Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
JP_TX
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Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by JP_TX » Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:42 am

Hello,

I am hoping to get some help from the group here. A little background; 44-year-old man, decent shape (big neck lol), take meds for HBP but no other serious medical conditions. I have been unable to sleep through the night for the last year without waking up 2-5 times, the last few months it has gotten worse and is really taking a negative toll on my health and ability to keep up with my busy life.

At my wife's suggestion, I went down the road of getting a sleep study. The local docs in my area were booking people several weeks out and I needed help sooner, so, I ordered a Lofta test. The results: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, moderate-severe based on AHI-25.4, RDI 51.3, and O2 nadir 89%.

I am blessed to be in a position to order it direct from them and afford to pay the approximately $1000 for the Airsense 10 (11 is out of stock) or go down the road of dealing with all the insurance BS which my PCP said is a real pain. Should I pull the trigger and just pay Lofta? They have a couple of support-type packages, are those necessary or recommended? Anything else I should know about the equipment?

Any advice offered is greatly appreciated, I need to sleep again!!

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Pugsy
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Re: Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by Pugsy » Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:54 am

JP_TX wrote:
Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:42 am
pay the approximately $1000 for the Airsense 10 (11 is out of stock) or go down the road of dealing with all the insurance BS which my PCP said is a real pain.
Exactly which AirSense 10 model....this is very important.

All insurance is a PITA but if we ever want insurance to pay their share (that's why we have insurance) then we have to jump those hurdles. Your choice. There is something to be said to be able to do what you what when you want and not having to ask insurance for their opinion about it. I call it the "hassle factor". Your choice how much it might mean to you not having to deal with the hassle factor.
JP_TX wrote:
Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:42 am
Should I pull the trigger and just pay Lofta? They have a couple of support-type packages, are those necessary or recommended?
Exactly what "support packages" and how much more do they cost?
If it is related to efficacy of treatment...you can easily learn that yourself here with the help of forum members and the free and easy to use software.

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Okie bipap
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Re: Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by Okie bipap » Tue Jun 21, 2022 1:33 pm

If you don't mind having a used machine, you can sometimes find a decent buy on Craig's List or Facebook Marketplace. I found my backup machine on Marketplace. We have a member of this forum (LSAT) who often low hour machines for sale.

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JP_TX
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Re: Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by JP_TX » Wed Jun 22, 2022 6:04 am

Pugsy wrote:
Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:54 am
JP_TX wrote:
Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:42 am
pay the approximately $1000 for the Airsense 10 (11 is out of stock) or go down the road of dealing with all the insurance BS which my PCP said is a real pain.
Exactly which AirSense 10 model....this is very important.

All insurance is a PITA but if we ever want insurance to pay their share (that's why we have insurance) then we have to jump those hurdles. Your choice. There is something to be said to be able to do what you what when you want and not having to ask insurance for their opinion about it. I call it the "hassle factor". Your choice how much it might mean to you not having to deal with the hassle factor.
JP_TX wrote:
Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:42 am
Should I pull the trigger and just pay Lofta? They have a couple of support-type packages, are those necessary or recommended?
Exactly what "support packages" and how much more do they cost?
If it is related to efficacy of treatment...you can easily learn that yourself here with the help of forum members and the free and easy to use software.
Here is the machine they are recommending and their description: https://www.resmed.com/en-us/sleep-apne ... rsense-10/

AirSense 10 Card to Cloud Auto CPAP Device (Click here to view device)
This is the previous generation but without the cellular modem installed. What that means is that it removes the ability for us to remotely access the data and help make adjustments. We can always try to help walk you through how to make adjustments on your own, or you can take it in to your own physician to make changes for you as well. This device will record all of your sleep data onto a SD Card which you can then take to your physician for further review.
We offer this device starting at $913 with SlimLine Tubing, $953 with ClimateLine Tubing, and $999 with ClimateLine Tubing and a mask of your choice.


The support packages are more like re-supplies and a warranty on the machine.

