What a mess...

So I received a new machine a while back. My old machine was more than 5 years old (more on that in a moment). I went through Apria. I was under the assumption this was a replacement machine. I kept my original machine as a backup/secondary machine. I just found out today that it appears my machine is a rental?! I never signed anything agreeing to rent the machine. I was never told I would be "renting" the machine. The only reason I found out was that my HSA card and insurance were apparently being billed. The old machine? It's part of the recall. I scanned through my insurance documentation and it says NOTHING about requiring a rental. It has no specific wording about "renting" at all! Any advice on how I can work through this? I am dropping my insurance in 2 months to switch to a spouse's. I have not yet contacted either Apria or my insurance company, since I wanted to see what others have to say (if they've gone through this).

I would have had no issue paying the cash price of the machine up front, or an insurance negotiated rate. They HID the entire thing from me. I still don't know what the "terms" of the rental are.

EDIT: My machines are BiPAP with ASV machines.

Who is your CURRENT insurance with?
There is one insurance that I know that did a permanent rental of sorts. There could be others.

Have you called up your insurance company to find out all the specifics? You don't want to ever rely on what a DME tells you about your insurance coverage.
Number 1 they often lie and number 2 they can't possibly know all the ins and outs of all the insurance plans out there.

Some insurance companies follow Medicare and do a rent to own transaction. You rent for 12-13 months and then you own the machine. Call your insurance...Do Not trust anything that Apria tells you.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 16, 2021 12:36 pm

Who is your CURRENT insurance with?
There is one insurance that I know that did a permanent rental of sorts. There could be others.

Have you called up your insurance company to find out all the specifics? You don't want to ever rely on what a DME tells you about your insurance coverage.
Number 1 they often lie and number 2 they can't possibly know all the ins and outs of all the insurance plans out there.

Calling the insurance company right now (Anthem). I was not told anything by Apria. I went, picked up the machine, and left. The only paper I signed was a receipt, and it had no fine print regarding renting or buying on either the front or back.

The lady I spoke to at Anthem was super wishy washy about the entire thing. She could provide no specifics, other then the fact it is required by Anthem and the payments were spread out over "10 or 11 months".

I'm not talking to Apria today. I'll probably bite someone's head off.

I downloaded the so called Benefit Booklet, and it says nothing. I am honestly at a loss for words right now.

EDIT: To be clear, I'm not upset about CPAP/BIPAP rentals, I'm upset that it was done behind my back and without my knowledge or approval. I was not told the length, terms, or amount. The insurance company ALSO could not provide this information. If I had been told up front, I would have asked to see the cash price and would have shopped around for a better price. I welcome further thoughts regarding this. I'm gathering my documentation and talking to a lawyer next.

That co. has been known here for a long time as 'crapria'.

betam4x wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 16, 2021 1:13 pm

The lady I spoke to at Anthem was super wishy washy about the entire thing.

Call again and ask to speak to a supervisor.

And then ask for THEIR supervisor, repeat as many times as needed.
Their "customer service representatives" are like nesting dolls/dunderheads.

15+ year user. All DME’s are infuriating. I needed a travel machine, then a beach house machine, then a back up. Black (gray?) market suits me well. I struggle a bit getting masks. My AHI is 0.9. Happy.

Billlee wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 17, 2021 12:44 pm

15+ year user. All DME’s are infuriating. I needed a travel machine, then a beach house machine, then a back up. Black (gray?) market suits me well. I struggle a bit getting masks. My AHI is 0.9. Happy.

no back up for the travel or beach house machine?