BiPap St Cost $$$$$

Holy !@#$!

The first month rental charge for my BiPap ST went through insurance. They billed $650 to insurance and there was $0 network discount. Now freekin way! $6500 total cost for this machine. That means when my insurance deductables resets in January I will get hit with about $2100 out of pocket in 2019 just for 5 months of rental.

Seriously considering going untreated now that I've seen this.

check out secondwindcpap.com

and while there also check prices on the ASV models.

They are all over the place for under $4k new. some with humidifier and heated hose. The site you mention has one under $3k. Why the he double hockey sticks with insurance contract to a price that is thousands over retail and even msrp?

Upon further looking the Dreamstation look like older models or something. I also wouldn't know what ASV model is sufficient for my treatment in comparison to the ST, but it looks like Dreamstation AutoSV is similar pricing around the web.

tsduke wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 09, 2019 10:41 am

Why the he double hockey sticks with insurance contract to a price that is thousands over retail and even msrp?

So they can justify an increase in your premiums maybe?

Normally insurance contracted prices knock them down a bit but every now and then you get some dumb ass insurance company willing to pay those pie in the sky prices which is why they jack them up. Make more bucks.

You have some hard thinking to do about how to proceed. That Jan 1 deductible rolling around again is going to hurt but if you are going to meet it anyway because of other health conditions then depending on your copay after the deductible...you might want to just go ahead and let the machine meet the deductible.
I always said insurance is a gamble....you are betting on using it and the insurance companies are betting on most people not using it.

Do the math and see which way you want to gamble.

As for not using any machine.....there was a reason you got that sleep study done in the first place....some sort of problem you were having that you didn't particularly like. Do you want to return to that state? Assuming the doctor ever gets his head out of his butt and actually gets your therapy optimized.

Side note....if you decide to buy your own take a serious look at the ResMed AirCurve 10 ASV. I know it is more money but IMHO it's worth it. I have used both the Respironics model of the ASV kind of machine and the ResMed....so there is a reason I think it is better.

Forget the ST model in any brand if you are buying your own.

The ResMed S9 Adapt model 36037 is the older big brother of the AirCurve 10 ASV. If you can find a good deal on it you might want to consider it.

The entire journey for me started with waking in the middle of the night with whacky heart rythyms, rates and sweating a couple times. My heart checked out perfectly healthy but cardio doc send me down path of sleep study after asking how well I sleep and whether I feel rested during the day.

So I know why I'm on pap treatment and at this point thinking money would be better spent on a hefty life insurance policy to take care of my family when I die of a stroke or heart attack at a young age. I will pay somewhere in the mid 2 thousands for the remaining rental in 2020 and that's just the machine. I also have to consider that these machines have a lifespan and need replaced. Meaning I would have to go through this ridiculous expense several times in my life yet.

ResMed AirCurve 10 ASV appears to be less money than the Dreamstation ST, yet still expensive. I don't understand what machines do what and which ones are best for my needs.

tsduke wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 09, 2019 10:52 am

Upon further looking the Dreamstation look like older models or something. I also wouldn't know what ASV model is sufficient for my treatment in comparison to the ST, but it looks like Dreamstation AutoSV is similar pricing around the web.

The ST is the (to quote men in black) old and busted method of treating central apnea, it's low tech, and provides poor results.

The ASV (and there's only one style) is the new hotness, and provides MUCH better results.

Assuming you even need anything for centrals.

We have no way of knowing, because the ST doesn't provide the data to tell.

You might do fine with an apap, or a vauto bilevel.

I have issue with centrals and when I called to ask doc reason for ST prescription his response was that I have "complex" sleep apnia with centrals.

tsduke wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 09, 2019 12:00 pm

I have issue with centrals and when I called to ask doc reason for ST prescription his response was that I have "complex" sleep apnia with centrals.

Then grab yourself an Resmed Aircurve ASV

Its the dogs doodas for complex sleep apnoea

And pay $3-$4k out of pocket. No thanks!

Secondwindcpap.com has a low hour AirCurve ST unit including warranty for $1379

I talked to a guy at secondwind and he had pricing better than the website shows on my particular model even. He was quite pleasant to speak with.

Ironiclaly I talked to a Phillips Resp customer care who referred me to a distributor that could recommend places for me to go. The ironic part is that distributor office is 6-8 blocks from my house and he referred me to second wind and even who to talk to there.

I'm still in shock but I can buy from second wind for less than my out of pockets will be using DME and insurance. "If" I choose to continue treatment "if" I choose to buy outright I don't want to do it until I know I'm on the appropriate machine for me. Will see after I see sleep doc again this week, but obviously the backup rate has to be the main reason for the ST model....but do I need ST and how they could determine that from on crappy night of testing is beyond me.

tsduke wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 09, 2019 9:39 am

Holy !@#$!

The first month rental charge for my BiPap ST went through insurance. They billed $650 to insurance and there was $0 network discount. Now freekin way! $6500 total cost for this machine. That means when my insurance deductables resets in January I will get hit with about $2100 out of pocket in 2019 just for 5 months of rental.

Seriously considering going untreated now that I've seen this.

I went untreated for over a year because of this bs. Forget the insurance, buy used. Frequently forum member Lsat has good used machines for what one month of rental will cost you.