CPAPtalk.com

socknitster wrote:Doug, not trying to rub salt in the wounds, here but that is utterly ridiculous. You don't need a scrip for air filters.

Oh PBLTHTHTHTH... Just rub it in. See if I care. I think for the fun of it, I should call Aetna and ask them. If I can get a, "they don't require one" out of Aetna, then I can call my RT back with that.

Doug.

I just CANNOT believe the hoops they are making you jump thru to get decent therapy. I wonder what the huddled masses on cpap do? I'm guessing that is one of the many reasons there are so many xpaps in closets all over America. We really are the lucky, the few, the informed.

Back to my cleaning binge.

Jen

Hey Jen, tell them you need an extra NAII with Medium plus nasal prongs. Then send it to me.

Oh, and RobbieH will need a new hose soon. It's been a week or so...

And Doug needs some Ultra Fine filters...

LOL,
B.

Babette wrote:Hey Jen, tell them you need an extra NAII with Medium plus nasal prongs. Then send it to me.

Oh, and RobbieH will need a new hose soon. It's been a week or so...

And Doug needs some Ultra Fine filters...

Babette,

ROFL! I wonder if Jen realized that she just volunteered to be the outlet supplier for those of us stuck with incompetent-DMEs.

Doug.

OMG! Truly, I guess I should do that. As much trouble as you all have. Maybe I'll just start filing away all the extra supplies in a warehouse somewhere and take orders. You guys can pay the shipping!

The weirdest thing is a new hose every month? I mean, come on!

My dme is the opposite of yours. Maybe its because I live in the midwest. We are like the bizaro-Seinfeld out here. Opposite world--you found it! In Indiana!

Jen

Many online sites sell the white fine filters for as little as 6 ea for $13.00. The best tubing on the market, which I consider to be the Respironics Performance tubing, can be had for as little as $10.00 each (other brands even cheaper).

I have found it much less stressful (and time consuming), to simply stock up on these things myself, rather than devote the time and energy to dealing with the local DME, who by corporate policy, will bill my insurance company at the Medicare reimbursement rate.

When it comes to what you perceive as being your "entitlement", be careful what you ask for, as you might just get it! Many times, based on whatever percentage your insurance company covers (mine used to be 100%, is now 80%, and I hear some are 50% or less), you end up owing more for your supplies than if you had simply purchased them yourself online.

Whenever I start thinking about the whole DME/Insurance thing, rather than get upset over what I think is fair or right, I start thinking about those who do not have any insurance at all, and the stress they must be under.

Then I place the order for whatever I need online, and go spend time with my kids.....

Cliff

Cliff, well said! Here here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B.

Cliff,

Thanks for the reality check. You're exactly right that the headache doesn't seem worth it sometimes. (Hell of an indictment on our medical system, isn't it? Consider the people who simply can't afford to go elsewhere, or for that matter, don't even have any insurance, and the inequity of the system slaps you in the face. But I digress...)

I'll be honest and admit that going through cpap.com for all the little supplies hadn't entered my mind because at least for now I've got insurance that pays 100% with no copay. The intangible benefit of getting supplies online hadn't entered my little mind. It may be worth looking into, though, for stuff like the white filters.

Regardless of what I do, I plan to find some way to dump Apria. After the current chapter is over--which is sooner rather than later--I'm going to start looking again for another DME.

Doug.

socknitster wrote:OMG! Truly, I guess I should do that. As much trouble as you all have. Maybe I'll just start filing away all the extra supplies in a warehouse somewhere and take orders. You guys can pay the shipping!

Methinks I just figured out where all that stuff on ebay comes from. People with overenthusiastic DMEs! (I am so jealous!)

Very Interesting Post. - Since a week into treatment I realized I got the same bottom level CPAP. It will be interesting to see what happens when I discover more features

Thanks

Doug

I get a package of 6 every month and I get a new grey filter every 90 days....I get a new hose every 30 dyas. New mask parts every 90 and new head gear every 180