Bipap Autopap

Some of you who have gerd recommended upgrading to a bipap autopap. I tried to do this with a rental machine that I have but was told that Medicare did not cover it. Did you have to pay for the machine yourselves?

I have gerd which is not controlled by medications. I have to avoid all foods that could cause gerd.

I have already had to purchase an auto machine previously due to the poor sleep doctor I originally saw and figure out my own treatment.

Yoga wrote:Some of you who have gerd recommended upgrading to a bipap autopap. I tried to do this with a rental machine that I have but was told that Medicare did not cover it. Did you have to pay for the machine yourselves?

Medicare does cover bipaps. This is from CPAP For Seniors:

What Medicare Pays
Overview
Medicare pays 80% of CPAP/BiPAP equipment rental as well as covered supplies for all eligible Medicare beneficiaries. Payment of the remaining 20% (referred to as a copay) is the responsibility of the patient or their secondary insurance carrier. The 20% copayment is billed only after Medicare has paid the first 80% of the items billed.

Many of our patients use their non-Medicare insurance to cover their 20% copay and some choose to pay out of pocket. You are free to choose which ever option works best for you.

Supplies
Medicare covers 80% of the cost of most CPAP/APAP/BiPAP supplies (Masks, Headgear, Filters, etc).

Machines
Medicare will typically cover 80% of the cost of CPAP/APAP/BiPAP Machines. Machines are purchased via a 13 month rental process. Medicare guidelines do not allow for the direct purchase of CPAP/APAP/BiPAP Machines.

CPAP/APAP/BiPAP Machines are purchased via a capped rental process during which Medicare is billed at a monthly rental rate that can be converted to purchase after 13 months of rental. If you elect to convert to purchase when provided the option after the 10th rental month, you own the equipment after the 13th rental month, but are responsible for any future maintenance and repair.

You may also elect to continue renting the system (15 rental months, then 1 maintenance rental every six months), which makes Health Management Services Inc (cpapforseniors.com) responsible for the maintenance and repair of their machine.

Deductible
All Medicare beneficiaries have a $110.00 deductible per year. Payment of the $110.00 deductible amount is the responsibility of the patient or their secondary insurance carrier. By Medicare guidelines, the deductible can not be waived, nor negotiated.

Thanks guest. I checked with Cpap for Seniors and they said that Medicare did not recognize treating gerd with Bipap as covered.