If you can buy your machine outright, do it!

DME charged me $2,038 for the machine below. Insurance paid $2,000 while I picked up the $38. Rip off? Yes absolutely.

If I had no insurance I would definitely purchase online from CPAP.COM

Paul56 wrote:DME charged me $2,038 for the machine below. Insurance paid $2,000 while I picked up the $38. Rip off? Yes absolutely.

If I had no insurance I would definitely purchase online from CPAP.COM

Wow that's awesome Paul! You must have better coverage than I do.. I have to pay 25%... Ever since Lowe's has not been doing well they have found ways to cut corners. Not only lowering salaries but cutting health care. Last year in comparison everything I did health wise, including my 2 surgeries was covered 100%. How I miss those days..

Good Morning Michelle,

Tomjax is right, this looks like a very good deal. It is an auto with C-flex, used one night. You could offer $150.00 and probably get it. I could ship it to you.

Georgio

CPAP-REMstar - used one time - $200 (JACKSONVILLE)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: sale-902976766@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-11-02, 2:27PM EST

CPAP Machine - used one time, as had surgery instead... this is the complete kit, with carrying case purchased from Baptist Health in June 2005..

Contact me at cmg008@gmail.com

Given when that machine was purchased, I would check out the serial number of the humidifer with Respironics, or ask the seller, to be sure it is not one of the recalled humdifiers.

This recall happened a couple of years ago since certain humdifiers could cause a fire. I had one and Respironics sent us a list of the serial numbers (don't know if I still have the list -I will check and get back to you). We had to send them to Respironics and we got a new one.

We were told not to use them heated,- just passover, until we had the new one.

I'm off to see if I have the list of serial numbers.

It was JUST the humidifiers and not the machines so the machine should be fine and even if the humdifier is a problem one, it's still a good price.

I checked my files and I, obviously, did not keep the list of serial numbers! I can't even remember exactly what year it was.

Maybe someone else remembers and/or has the list of serial numbers. It was around that time--but may have been before that machine was purchased.

I'm not sure but think you should check it out.

Help anyone!!

Unit on Craigslist was, "purchased from Baptist Health in June 2005."

Sounds like it would comfortably miss the recall, however if Michelle decided to purchase, the serial no. could be easily checked.

Respironics REMstar® Heated Humidifier Recall

Respironics, the manufacturer of the Respironics REMstar® Heated Humidifier, has received complaints of failures of the AC inlet connector on the REMstar Heated Humidifiers manufactured between December 2001 and April 2003. A small number of these failures have resulted in thermal damage to the humidifier enclosure, and there is a remote possibility that a thermal failure could result in the ignition of materials external to the device. For this reason, Respironics is asking that you remove the humidifier from its power source. You may continue using your CPAP device.

Respironics has decided to take voluntary action to mitigate the risk of failure. This action includes only the model 1005792, U1005792, R1005792, SC1005792, AC1005792, and 1007861.

Yes, that machine probably missed that problem. That's great that you got the serial numbers Georgio. My first machine was one that had the humdifier recalled but I had forgotten the dates. Best to be safe!

The jax machine is NOT an APAP.
the pictured manual is for an apap, but the machine is remstar PLUS.

sh says it has no place for a smartcadt, therefore no apap.

and she says it does not say apap on the machine

Thanks for the clarification Tomjax (I read auto somewhere on the manual): Would still be an excellent buy.

And by the way Tomjax, it looks like CPAP certainly has given you a youthfull appearance! We must be neighbors.

Georgio

Features | REMstar® Plus
C-Flex™
Sleek, modern appearance
Hour/Session meter accumulates usage sessions >4 and total hours used
Deluxe ramp capabilities allow a 0 - 45 minute time period with a patient-adjustable ramp start pressure
Lighted patient buttons with improved feel are located on the CPAP unit to control it and the heated humidifier
Improved carrying case offers exceptional padding and is big enough to carry both the CPAP unit, mask and heated humidifier
International power supply with lightweight, snug-fitting power cord
Icon-based display makes set-up easier
Pressure calibration key allows you to target pressure setting to within 0.1 cm H2O
Integrated handle for easy transport
3-position altitude compensation
Extremely quiet operation
4 - 20 cm H2O pressure range
DC operation
Washable pollen filters and optional ultra-fine filters
2-year warranty

I have to add my experience to this thread.

I tried to buy my machine from the DME the day I started cpap. They told me it was a rental and that was the way to go with it. I am so glad I did, because trial and error got me through 4 machines before I ended up with the one I have now. The insurance paid for all the exchanges, and all I paid was the rental fee. If I had bought that first cheap-o I would have been having uncomfortable treatment still.

My insurance was good, and I went from cpap to an auto-bipap with bi-flex eventually. My copay on the various cpaps was about $10 per month, and changed to $16 or so for the bipap. Total was about $70 for the 3 cpaps and $160 for the bipap rentals. Not bad for 4 machines.

Catnapper - Joanie

Absolutely if you can buy your own machine, do it! I got fed up 'paying rent' too and tried to buy one I had to turn in due to a change in insurance companies. they wanted far more than I bought a better machine from cpap.com for. I got to choose my machine, a Remstar APAP, and I just bought an M-series APAP with 300 hours on it for $375 last week. No more BS by the DME forcing cheap machines on me and making excuses for it. BTW, one of the DME's mentioned in one of the other posts on this subject knows I pay for all my stuff out of pocket charges me about half for filters. I understand the overhead issues they have, but it is absurd the difference in retail and online retail prices. I also turn in the expenses to my healtcare reimb plan and save even more money..

DreamStalker wrote: Unless you insurance pays 100%, it is almost always better to bypass your insurance and buy out-of-pocket, get the machine with the most options, and focus on getting your health back rather than fighting DME/insurance machine.

I had no idea I might have to rent the machine instead of buy, I didn't hear about that until well after I got the machine. But of course I wasn't reading this board then, either. My insurance (Empire BCBS) told me twice that the machine would be paid for minus out of pocket and/or deductible, and the DME said BCBS usually buys them outright, but that seems to contradict what I've read here. My DME is lazy and as far as I know still hasn't submitted the claim. I'm completely nervous, waiting for the other shoe to drop and find out I can't keep the machine.