LINCARE RIPPED ME OFF

HI everyone!

I have been renting a oxygen/CPAP machine for the last four years they rented me a USED one and with my insurance deductible I have paid over $8000.00 for this old machine. I recently cancelled the machine b/c I cannot afford it anymore BCBS said the machine is MINE b/c I have met the purchase price of only $1950.00!!! Where is my MOney- any suggestions would be great on how to pursue this- this company is a joke!

Sincerely

Kimberly

Is it an oxygen machine or a cpap machine?

Pam

I have both an oxygen concentrator and an APAP machine supplied by Lincare. I rent the concentrator because it is my understanding that they tend to wear out within a couple of years. It would take me almost 5 years to cover spend as much on rental as it would cost to purchase one of these. They also come to the house about every 6 weeks and check it to make sure the oxygen is in the correct concentration and any repairs needed would be at their expense.

As for the APAP, I started out renting it, also, but once it was determined I would be on it long term, the insurance company insisted on a straight purchase. This means that any service is up to me, however. It seems, though, that since Lincare is not getting their extra "service" money on the APAP, they have started a policy of automatically sending out hoses, filters and mask parts as soon as insurance says a client is eligible whether or not the client has said they are in need of these items. I REALLY do not like this and plan on a serious talk with somebody about that. If you clean properly, an air hose does not need replacing every month!! And I'm getting about twice as long on my simple cushions as they seem to think I should.

I really don't think too much about the deductible any more -- it is only $300 and with my medical bills, somebody is going to get it every year!! When you said you have spent $8000, was that your portion or what the insurance paid to Lincare along with your portion?

I see people complaining about Lincare sending out supplies without asking - I guess they can't make everyone happy. I personally would be THRILLED if Apria did this. It would be my chance to stockpile supplies for when I no longer have insurance (which could be as soon as August). I've had to fight tooth and nail to get Apria to even mail me ONE replacement set of filters and a hose. These aren't things that "go bad." I'd be happy to stockpile them for a rainy day, myself.

OP, If I were you, I'd be talking to the insurance company about how much you overpaid - and if they wouldn't help, I think I'd be talking to a lawyer.

I also had nothing but problems with Lincare, which is why I no longer use them for my supplies. They were very expensive and they never could get the billing right. The local office provides fantastic service, but all billing, etc. is handled centrally for the state out of a differnet office - What a nightmare it was trying to get everything straight with them, which is why I started using online suppliers such as the host of this forum. In the end it is actually cheaper for me to skip the insurance and use my flex account instead, as my total out of pocket expenses are actually less than with Lincare. They tried the same thing (renting) with me when I started in 2003, but I got with BCBS and discovered that they really only require a three month rental period to make sure I use the machine. I had Lincare bill insurance after the three month rental and while they were reluctant to do so they did, as I had notified the insurance company that I wanted to purchase the machine so they sent Lincare a check for the allowed purchase amount instead. The reason I purchased as soon as insurance allowed was exactly what you noted - When you consider the total cost of the rental it gets quite expensive (even by Lincare standards)when they finally decie you have paid enough.