My DME Sent Me a Bunch of Stuff

Yesterday I had a box delivered to my front door. I like surprises brought to me by UPS but this one was different. I didn't order this stuff.

The box had a new mask, a new hose, a new humidifier reservoir, and some air filters. It's over $300 worth of stuff. I have been on CPAP for three months. I assume this is part of my prescription to provided theses supplies and that my insurance will pick up most of the cost.

But... Do I really need all this. Filter are OK. I can almost understand a new mask even though I feel like the old on is just getting 'broken in'. But why $92 for a new humidifier reservoir? Mine is spotless. I use distilled water every night. If they are going to send me a new one every three months why can't I just use plain old sink water. And, what wears out on a hose?

Maybe I should just shut up and consider myself fortunate but it all seems like a waste of money to me.

Is this usual?

Mark

I only get supplies if I order them from my sleep doc (clinic). I have CPAP tech appts every 6 mos to check equipment; every 9 or so for doc. I got an extra hose and had to replace masks and a new humidifier tub 'cause mine developed mold-mildew and I refused to use it.

Sounds like a scheme to get more $ to me . The mask yes, the rest iffy...IMHO.

It is a waste. Send it all to Washington DC as an example of what's wrong with insurance companies running healthcare. A new hose? Oh brother. Maybe it was sent by mistake?

It doesn't hurt to have some spare "stuff", but at some point (especially if they keep shipping "stuff" to you) it's going to bite you in the wallet. We see people frequently saying "My insurance pays/paid for......." However, it's YOUR insurance dollars (and those of your co-workers, if you're in a group) that are paying several times what those same supplies could be purchased for from an online supplier. This is a small microcosm of why our insurance industry and medical care costs are so FUBARed.

Your call......

Den

sleepypp wrote:It is a waste. Send it all to Washington DC as an example of what's wrong with insurance companies running healthcare. A new hose? Oh brother. Maybe it was sent by mistake?

Absolutely NOT sent by mistake! It's the classic DME racket and should be against the law, IMO. Insurance is being sucked for 3-10X the worth of these items, you pay the rest, for.....as you said, "unnecessary stuff!" Absurd that you would need a new hose or reservoir, and an entire mask with headgear can last for years, with the possible exception of the silicone interface with your face, which varies in terms of life-expectancy. Filters need to be replaced. A $6 item every 3 months.....so they load the box and collect BIG $$$$$$.

But hey. You can do like so many many others----sell the stuff on eBay or cpapauction and get some "free" income rolling in. Keep up the racket!!! Anybody who buys into & participates in this system of fraud and then complains about so-called socialized healthcare that we may inherit, needs to take a look at how they contributed to the state of things. We all thank you very much.

Don't get me started.
End of rant.

plr66 wrote:Absolutely NOT sent by mistake! It's the classic DME racket and should be against the law, IMO. Insurance is being sucked for 3-10X the worth of these items, you pay the rest, for.....as you said, "unnecessary stuff!" Absurd that you would need a new hose or reservoir, and an entire mask with headgear can last for years, with the possible exception of the silicone interface with your face, which varies in terms of life-expectancy. Filters need to be replaced. A $6 item every 3 months.....so they load the box and collect BIG $$$$$$.

But hey. You can do like so many many others----sell the stuff on eBay or cpapauction and get some "free" income rolling in. Keep up the racket!!! Anybody who buys into & participates in this system of fraud and then complains about so-called socialized healthcare that we may inherit, needs to take a look at how they contributed to the state of things. We all thank you very much.

Don't get me started.
End of rant.

I figgered you'd be along shortly........


Den

Wulfman wrote: I figgered you'd be along shortly........
Den

Yup. Sorry. I just can't help myself.

It's the "American" way; the guidelines say every three months whether you need it or not and our "needs" (exorbitant profit) trump yours.

plr66 wrote: But hey. You can do like so many many others----sell the stuff on eBay or cpapauction and get some "free" income rolling in. Keep up the racket!!!

So THAT'S how that works!!!

People should be ashamed.

