where did you get your machine?

jdm2857 wrote:RRT --
You've unearthed a thread that is 5 years old.

Don't hold your breath waiting for a response.

FYI - it was unearthed by a spam bot and the spam got deleted. It was up for quite a while with no responses and the last message being the one from the person who got thiers from Lincare.

I got mine online because my insurance deductible for medical equipment is $500

Since that is practically the price of a machine, I at least got what I wanted. I just mailed the claim form in to the insurance so that at least my deductible has been covered. I also did not claim the mask, so I could go to an in-network provider (Apria), so I could get another mask and accessories and only pay 20% (Insurance pays 80%).

I chose "other" on the poll, even though my initial machine was provided through my DME. It was an M Series Plus. I didn't get a data-capable machine until I purchased one from a seller on CraigsList a few months ago. The Plus machine has since been relegated to backup status.

If I could afford to purchase all of my supplies outright, I would do it, because my local DME is clueless when it comes to CPAP therapy and equipment (not one person in the office uses CPAP; their business is primarily oxygen-related). So I find that I'm educating them re: CPAP therapy, thanks to what I've learned here. (What's wrong with that picture?)

Also, in response to RRT's post above, I've been with my DME since late 2007. The one and only time anyone from my DME has come to my house was recently, to deliver and set up an oxygen concentrator. Every other time I've seen anyone from the office - to be fitted (what a joke) or to replenish supplies - I've driven an hour each way. They hassle me when I'm due for a new mask and ask for something different (i.e., something I don't already have). And since nobody there is familiar with what a CPAP patient goes through or has problems with, they're of no help when I really need them. That's the kind of "service" I get, and I think the majority of forum members have similar tales of woe when it comes to DMEs.

If your employer does business the way you say it does, with trained and qualified people to assist and accommodate the patient, then kudos. Unfortunately, that seems to be quite rare among DMEs. Which is why this forum needs to exist, and I'm glad that it does.

I know this thread is old, but i have found it interesting.

I got my machine from one thf the local DME's. My insurance does not allow on-line purchases (out of network). And since insurance paid 100% for my machine and will pay 100% for supplies after their waiting period (so stupid - like I am not going to need any supplies for 10 months!), I am going to stick with the local DME. So sad that insurance doesn't understand that I could save thems LOTS of money by purchasing on-line.

2flamingos wrote:I know this thread is old, but i have found it interesting.

I got my machine from one thf the local DME's. My insurance does not allow on-line purchases (out of network). And since insurance paid 100% for my machine and will pay 100% for supplies after their waiting period (so stupid - like I am not going to need any supplies for 10 months!), I am going to stick with the local DME. So sad that insurance doesn't understand that I could save thems LOTS of money by purchasing on-line.

lol Like the insurance company cares. They are the ones who set the price!

I just got mine a couple days ago. I live in Rochester MN, home of Mayo Clinic, and I got at their Sleep Apnea Store... $1300.

Library Lady your posting to a almost 5 year old thread.

And if you paid out of pocket you paid goo much! Jim

You needed to spend time reading here before buying.

Got my machine the morning after my sleep study before I left the sleep study center.

kona0197 wrote:Got my machine the morning after my sleep study before I left the sleep study center.

Personally, I would NEVER purchase my equipment from my doctor or sleep center. They have a financial incentive to sell me something that will produce $$$. After I sit down and discuss the results with my doctor I take my prescription and investigate my options as to what and where to make my purchase.

When you're just getting started on cpap, you may not know even where to look to find out about options. I might have done that, too, had my sleep doctor not referred me to a local DME.