Medicare After Put on CPAP therapy

I will be going on Medicare at Midnight tonight. I have been on CPAP for close to two years, had two studies done, have two machines, several masks, bunches of hoses, filters etc. Now my DME supplier tells me I must start from scratch before Medicare will cover anything. In today's shortage of money I would think that it would be more cost effective if Medicare left my situation along and just picked up their share of charges from my existing DME. Why go through all the study, and expense of another machine, mask etc. that I do not need?

Anyone have any thoughts on this dumb process?

Air Force Retired wrote:... Anyone have any thoughts on this dumb process? ...

Sounds more like a scam to try to get more money out of you. I would chat with another DME to see if they have a process that would allow you to "register" previous information, rather than go through the entire process needlessly. Competition can be a wonderful thing. Use it to your advantage.

Just a thought. It's what I would do in your situation - which I will face before long.

I would call Medicare directly and ask them questions, the DME told me I would have to start over but I didn't have to. Hope this helps.

My situation may be different, but I started out on Medicare and then switched to a Medicare Advantage plan from United Healthcare. They just picked up the charges where Medicare left off. I think your DME is wrong.

Good topic. My dad (already on Medicare) just ran into the same thing yoday about his oxygen. He's 75, COPD, and they want an annual recertification that he needs it. The letter came from the DME, which caused him to have to go to his PCM, who referred it back to the DME for an overnight O2 study. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I think I'll call Medicare on Monday.

My transition to Medicare was smooth, no problems at all. DME took care of everything. I did not have to repeat or change anything. When my current machine is 5 years old, I will (so far as I know) be eligible for a new one. In the meanwhile, I get masks and parts according to the Medicare schedule.

I would say if it was possible for me, it should be possible for you. Someone may be either uninformed or trying to trick you. I could be wrong here ...

Catnapper - Joanie

I go on medicare Nov 1st after retiring from the Army. I gave my DME a copy of my sleep study from 5 years ago and he said it contained what medicare would be looking for. So according to him I can get a new machine in November with Medicare as primary and Tricare for Life as secondary. Hope he knows what he is talking about?

Jeff

jrfoster wrote:I go on medicare Nov 1st after retiring from the Army.

Can you stay in the Army that long?

GumbyCT wrote:

jrfoster wrote:I go on medicare Nov 1st after retiring from the Army.

Can you stay in the Army that long?

Oops. I didn't mean that I JUST retired, but that I did retire some years ago. However, there are some officers that are in their late 50's when they do retire.
I retired at age 50. Wow, where does the time go?

I was on Cpap 2 years before Medicare I did need a new Rx as old doc never indicated lifetime all I needed to do was one download of chip and new Rx, I have not had a problem getting monthly supplies for the last 2 years on Medicare , since I own my machine I will be eligible for a new one when it is 5years old this has been confirmed by my DOC they said all I need is new Rx requesting one I looking forward to a new machine even though my current machine works fine.

If something should go wrong with your machine your ( a good ) DME. Will loan you a machine . Medicare will pay for the repair & the rental while it is being fixed.