:Well actually it's not for me. My Father is in his 60's with no insurance or income to speak of. I'm looking to buy him a cpap. I have been reading posts for hours and there is much more to this than I thought. I don't know how he sleeps, I just know he's suffering badly. I know he doesn't WANT one of these, but he is having nearly fatal experiences with his apnea, so if I get him one he'll use it. I am looking to find him a first-timers "kit" that is well recommended? I can afford anything around the $500 mark, but I don't have the money for him to "experiment" with all the options. If I need more than $500 I will make it happen somehow, but I've saved this much up for now. I'd like to get him set up as well as possible with a couple masks that he can rotate and try out. I know I'm asking a tall order but anything helps...

thanks,
- hopeful and greatful

While it may not fit his particular situation, he may qualify for a clinical trial such as: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?t ... &recr=Open

Read through the inclusion and exclusion criteria and see if it fits. If so, scroll down the page and see if there is an investigator located somewhere convenient for you. If that fits, contact them to see if he can get into the study.
We live in hope.

JimW203

bigmarksae wrote:I have an FSA provided by my employer. Do you know if I can use that to purchase for him?

If your father is your dependent (qualifying relative) for tax purposes, then yes anything you spend for his medical care would be deductible so you should be able to use an FSA for those expenses. If your father is not your dependent, then it probably wouldn't be possible, but it never hurts to ask so I'd call the plan and ask them.

bigmarksae wrote:Well actually it's not for me. My Father is in his 60's with no insurance or income to speak of. I'm
thanks,
- hopeful and greatful

Is your father a veteran? If so, he may well qualify for VA medical benefits; he need not be retired military or have service-related illness/injury, just served. If he is, check with the VA to find how to qualify him for benefits.
Check https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/ for more information.

JimW203