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Pugsy
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Re: Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by Pugsy » Wed Jun 22, 2022 6:32 am

JP_TX wrote:
Wed Jun 22, 2022 6:04 am
We offer this device starting at $913 with SlimLine Tubing, $953 with ClimateLine Tubing, and $999 with ClimateLine Tubing and a mask of your choice.
JP_TX wrote:
Wed Jun 22, 2022 6:04 am
AirSense 10 Card to Cloud Auto CPAP Device
I am assuming that they are referring to the AirSense 10 AutoSet and if that is the case those are probably considered very fair prices. A cheap mask will run close to $100 so adding a "mask of your choice" for 46 dollars over the machine plus ClimateLine heated hose is probably a fair deal. I don't know where you live or if you will need/want the heated hose but it is something that can be added later if you don't get it now and decide later to get it. Right now the Climateline heated hose can be found on Amazon for not quite 50 bucks. EBay might be a bit cheaper...I haven't checked lately.
Heated hoses are mainly for preventing condensation in the mask or hose....if you live in a cooler climate in the winter they are probably something you want to invest in. If not needed in the summer the heated hose function can be turned off or way down. A lot will depend on what level of humidity you are going to end up needing. I live in southern Missouri and I use a heated hose even now because with air conditioning and my higher humidity preference I would have condensation happen. While water in the mask or hose won't really hurt you...it is highly annoying and sleep disturbing.

All ResMed machines come with a 2 year warranty...so I don't know if the extra contracts are extending that warranty or not.
Or if it is worth it or not. Sometimes these extended warranties are worth getting and sometimes they aren't. In my mind it all depends on their costs and what all is covered. Insurance typically won't cover extended warranties and as for supplies that might exceed the regular replacement allowance schedule...they won't cover that either.
Should you elect to try to use your insurance...which is up to you.

Blue Cross does have some specific criteria they will require for them to pay for stuff. You would need to check with the BCBS plan that you have (they have lots of plans and will vary by state) to find out exactly what those requirements might be. All insurance is a bit of a PITA to be honest.
One thing to check out regarding the machine itself is if your insurance does a perpetual rental thing where you never really own the machine and you have a copay every month forever....or if after a set number of months you own the machine and no more copays are needs.

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Respirator99
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Re: Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by Respirator99 » Wed Jun 22, 2022 8:35 am

Pugsy wrote:All ResMed machines come with a 2 year warranty...so I don't know if the extra contracts are extending that warranty or not.
Or if it is worth it or not. Sometimes these extended warranties are worth getting and sometimes they aren't.
FWIW Resmed used to offer a 5 year warranty in Australia. My S9 had a humidifier failure at around 4 years & 6 months. Resmed repaired the humidifier under warranty and replaced the blower motor free of charge "just in case". So on a dataset of 1, the extended warranty was worth it for me.
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Pugsy
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Re: Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by Pugsy » Wed Jun 22, 2022 9:13 am

Respirator99 wrote:
Wed Jun 22, 2022 8:35 am
Pugsy wrote:All ResMed machines come with a 2 year warranty...so I don't know if the extra contracts are extending that warranty or not.
Or if it is worth it or not. Sometimes these extended warranties are worth getting and sometimes they aren't.
FWIW Resmed used to offer a 5 year warranty in Australia. My S9 had a humidifier failure at around 4 years & 6 months. Resmed repaired the humidifier under warranty and replaced the blower motor free of charge "just in case". So on a dataset of 1, the extended warranty was worth it for me.
Extended warranties aren't typically available here in the USA for cpap machines. It's not a common thing.
Though I can see the pros for getting one but it still would depend on exactly what all is involved and how much it costs.
Like is it for 1 year or an additional 3 years like your situation...and of course how much does it cost.

Before foamgate and the shortage of machines I wouldn't have considered it all that much because I knew I could get a used machine fairly inexpensively should my machine fail when out of warranty but now with prices for used machines essentially doubled then that makes it so that maybe an extended warranty might be more attractive.

To buy an extra 3 years of warranty for 100 bucks might offer great peace of mind but to spend 400 or 500 for one year is a whole different thing. I haven't had the time to go poking around at the LOFTA website to investigate their extended warranty program....so I decided to go look.

A quick search of Lofta didn't reveal details about the extended warranty.
It only says
3-year Product Protection
but I couldn't find out exactly what that meant. Was it 3 years from time of purchase which makes it essentially a one year extension of the warranty or does it mean after the 2 year warranty has expired.