My boss and I pay dearly for our insurance coverage, and it has plenty of holes. My study was covered but DME is only covered 50% AFTER $1,000 deductible. Who has that lying around?

I bought my machine off Craigslist for $250, (had to buy two because I did not realize the first one was a dinosaur. Newbie move). Both were from people who couldn’t adapt.

I got my mask from amazon.com, for $70. I don’t know where these guys get these masks for so cheap that they can sell them for that. Maybe they are scammers too, but how do they get hundreds of them? I got replacement cushions for $30 each.

Got some “help” with the software and a card reader for $50.

Meanwhile DME companies are shipping this stuff around like candy and billing insurance two to 4 times it’s value. Oh brother.

Glad I could contribute to YOUR second income through MY premiums.

Stacy

sleepypp wrote:

plr66 wrote: But hey. You can do like so many many others----sell the stuff on eBay or cpapauction and get some "free" income rolling in. Keep up the racket!!!

So THAT'S how that works!!!
..... I don’t know where these guys get these masks for so cheap that they can sell them for that. Maybe they are scammers too, but how do they get hundreds of them?

Glad I could contribute to YOUR second income through MY premiums.

Stacy

Surely you understand my sarcasm and anger about the whole thing, and that I in no way particpate in this unconsciouable behavior???

"These guys" can be DME's who get tons of stuff from the suppliers for promotional purposes, etc, or possibly are accumulating excesses by inappropriate means.....or folks with insurance in any form, who decide to collect mountains of "stuff" they don't need every month, every 3 months, etc etc....just because they can.

Surely you understand my sarcasm and anger about the whole thing, and that I in no way particpate in this unconsciouable behavior???

Oh yes, that was loud and clear. I appreciate the information on this issue. I had no idea. I join you in your outrage!

The sad part is those with no extended health benefits have to go without. I know there are those that may not deserve health benefits, but for many families struggling every month just to pay rent, groceries etc, their health slowly fails due to going without legitimately required medical equipment....... sad

Rick

It is good to have extra supplies. A mask could break... a hose could get holes... etc etc. The spares ensure your therapy continues uninterrupted.

I have 2 masks, 1 spare face cushion, 2 hoses, an extra humidifier tank and big supply of filters. I'm certain there are others here with a bigger supply stash than my meager one.

I'm sure after getting a package every 3 months you will accumulate way more than you really need... so call them when you have enough and tell them to stop the flow which at that point will be nothing more than a revenue generator for the DME.

Now that you mention it, I remember when I picked up my machine my DME offered to set me up on some sort of "Auto shipment" every 3 months. I think I said yes, but there was so much other info I was trying to absorb who knows what I would have said yes to....and I bet they rely on that and newbies thinking that the DME must know best about how long stuff will last. I remember them saying I could ask to stop it whenever I wanted to. Maybe if you called they could stop the automatic shipments?

I think I remember saying yes because I didn't want the hassle of having to remember to order supplies. I remembered my dad seeming to always have to order new supplies and that he has had hoses wear out (clear part cracks, usually near end). I didn't even think to ask what all they would autoship....I never thought of it possibly including a humidifier reservoir or a whole mask (figured it would just be the cushion part). I guess I'll let the first one come so I can have a set of spares (be prepared and all...) but I will probably stop them after 1 or 2.

It's sort of a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation.

When it comes to supplies - for every post about someone getting stuff they don't want there are an equal number of posts from people about how they shouldn't have to stop what they are doing and ASK for replacement disposable items it damn well should be automatic. Seriously. Even here you can find such statements.

It's also somewhat a matter of what the insurance company says. Remember - the majority of the things a DME does are dictated to them by an insurance company. There are some insurance contracts out there that state a provider must automatically send replacement disposables to a patient per whatever schedule is setup. They aren't the majority but they are out there.

If you don't want automatic shipments just contact your provider and I'm sure they'll be able to stop (Assuming insurance allows it though even the policies that do require automatic re-supply usually have an opt-out clause).

But like everyone else said - I would agree that you always always want at least 1 spare backup of everything onhand so definately keep this first shipment.

mattman