My attempts to secure BleepSleep DreamPort covered by insurance

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2019 9:05 am

While I don't doubt that there is some gouging going on. But comparing the price of a product sold, by a business to the price by an individual on eBay is has no relevance.

I agree -- and I also think most folks tend to forget that insurance is NOT free. In fact, IMHO, it is the root cause of the high "health care" cost. Someone must pay the bill and most all of us with medicare or blue Cross Advantage type plans receive a hell of a lot more than we ever contributed ... so who is paying for it? In essence it gives the medical industry a blank check written from a very deep pocket.

Possibly the reason for billing with codes and not brands is that the 5 year old Chevy will get me safely back and forth just like the new shinny Corvette will. Come to think of it my Malibu is a 1995 and runs perfectly! Wish I could say the same for my lungs ... lol.

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2019 9:05 am

But comparing the price of a product sold, by a business to the price by an individual on eBay is has no relevance.

Presumably, they're both making money on the deal.

The markup on 'medical' stuff is *insane*.

The dialysis clinic wants to bill over 200$ FOR A SYRINGE... the same syringes I can buy on amazon for $0.20... yes, twenty cents.

Am I correct in thinking that the DME is required to provide what the doctor prescribes?

If my prescription states "BleepSleep Dreamway and Bleep ports" rather than "nasal mask" I have a better chance of getting it paid for, I think.

palerider wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2019 11:27 am

Presumably, they're both making money on the deal.

The markup on 'medical' stuff is *insane*.

The dialysis clinic wants to bill over 200$ FOR A SYRINGE... the same syringes I can buy on amazon for $0.20... yes, twenty cents.
[/quote]

Ain't that the truth !!! Total rip-off

I have to report a success of sorts. I participate in a Blue Cross/Blue Shield program that provides a wellness card to which they add money for various things - like taking the annual Blue Cross Health Assessment. I have been bringing the total up over the last few years, and I had enough on it to order the BleepSleep, if that met with their requirements, which I found out that it did, after calling them today. So, with my Wellness Card in hand, I called Direct Home Medical and spoke with Cory, who was delighted to take my order. Instead of $109 for the plastic bit, I was charged $89, which includes a box of 32 ports plus an additional first box of 32 ports was $28, and two more that I ordered were $30 each, so I am now good for two months, and hope by then, the insurance can figure out how to get this covered. I am so very happy! For this, I had to do a lot of thinking outside the box, and my persistence paid off.

Yea.....happy dance.

Stuart has feelers out to several of the big name DME equipment suppliers in hopes to get one of them to at least carry the ports and file insurance.

As soon as I hear something I will let you all know.

Pugsy wrote: Stuart has feelers out to several of the big name DME equipment suppliers in hopes to get one of them to at least carry the ports and file insurance.

Another possibility for Stuart is to put the ports on Amazon.com, as many of us get monthly reward points, which could be used toward the ports to help defray the cost.

Norwich,

I did not read your other thread so you may have already answered this, but have you tried BleepSleep yet? You may be going through all of this only to find you don't really like them in the end. So I'm glad you were able to use your wellness card to get a starter set and see what you think. I have really sensitive skin, so any adhesive that wouldn't easily come off is probably going to cause me skin irritation. So for me, they don't look like a good option. But I can see why they would be great for many people.

The old, retired OT in me thinks that there HAS to be some way to reuse those ports by replacing the sticky parts. It would be fun to experiment. So don't throw the used ones away until you've explored that option.

The reason that DME's and all other kinds of healthcare providers engage in "fantasy billing" is that insurers and Medicare do audits and supposedly base their reimbursement on what companies bill. But they know better than to give credence to the fantasy numbers. The real problem is that people without insurance sometimes get stuck paying those exorbitant prices because they don't know any better or a DME balance bills between the Medicare price and the actual price (which is, as you've discovered, illegal in most states, but it's still done).

Janknitz wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2019 7:25 pm

Norwich,

I did not read your other thread so you may have already answered this, but have you tried BleepSleep yet? You may be going through all of this only to find you don't really like them in the end. So I'm glad you were able to use your wellness card to get a starter set and see what you think. I have really sensitive skin, so any adhesive that wouldn't easily come off is probably going to cause me skin irritation. So for me, they don't look like a good option. But I can see why they would be great for many people.

The old, retired OT in me thinks that there HAS to be some way to reuse those ports by replacing the sticky parts. It would be fun to experiment. So don't throw the used ones away until you've explored that option.

If you are interested but concerned about the adhesive, Pugsy has offered to send a sample piece to those you PM her.

Somebody in he review thread is already experimenting with port reuse.

I just came home with the bleep dreamports And mask. My DME is having me be their first guinea pig with him. I am going to give it a free trial for the next five nights and then call in a report. I asked them repeatedly to give me an estimate for a year‘s usage. They kept saying they did not know but have a meeting with the rep on Wednesday and should have pricing by then.

I was a little surprised to by that since they had several large boxes of bleep dreamport product lying on the floor in the hallway. What business orders inventory without some idea of pricing?

But the trial is not going to cost me anything so what the heck.

I am currently using the circadiance Elan nasal mask pretty successfully but have enough leak issues when I roll over (I am a very active sleeper) That I want to give this thing a try.

I am not old enough for Medicare so I only have Blue Cross to deal with. With a sizable deductible, my supplies for the most part will be out of pocket so this may be a short-lived experiment.

I am sensitive to adhesive strips but have had absolutely no problems with the adhesive in Somnifix mouth strips while using an oral appliance. I am also using it to get rid of mouth leaks. If it is the same type of adhesive I think most people should be able to use it.

rickyjoe48 said: I was a little surprised to by that since they had several large boxes of bleep dreamport product lying on the floor in the hallway. What business orders inventory without some idea of pricing?

Would you mind providing the name of your DME, city and state, so in a worst case scenario, I might be able to order from them? Do you know if this DME is signed up with Medicare? Thanks so much, as so far, I have had no luck whatsoever with my Home Care Provider.

I had a very long conversation via video chat with Stuart Heatherington about the issues I experienced, and I feel so very honored that he would take the time out of his busy schedule to talk with me at length about making adjustments and assisting me to have the best possible experience with the BleepSleep DreamPort system. What other Founder and CEO would be kind enough to do this. I am so very impressed by his willingness to assist.

You have a PM....let’s get this sorted out straight away.

NorwichTerrier wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 31, 2019 9:49 am

Then, came the real test of turning on the machine and spending the night with it. There was so much air coming out of the vents, and it was so loud. At first I thought the tube had a leak in it, as the pressure was so much more than I had anticipated. I know someone has written about using filters, so I think something could be done there.

I kept feeling around the adhesive ports to check for leakage, but I found none, although I felt air coming up into my eyes, especially on my right side. Numerous checks of the adhesive showed no leaks, so I figured it had to be coming from the venting, although how it could get that far up into my face when the vents were pointed down.

If air's getting towards your eyes, you have leaks, probably in the adhesive. That would also explain the noise.

Why can't we just file a claim by ourselves if the provider wont file one for us?
https://www.medicare.gov/claims-appeals ... le-a-claim