Don't know what to do? Insurance company/DME's

Hello again everyone,

I really appreciate all the great advice I've been given on my other post. I need some more help. So I've just found out that my insurance will be changing January 1st 2015. It looks like we will be switching to United healthcare HMO....which covers 100% of DME. Currently my Health Net HMO covers 50%. I've been sent to Apria & even have a class this Friday to get my equipment. My current insurance says I will be renting for 3-6 months & depending on compliance I can purchase after that. My question is, should I go with Apria until the end of the year & then switch? (Apria is also one of the DME's I can use with new insurance) or just hold out until January and get a BI-PAP from either Apria or another company?

Thanks so much, Jennifer

I would look at it only one way. It is your health you are taking care of. The sooner you can start on therapy with an good data capable machine, the better you will start to feel. Yes, if you waited until the new insurance kicked in, you wouldn't have to pay out all that money BUT is your health worth risking 3 more months? Only you can answer that.

Blankenship2426 wrote:Hello again everyone,

I really appreciate all the great advice I've been given on my other post. I need some more help. So I've just found out that my insurance will be changing January 1st 2015. It looks like we will be switching to United healthcare HMO....which covers 100% of DME. Currently my Health Net HMO covers 50%. I've been sent to Apria & even have a class this Friday to get my equipment. My current insurance says I will be renting for 3-6 months & depending on compliance I can purchase after that. My question is, should I go with Apria until the end of the year & then switch? (Apria is also one of the DME's I can use with new insurance) or just hold out until January and get a BI-PAP from either Apria or another company?

Thanks so much, Jennifer

Hi Jennifer - I would suggest you ask Apria if any monies you pay for cpap equipment & supplies in the next 3-6 months, are going to be counted toward any deductibles beginning January 2015. Most insurances that I am aware of require patients to begin paying for annual deductibles when policies are new or are renewed. I would suggest also asking Apria if their '3-6 month rental period for purchase' has to be begin again for you when January starts, or if you will be given credit for any months you rented prior to the new year.

I also would suggest you start treatment as soon as you can because of the damage untreated apnea can cause to your body and health overall. If you can't afford the current monthly rental from Apria or don't want to pay the rental amount, you can always consider buying a cpap machine (new or used), and keep it as a back up machine when you get another.

Blankenship2426 wrote:Hello again everyone,

I really appreciate all the great advice I've been given on my other post. I need some more help. So I've just found out that my insurance will be changing January 1st 2015. It looks like we will be switching to United healthcare HMO....which covers 100% of DME. Currently my Health Net HMO covers 50%. I've been sent to Apria & even have a class this Friday to get my equipment. My current insurance says I will be renting for 3-6 months & depending on compliance I can purchase after that. My question is, should I go with Apria until the end of the year & then switch? (Apria is also one of the DME's I can use with new insurance) or just hold out until January and get a BI-PAP from either Apria or another company?

Thanks so much, Jennifer

Do some homework and find out which machine you will be getting and how much it will cost you to pay the 50% copay. It may be cheaper to buy one on your own via cpap.com, second wind, or craigslist. If that is the case, but one yourself, then wait until the new year and use insurance to get one. Then you will have your backup machine, will have saved money, AND not skipped 3 months while waiting for the better deal.