DME dushing me toward respironics S1

I have been recently diagnosed with mild OSA. I am currently using a trial machine, a respironics M Apap. They had set it on APAP to titrate my pressure, and now I am trying fixed pressure of 9 for a few weeks. I will be purchasing a machine, and after research, I feel that the Resmed S9 will be best for my needs, mainly quietness and the climateline for controlling rainout. However, the DME that my doctor works with is strongly encouraging me to go with the respironics s1, the main reason being that they cannot download the data for the resmed. Thesy can also sell me an extended warranty for the respironics for $200 which extends warranty from three to seven years. Currently, the resmed is priced at $1850 with climateline, and the respironics is at 1750. In Canada, if I shop online, I can get the resmed from a CDN supplier for $1150 with the same features.

I am also going to get fitted for a ff mask, as it is covered by insurance, whereas the specific nasal mask I like (resmed softgel) is not yet approved for coverage. I can then buy the nasal mask in the US for less money ($127 instead of $185)

Resmed S9 and PR (Respironics) S1 tell us NOTHING about which MODEL of CPAP and MODEL is the most important issue:
you do NOT want a Resmed w/Escape anywhere in the name, not even Escape Auto; you do NOT want a PR S1 w/Plus or Auto IQ in the model name.

Stick to your guns for the Resmed S9 Elite or Resmed S9 AutoSet.

Don't bother telling them but you can access a copy of the ResScan 3.13 or .14 software at no cost to you. YOU can do your data downloads and printouts FOR them.

IF you do give up and go w/the PR S1 Pro or Auto I wouldn't spend the extra $200 for the extended warranty. Unless PR has changed their warranty w/in the last few months their warranty is the standard 2 years, not 3. I doubt the warranty is any different between Canada and the US. I could be wrong but I really do doubt it. Its easy enough to check out at the PR website.

Personally, I would buy the Resmed S9 from the Canadian online DME supplier and just get my supplies, if covered by insurance, from the local DME provider when my cost was lower than buying online due to insurance coverage.

Which ResMed S9? Model is critical.

The climate line heated hose is pretty nifty. If you really want that feature....

If data is the problem you can offer to provide your own reports...though I would imagine they will have a coronary if they realize you have access to the software. They could easily get it also though.

I suspect the real reason is profit margin. ResMed machines seem to be priced higher and ResMed has a strong hold on what machines are sold at, probably even to suppliers.

Either brand will do an excellent job though.

preacher wrote:I am also going to get fitted for a ff mask, as it is covered by insurance, whereas the specific nasal mask I like (resmed softgel) is not yet approved for coverage. I can then buy the nasal mask in the US for less money ($127 instead of $185)

A number of things send up red flags to me that this supplier is in it for the money and doesn't care to help you with your therapy. You might think about supporting another business that will help you.

Let's start with

preacher wrote:Thesy can also sell me an extended warranty for the respironics for $200 which extends warranty from three to seven years.

Extended warranties for anything are normally NOT worth the money. I would say this is true in this case also. Ask you insurance before you spend, Insurance will usu. replace any machine that fails after the warranty expires - so this is a BIG Flag.

preacher wrote:However, the DME that my doctor works with is strongly encouraging me to go with the respironics s1, the main reason being that they cannot download the data for the resmed.

As already mentioned you can get the software to download the data from your machine IF they can't or choose not to. IF you can go on the internet to get the tools you need to understand your therapy - why can't or why won't they? They use it to try to steer you to a product will they can maximize their income. IF they will lie to you about things like this how could you possibly believe anything else they tell you?

So sort those things out first. I can point out other disparities but why bother?

Start by calling your insurance to understand the coverage they have on cpap equipment and be sure to ask IF you can use other suppliers.

Come back to let us know what you found out.

Good Luck

Hi,

Also a Canadian, I'm in Ontario. I have read posts that seem to show that some suppliers, in Canada (a post from someone in Oshawa, ON.), are selling people older machines and sometimes machines they don't need in order to increase profits. Shame Shame. I called an provider who first off said "I have the lowest prices in the GTA", well maybe he does, but then he asked if I had any insurance, which I do. Well then the price seemed to increase, he started to list, and one month rental fee, and that his price included as mask but that it was not very good and would need almost $200 for an upgraded mask..etc..etc. , by the end of the conversation I think it was $400 - $500 out of my pocket.

I don't know much as yet but I have done a lot of research since booking the sleep study, and everyone seems to say the more information you can get from the machine the better you will be at controlling your own sleep apnea. All ways I hear "Full Data Is A Must" If at all possible I am looking to get the Resmed S9 Auto Set. I also would like the heated hose and would like to start off with the Swift FX pillows. If it takes sometime to get use to a mask I might as well get the one a lot of people are saying they love and wish it was their first mask.

Good Luck,
Canadianguy.

I didn't even add anything about a data capable machine but I know that Pugsy and Slinky both touched on it. Be certain that the machine you get will provide you with the data you will need to ensure your therapy is effective.

Esp. when they swap out the machine your are now using for another which won't provide you any data. This requires alot of research and reading on your part, so start a notebook with your questions and leave room under it for answers.

Also ask your insurance to be sure about this -

preacher wrote:I am also going to get fitted for a ff mask, as it is covered by insurance, whereas the specific nasal mask I like (resmed softgel) is not yet approved for coverage.

Most insurances are billed via a code which does not care which make or model the mask is - so this is also fishy to me.

GumbyCT wrote:Most insurances are billed via a code which does not care which make or model the mask is - so this is also fishy to me.

OP is Canadian.. their insurance is not the same as ours and can be more limited in certain areas. It is possible that cpap coverage extends to specific brands and models depending on province and insurance and any supplemental insurance that is available in some provinces.

Pugsy wrote:

GumbyCT wrote:Most insurances are billed via a code which does not care which make or model the mask is - so this is also fishy to me.

OP is Canadian.. their insurance is not the same as ours and can be more limited in certain areas. It is possible that cpap coverage extends to specific brands and models depending on province and insurance and any supplemental insurance that is available in some provinces.

I do understand that which is why I preceded it with this

GumbyCT wrote:Also ask your insurance to be sure about this -

I am sure that would clear it up.

GumbyCT wrote: I do understand that which is why I preceded it with this

Sorry, temporary blindness..totally missed that part.

Thanks for the wisdom and support. I am going to stick to my guns. I suspect that profit margin is the primary motivator. Our medicare will cover a very basic fixed pressure machine without data capability. I am going to go for the resmed s9 autopap w climateline and not worry about extended warranty. I will also get the Mirage Quattro FF mask, which is covered by our medicare, and then source a resmed softgel nasal mask from the USA, where prices are 2/3 what ours are.

I think the climateline will help with my main problem, rainout.