Please help me with your experience

Hi-
I'm new to this whole "thing" - even to "chat rooms".
I've read alot of what is on the board and I'm impressed with everyone's honesty and attitude and helpfullness.

Just got the call today-----actually I'm kinda excited.
Although I hate the fact that I'll probably have to sleep with a MACHINE the rest of my days - the day after my cpap study - I felt better than I have in ................I can't remember when. I thought it was just stress.

Anyway- My "local provider" called me and told me that they "rent" these for $133/month untill blue cross tells them it is paid for??????? I asked how much is that. They told me @$1350.00!!!!!
Sounded kinda hokey - so I checked the web and found you.

I do have insurance - but I don't want to rip them off eather - I'll probply have to pay for part of it.

I want to get the best machine available -
Would you please tell me your opinion and why!!!

Thank you in advance-

My DME also said the insurance co (Blue Cross) would probably rent the Cpap until they knew it was going to work for me. I called Blue Cross 3 times & got 3 different answers. The DME submitted their paperwork & got paid ... $1300 for a $300 ResMed S7 Lightweight Cpap machine. $1600 including the mask (Activa) & hose. I ended up paying $100 more & got them to get me a ResMed S8 Vantage. Not quite so bad, but still ridiculous.

Check the cpap.com website. Price the different cpap, apap & mask options. Check the manufactures websites. Do searchs on this forum for the different items. Read, read, read.

Don't let them just give you the cheapest unit they have so that they can make the most profit.

I had a question a not long after I first got my Cpap. I called & left a message for my RT to please call. Never got a call so called him back a couple days later. He apologized for not calling back, but he had been busy & "our patients come first". Excuse me? You got your your money from my ins co so I'm no longer a patient?

I'm just trying to say, be an educated consumer & don't let them take advantage of you.

Lyn

I've read many post were patients forego insurance and just purchase their own machine and usually even cheaper. My DME wanted to rent me one too and did for a short while, until my insurance ran out. I had a lifetime limit. (I could have applied the rental toward buying one.) At that point, they wanted $3300 for a Respironics Duet, which was no longer manufactured. I purchased a bipap pro from cpap.com for $1550. I could have purchased 2 compared to the DME and had $200 left over. So, check around, find out exactly the cost with insurance and maybe you will save buy just outright buying the machine yourself. Others have, but that doesn't mean you will. Every case is individual according to the circumstances. Good luck