New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 3:17 pm

Guest wrote:The part I am wondering about is they said that my insurance will cover the mask and headgear but NOT the ear straps, that I have to pay for those out of pocket. Does that sound right? I thought the mask was packaged with both the head gear and ear straps, so I am wondering if they just ordered the ear straps? Has anyone else run into this?

The Swift FX for Her (regular package) does NOT contain the new Bella Loops. Likely this is what the DME already has in stock since this has been available for quite some time. https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html and even online does cost a bit more than the newer packaged Swift FX Bella Nasal Pillow for HER which does have the new Loops https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... -cpap.html

There is a price difference even online. So they are technically 2 separate products. To have just the Bella Loops added to an already in stock product which did not include the loops is a separate purchase for anyone. This includes DMEs as well as us here. The Loops are listed as an accessory to the original Swift FX for Her product package. I have no idea what billing code they would be. Headgear? As much as I hate to admit it, the DME may not have a billing code that will allow for reimbursement if the Loops are sold separately. I also have no idea how they might separate the parts for billing when they are part of the whole package when they break down the mask for billing purposes. It is an alternative headgear and insurance won't pay for a second headgear until replacement schedule time has been met. Are they going to call it headgear? If not headgear...then what billing code would it fall under? Beats me at this point. I guess we will have to sit back and wait and see how they get billed out.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 3:41 pm

Thanks, that made sense. They didn't say if they were ordering the whole package or just the loops, just that they had some coming. If they already have the other in stock they probably just ordered the loops. I don't think I want to wait 2 weeks anyway. My insurance doesn't have a replacement schedule for masks, it is "whatever is reasonable due to wear and tear, not misuse". And to follow the manufacturer's directions. $24.95 is worth it to not have to wait, especially since I can probably take it out of my FSA.

portiemom · Post by **portiemom** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 5:49 pm

I picked up my Bella mask today. When my DME handed them to me, he asked if I already had the swift Fx and I told him no I didn't so he handed me the original mask, so I think Pugsy is correct, both packages I received were factory sealed. Hoping for a good nights sleep tonite.

jbn3boys · Post by **jbn3boys** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 5:50 pm

squid13 wrote:The Swift FX for her includes both sets of headgear the regular head gear plus the bella over the ears. https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... -cpap.html Check the specs. tab.

That link is for the NEW Swift FX Bella, not the Swift FX for Her. The Bella comes with the ear loops and the standard headgear. The "for Her" only comes with the headgear.

As for the billing codes, I have a little bit of info on that. I just picked up my complete Bella today at the DME. It comes in one package, but they bill two separate charges. They are:
1) CPAP Nasal Pillow Interface (Swift FX Bella)
amd
2) CPAP Headgear (Swift FX Bella)
From that, I can guess that the headgear includes the ear loops. If you order the ear loops separate, I would guess they would also be billed as headgear.

The package itself says "Swift FX Bella" and then underneath it in smaller lettering, it says "+ Swift FX for Her Headgear".

The only difference I see, aside from the loops, is that the "for Her" headgear included with the Bella only comes with the pink back strap and "soft wraps" (covers for the portion of the headgear that comes in contact with your cheeks). The "regular" for Her headgear comes with two color options (pink and grey).

I'm really looking forward to using the ear loops tonight. So far, I'm very impressed. I actually told the DME that this was the first time I was really excited about a mask! They laughed! (probably never heard that before!)

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 6:26 pm

Eight pages of free advertising for Resmed.
Can't tell me they don't like us.

portiemom · Post by **portiemom** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:09 pm

Chunkyfrog you are toooooooooo funny and so on point!

portiemom · Post by **portiemom** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:13 pm

jbn2boys, yes, mine came in the packaging you stated, but mine must have been opened, because the small pillow was missing. It was free to me from my DME as it was not an inventory item, his Resmed distributor gave it to him when he told him I was interested, So I will not ask for the missing pillow. Thanks for the packaging info.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:43 pm

portiemom wrote:mine came in the packaging you stated, but mine must have been opened, because the small pillow was missing. It was free to me from my DME as it was not an inventory item, his Resmed distributor gave it to him when he told him I was interested, So I will not ask for the missing pillow

The individual Bella Loops...packaged alone without the other mask parts...does not contain a nasal pillow. Not anywhere on the internet where I have seen them offered.
This one..https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... loops.html
This is what we get for $24.95 when we order online. No nasal pillow supplied in the package and I bet this is the same individual package the DMEs get either as freebies or to sell.

Now if someone gets the whole setup in the Bella packaging...the short hose assembly, the other standard headgear, the Bella Loops, the side strap covers then they will also get the 3 sizes of nasal pillows.

Even this packaging (Bella Loops and regular Headgear) does not offer nasal pillows.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html

ems · Post by **ems** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:47 pm

Pugsy wrote:Even this packaging (Bella Loops and regular Headgear) does not offer nasal pillows.