Per the website this is their most popular plan and costs $369
LoftaCare Plus

Personal support sets you up for success.
$389

Everything in LoftaCare
60-Night Cash Back return
60-Night Mask Exchange
Jump Start Coaching (1wk, 1 mo, 3mo, 6mo)
1 Year of Support (Including On-demand Coaching, Monitoring, and Device Adjustments)
3-year Product Protection
1 Free Mask Exchange (Within First 60 Days)
Some of it is really just fluff...like the free mask exchange within the first 60 days...big whoopie...here in the US all the mask manufacturers actually offer a free 30 day exchange anyway and it's not limited to first 60 days of treatment.
Meaning if I got a new mask at my DME even after being on cpap for the years I have been using cpap that I could still swap it out if I hated it...within 30 days. And I am not limited to using that ability to once....I can do it as many times as I might want to.....So LOFTA really isn't "giving" you all that much that is very special.

From looking at this particular "plan" and cost...not so sure it is really that good of a deal.
We don't know what the 3 year thing for the machine means and I couldn't find it explained...and the rest of it really doesn't matter all that much because this isn't rocket science and someone could get all the "coaching" they might need or want right here since what we do is try to teach people to be able to figure out what they need all by themselves.
Not to mention I often wonder just how "smart" some of these people who are "helping" really are. I have seen some RT advice that is totally wrong for the situation/problem at hand.

If by chance the 3 year thing was in addition to the 2 year warranty which then extends coverage for 5 years...maybe worth it. If it only extends the machine coverage by 1 year...not worth it IMHO.

All that other stuff that is also offered in that protection plan.....blech....not really as great as it might sound.
Typical DME BS crap...make it out like they are "giving" you something special but they really aren't.

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Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

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Miss Emerita
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Re: Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by Miss Emerita » Wed Jun 22, 2022 11:41 am

The word "Auto" is encouraging, but the link goes to a page that lists all the Airsense 10 machines. In your place, I would nail down whether you'd be getting an Airsense 10 Autoset. Ask specifically about "Autoset."
Oscar software is available at https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by chunkyfrog » Wed Jun 22, 2022 1:33 pm

Miss Emerita wrote:
Wed Jun 22, 2022 11:41 am
The word "Auto" is encouraging, but the link goes to a page that lists all the Airsense 10 machines. In your place, I would nail down whether you'd be getting an Airsense 10 Autoset. Ask specifically about "Autoset."
And then ask for WRITTEN confirmation.
Their "auto" could mean damn near anything.

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Respirator99
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Re: Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by Respirator99 » Wed Jun 22, 2022 8:37 pm

I should have mentioned that the extended warranty is free in Australia. You just need to join Resmed's free SleepVantage program and the 5 year warranty is automatic. There are no downsides to joining but no real banafits other than the warranty.

https://www.sleepvantage.com.au/members ... -extension
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JP_TX
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Re: Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by JP_TX » Thu Jun 23, 2022 7:30 am

Thanks to everyone for the advice!

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by ChicagoGranny » Thu Jun 23, 2022 12:19 pm

People in this position,
I am blessed to be in a position to order it direct from them and afford to pay the approximately $1000
rarely pay for extended warranties. It's cheaper for them to self-insure the additional year of coverage.

Since you are in a good financial position, order an AutoSet from Lofta. Then work with your insurance to see what they would cover on a CPAP machine. If it's a good benefit, procure an AirSense 10 AutoSet from one of your insurance's network DMEs. It's prudent to have a backup machine.

Janknitz
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Re: Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by Janknitz » Thu Jun 23, 2022 12:22 pm

Some other words on the warranty. Be sure you ask for a copy and READ it before signing on the dotted line. In addition to knowing how long it covers the machine, you want to know if there are any restrictions on coverage, any deductibles, and do you have to be without your machine and for how long if there are warranty repairs. Some companies will ship you a loaner machine because it can take weeks to get a repair and what are you supposed to do in the meantime?

Now if you buy it outright you won't have any repair options or loaners, so that is something to consider, especially when it is your first machine and you don't have a backup.

I'm not very keen on some faceless company "monitoring" and adjusting my therapy unless you can get reimbursed from your insurer for the online purchase and have to have compliance documentation from the online doctor prescribing it. We can teach you to monitor your own EFFICACY, and that's what matters to your health. You can adjust the machine to optimize your treatment yourself, you don't need to pay someone to do that.
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carat
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Re: Looking for some guidance after LOFTA sleep study results

Post by carat » Thu Jun 23, 2022 2:44 pm

FYI, Sleep Play has the Airsense 11. I Did my test with Lofta, but I purchased the 11 auto setup. I am loving the machine.