Apria and Aetna... rental vs purchase

When I got my new machine last summer, it was my first from a DME. I had been buying from cragslist.


I am with Aetna and Apria
I asked on several occasions if this was a rental or a purchase and would the machine be mine at the end of the rental.
I was told the rental was 10 months and then it was all mine, assuming I was compliant.
I asked if that was 10 payments after the initial payment, or was it 9 payments after the initial.
I was told it was a total of 10 payments including the initial, so 9 more payments.

I go into the details to demonstrate that I didn't just misunderstand something said in passing, I quesried them repeatedly on the issue.

My wife is dealing with this so my info is 3rd hand.

Now she is told they "never" sell machines, only rent them.
Then they said I was right.
Then they said I was wrong.
The insurance company said something to her along the lines of if they buy the machine I will never get another for life.

Anyone else deal with Apria and/or Aetna on this issue?

I NEVER would have entered into an endless rental for a machine I could buy outright for 1 years' copays. I've been on PAP therapy for more than a decade.

If it were me...

I would advise them that I will stop any payments until they provide me a written and signed copy of the agreement I entered into. Keep in mind this may involve some legal hassles, but stopping the money will get their attention.

Once you have that document you can examine it to determine what you have got yourself into.

Or, you can play nicer and simply request the document and go from there...

I finished a 10 month rental with a different insurance company and DME. Since then I have only paid my copay on supplies.

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER take a DME's word for ANYTHING, especially not about costs for your cpap machine and supplies.

Even what Aetna tells you is suspect, you need to see it in writing (though it's going to be more reliable than the DME).

There is a contract between you and Aetna you've never seen unless you know to ask for it--most people do not. It's called the "Evidence of Coverage" (EOC) and that spells out exactly what DME they cover and how they pay for it. That is the only trustworthy source of information.

To see the EOC you must request it, in writing, from your insurer. A few insurers put it online, but most require you to make a written request, and then by state law they have a period of time before they must furnish it to you. You should request one every year because plans change.

Whatever that booklet says is the truth about what will be covered and how. Once you receive it, look up Durable Medical Equipment. It will tell you if it's perpetual rental, capped rental (limited period of time) or purchase. Whatever the EOC says you can trust.

Only one group of people are more inclined to falsehood that politicians--DMEs.
Any person tasked to give phone help is unlikely to be TRAINED to do so.

Everything already said is true.
Three years ago when I got my ASV from Apria it was a 10 month rent to own.
My insurance has changed. My current insurance is perpetual rent for DME.
I figure my current machine should be good for 2 or 3 more years. Some time in that range I will be shopping Second Wind, Craigslist and some of the folks here that resell used machines, for the latest greatest cheapest machine I can find.