Washington, DC Cigna In-network suppliers

Does anyone know if there are any in Network Cigna Suppliers in the Washington, DC area (or ones that take mail orders).

I am finding it hard to determine what in Network suppliers there are for CIGNA. I am in Bethesda, Md. a suburb of DC.

Apria claims they have an “exclusive” with CIGNA. Cigna says that it would be Exclusive if I had the PPO version, but the plan I have (they administer the university I retired from) includes others. But all they can do is refer me to their durable equipment list on the website, which unfortunately includes mainly firms that do not do CPAP supplies (wheelchairs, etc.). The problem is complicated because the DC/Baltimore area is large and both Medicare and CIGNA sites code by location even though in some cases firms they send someone out, or deliver by mail. (From their sites there appear to be no firms that are on both lists, although Apria claims to be).

The ones my doctor prefers (downtown DC area) are actually closer to Baltimore but do provide services in the Washington, DC area.

Does anyone know of a CIGA in network provider in the DC area other than Apria?

Apria does not even turn up on the Medicare search list for my address, although they claim to take Medicare assignment. Their local office is a long ways away.

The context for the quest is that comments on here suggests Apria is often not very good. I am interest in the Quattro Full face mask and in phone conversations it appear they may or may not have it in stock, but feel it should be fitted. They do not think it worth while coming to my house to sell a mask (understandable), but their office is a long ways and I have not been able to determine whether they will even have one in stock. Ideally, of course they would let you try several makes and sizes under pressure, but it are not clear with the concern with swine flu etc. they will actually do this. Knowing this mask is one of the more expensive ones, I fear problems in getting them to actually supply it, even if I get the doctor to specify it.

ProfessorEd wrote:Does anyone know if there are any in Network Cigna Suppliers in the Washington, DC area (or ones that take mail orders).

I am finding it hard to determine what in Network suppliers there are fro CIGNA. I am in Bethesda, Md. a suburb of DC.

Apria claims they have an “exclusive” with CIGNA. Cigna says that it would be Exclusive if I had the PPO version, but the plan I have (they administer the university I retired from) includes others. But all they can do is refer me to their durable equipment list on the website, which unfortunately includes mainly firms that do not do CPAP supplies (wheelchairs, etc.). The problem is complicated because the DC/Baltimore area is large and both Medicare and CIGNA sites code by location even though in some cases firms they send someone out, or deliver by mail. (From their sites there appear to be no firms that are on both lists, although Apria claims to be).

The ones my doctor prefers (downtown DC area) are actually closer to Baltimore but do provide services in the Washington, DC area.

Does anyone know of a CIGA in network provider in the DC area other than Apria?

Apria does not even turn up on the Medicare search list for my address, although they claim to take Medicare assignment. Their local office is a long ways away.

The context for the quest is that comments on here suggests Apria is often not very good. I am interest in the Quattro Full face mask and in phone conversations it appear they may or may not have it in stock, but feel it should be fitted. They do not think it worth while coming to my house to sell a mask (understandable), but their office is a long ways and I have not been able to determine whether they will even have one in stock. Ideally, of course they would let you try several makes and sizes under pressure, but it are not clear with the concern with swine flu etc. they will actually do this. Knowing this mask is one of the more expensive ones, I fear problems in getting them to actually supply it, even if I get the doctor to specify it.

I'm not in your area, but I'll try to give you some things to think about.

My former employer (I retired this Summer and was able to keep my insurance) is also self-insured and about a year or so ago, Cigna acquired Great-West Healthcare.....who had been managing the plan......which is a PPO.
They will (or at least they have) reimburse me for out-of-pocket purchases of medical-related expenses from whomever I go to......because they consider ME to be in-network. The only year that I EVER had any medical bills to turn in to them was in 2005 when I had my sleep study. As far as the first round of equipment (CPAP, mask, etc.), I purchased it all at CPAP.COM and then made up an invoice with me as the billing party and them as the party being billed and submitted it to them. They reimbursed me for 80% of it (all except the software and card reader). Since 2005, I have not even been to a doctor, so I haven't had any medical expenses to apply to my deductible (which at that time was $750). Had I used my insurance to purchase masks, hoses, filters, etc., I would have had to pay the full amount because the deductible would not have been met. Consequently, each year since then, I have purchased all of my extra machines, masks, hoses, etc., out-of-pocket. Actually, when I DID ask them about supplies for CPAP therapy back then, they seemed to be pretty clueless about it. CPAP supplies and the DMEs weren't (and still aren't) listed in any of the Benefits Plan documentation. Also, even though Cigna/Great-West "manages" the plan (pays the bills), there is an "Administrator" (and staff, at my former employer) of the insurance group plan.....who makes sure that Cigna/GW manages it the way it's supposed to.

So, what I'm getting at is that you need to evaluate/calculate whether you have met your annual deductible. If not, and depending on what that deductible is, you would quite possibly be money ahead to purchase your supplies from CPAP.COM or CPAPAUCTION.COM. Oh, and don't forget the co-pays. By the time you pay a percentage of a very over-inflated price, it may not be worth it. Then, there's the hassle of traveling to and from the DME......and if the mask doesn't fit or work out, you have to go back again.
Right now, there are lots of Quattros on CPAPAuction for less than $75 ea. New at CPAP.COM they're $152.50. A brick & mortar DME is probably going to charge around $300 plus another $50 - 60 for the headgear.

Do the math and find out how your plan works. If you have met your deductible and they'll reimburse you for an out-of-pocket purchase from CPAP.COM or CPAPAuction, that might be the least expensive route to go.

Personally, I prefer the Ultra Mirage Full Face to the Quattro.


Den

Apria does have the majority of the CIGNA contracts in the DC area. You can call Lincare. Ask them to run a verification on your insurance to see if they are in network with your particular plan.

cpapqueen1 wrote:Apria does have the majority of the CIGNA contracts in the DC area. You can call Lincare. Ask them to run a verification on your insurance to see if they are in network with your particular plan.

I had used Lincare, (not very happy with the service however), but they did not end up on Cigna's list, but I may chekc with them again.