Respironics OptiLife

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:50 pm

These masks are getting very expensive - $170 at cpap.com - https://www.cpap.com/productpage/OptiLi ... -Mask.html

Sleepless_in_LM · Post by **Sleepless_in_LM** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:55 pm

greyhound wrote:
Blowfish?

Blowfish:
1) any of numerous marine fishes whose elongated spiny body can inflate itself with water or air to form a globe
2) A person on CPAP, who while using a nasal interface, has air fill the mouth cavity thus resembling #1 above.

Sleepless_in_LM · Post by **Sleepless_in_LM** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:00 pm

ozij wrote: But what's that light blue piece made off? What will it do to side sleeping cheeks?

Looks like pad-a cheeks better get busy working on another product

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:01 pm

Giggle. My cheeks do NOT blow up any more. I'm intrigued and would like to try one as well. Has anybody checked to see if cpap.com is offering them for sale yet, what price they will be? (I know, I know, go check for myself).

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:04 pm

Man! Youse guys posted faster than I did! Going now to check that Opti URL at cpap.com

Yikes, $170 is cpap.com's price?? My gawd what do or will our DME's charge for it???

Sleepless_in_LM · Post by **Sleepless_in_LM** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:14 pm

Slinky wrote:Yikes, $170 is cpap.com's price?? My gawd what do or will our DME's charge for it???

My understanding is that they get the same "reimbursment" for every mask, at least when it comes to insurance. So they get (charge) the same for a $60 mask as for $180 mask. Which explains why many seem to put the newbies on the cheapest masks and only upgrade if they complain. Quote from my first DME: "If my boss finds out I'm starting you on this mask, without making you try a simpler(ie cheaper) one first...."

So the question may come down to "Will the DME carry this mask if their reimbursement isn't enough to justify the high cost." I am convinced that is why my current DME told me he could not get me a Hybrid. He told me it was because they were not a licensed distributor for that mask

KansasRT · Post by **KansasRT** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:19 pm

The blue plastic is a "softer" plastic. It is still plastic, but you are able to "sleep" on your side without the mask digging into your face. In my opinion, the headgear attaches to the mask more towards the center of the face to sort of cinch the nose pillows in place. It is a very secure mask that really stays in place. My biggest concern is that the pressure put on the pillows may irritate the nostrils. In defense of that, the pillows are very soft. I am assuming that all four size pillows come in the set. Because I work for a DME and not for a sleep lab, the salesman would not leave me a sample to try out with patients I was very impressed with the one she showed me. Now that being said, I did not get ample time to hook up to a machine and test it laying down. I have spoken to a sleep lab in town that has and they think that it is a really good mask, again it was just last week that they got a sample to try, so they do not have long time data. I figured that when the salesman would not discuss a price it would be a higher priced mask. I may try to order one today and see what I can find out. As soon as I get any info or user feedback I will let you know.

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:21 pm

Sleepless_in_LM wrote:My understanding is that they get the same "reimbursment" for every mask, at least when it comes to insurance.

But cpap.com does not charge DME prices

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:25 pm

Thanks yet again, KansasRT. Me thinks the plastic might not be too smart a choice of material. Sweaty against the skin, you know. (I sense one of RG's famous "fixes" if that occurs). I kinda suspected that's what it was made of.

Thank you too, Sleepy. My DME shouldn't be able to wriggle her way out of this one since I "know" they handle Respironics products: masks and machines.

Sleepless_in_LM · Post by **Sleepless_in_LM** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:28 pm

greyhound wrote:
Sleepless_in_LM wrote:My understanding is that they get the same "reimbursment" for every mask, at least when it comes to insurance.
But cpap.com does not charge DME prices

Correct! The claims rep at my insurance that I have gotten to know, can not believe the prices I paid for my latest equipment. They are gladly reimburseing me for the costs I paid out of pocket.

But I was answering the question of what the DME's will charge if CPAP.COM is charging $170. I think they will charge (at least to insurance co's) the same as every other mask, just not make as much profit. Someone correct me if I am wrong...

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SleepingBeauty · Post by **SleepingBeauty** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:41 pm

This mask looks really interesting. I'd be interested. It is a bit pricy though.

neverbetter · Post by **neverbetter** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:27 pm

CPAP.com's price is 169.00USD , as much as a Hybrid.
Can you remove the chinstrap?
I hope so because

CHINSTRAPS cause apneas. Just press under your chin to keep you mouth closed and see what I mean and you'll see why we all taped our mouth before the Hybrid came out.

Good Luck Respironics. Hope you do well.

Sleepy Dog Lover · Post by **Sleepy Dog Lover** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:38 pm

[quote="neverbetter"]CPAP.com's price is 169.00USD , as much as a Hybrid.
Can you remove the chinstrap?
I hope so because

CHINSTRAPS cause apneas. Just press under your chin to keep you mouth closed and see what I mean and you'll see why we all taped our mouth before the Hybrid came out.

Good Luck Respironics. Hope you do well.

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:11 pm

Looks like some price competition. cpapplus.com has this mask for $129.99. I suspect cpap.com will be lowering their $170 price very soon.

sthnreb · Post by **sthnreb** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:42 pm

I was about to comment on the price myself as I just received a email with the price $129. That's $40, quite a difference. Being loyal is one thing but it pays to shop still. BTW, Cpap.com does advertise they will match pricing.
I guess that's if you happen to know of lower pricing...some will pay the higher price still I guess.
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