As long as it fits on my Swift FX for her, I'm good.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:01 pm

ems wrote: As long as it fits on my Swift FX for her, I'm good.

It will fit the Swift FX for Her as well as the other Swift FX that has the dark blue back strap. I have one and I tried it to make sure. The guys can use the Loops too if they can get past the pink.
Why it matters I don't know...can't see the pink in the dark anyway but you know how guys are. Maybe ResMed didn't think the guys would be too keen on the ear loop thing. Don't know why they didn't just use a uni sex color like gray instead of pink.

BTW...the Loops..the ends are both notched. There is no left or right side notch like with the original headgear. I thought I had 2 of same side but when I look at all the marketing images up close...both are notched. It still fits fine on the un notched side of the nasal pillow tab thingy.

SleepingUgly · Post by **SleepingUgly** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:13 pm

I wish they would stop with the pink! I have a boy who fits in the "for her" gear better than the for him/generic, and 8-year-old boys are not wild about pink.

Maybe Susan G. Komen for the Cure had something to do with the pink color...

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:24 pm

SleepingUgly wrote:I wish they would stop with the pink

They could be dyed another color. They are very small pieces of a thin foam like material with a little bit of flexibility. I think they could be removed. Might take a little bit of moving around stuff and undoing stuff. I had to slide it way off the "hump" to get it to where I could feed the overflow strap through to get it out of the way. I didn't take it completely off though.

NateS · Post by **NateS** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:47 pm

Pugsy wrote:
NateS wrote:Have you ever tried an Opus 360? Better? Worse?
Nate, I have tried the Opus 360. It is designed probably better for routing over the head than the Swift FX is when using the fixed clip to the top strap. The Swift LT and the Opus 360 do have a little clip to help hold the short hose in place while routed over the head. This is useful for people who want to keep the short hose more "fixed" in the over the head route. Lessens potential drag that can move the nasal pillows.

The Swift FX doesn't have the little round clip to hold that short hose over head so people have to either fix up something to secure the hose to the top strap or be satisfied with just generally routing the long hose over head but not put enough tension on the short hose to pull the nasal pillows out.

I had trouble with the Opus 360 headgear staying in place. More so than the Swift LT that I was using as primary mask until the Swift FX was released. YMMV with the headgear. The nasal pillows themselves are quite comfortable and I had no issue with them. I just had a problem with the headgear moving all over the place.

I tried routing the hose over my head. I didn't care for it myself. I prefer it loose but then I don't have the leak issues that you have. I also used to have rain out a lot and snorting water up my nose is no fun and when the hose is routed overhead any condensation in the nasal pillows from moisture in our breath can only go back into the nose when everything is routed overhead. It was very annoying to wake up snorting water up my nose. Amazing how just a few drops feels like a cup of water.

My Bella Loops should be here tomorrow and Tuesday I will report on potential stability issues. I figure if it is stable with my letting the hose hang freely down and with my tossing and turning...it should be fairly stable. The only time I ever have the Swift FX nose pillows try to come out is when that back strap slides up on me. It doesn't happen a lot but it does happen.

I cooled off on the Opus 360 after I very closely examined and handled the one on the row of display heads at my DME this afternoon. I didn't like the rigid feel of the cheek straps, nor the extremely thin strip of open cell foam stuck to the cheek side of the straps; Nor the feel of the head straps compared to the ones on the Swift FX. And in addition, for the last two nights I have added a chin strap from my DME to my Swift FX and my leak rates have gone way down, with no nightly slippage and whistling and two smiley faces in a row in the morning! Wish I hadn't been so confident thinking I didn't mouth breathe, and had asked for a chinstrap before! It's just a simple little blue one not much bigger than a pirate's eye patch but my jaw drops into it just right.

So I just ordered the Bella loops on line out of curiosity. Sorry to hear they are higher in Canada. Only $24.95 here which is worth it to satisfy my curiosity and I'm sure I may use them even if occasionally if not more.

Best regards, Nate

squid13 · Post by **squid13** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:25 pm

Nate did you try out the O rings?

NateS · Post by **NateS** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:46 pm

squid13 wrote:Nate did you try out the O rings?

Not yet Squid. I got them the same night my DME handed me the chinstrap, and I'm trying to introduce one modification at a time so I can make an educated guess hopefully as to what deserves credit and blame for what changes; since I knew I was going to see and be reviewed by my sleep doctor today, I thought I'd better get in two nights before then with the DME's chinstrap addition which was reported to the MD. With the high leak rate faxed to him Monday, I was afraid he'd be pushing me towards exchanging my FX for a FFM if I didn't.

But stay tuned, Buddy!

Regards, Nate

New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....

Re: New Swift FX Bella Mask.....