64 YOA, no insurance, and dr. said I had sleep apnea

I am a 64 year old professional male who was told I have sleep apnea and I have tried my wife's machine and it worked wonders. Unfortunately I am supporting 4 adults and 2 grandchildren on just my salary alone and literally go from paycheck to paycheck

I cannot afford sleep studies and then all the return visits, and yes finally the CPAP machine....all of which I understand cost well over 1000 dollars. Is there any company or even government program that can help me on this -- am so tired of fighting sleep at work and going home and just sitting around telling my grandchildren that I am too tired to play

HELP ! ! ! !

At 65 you will be covered by Medicare. How close are you?

Unless you have reason to believe you need a bi-pap machine (for very high pressure) then you can get an auto that will give you some feedback online using codes input from the machine to your computer (DeVilbiss Intellipap Auto, like mine) for under $400. from Cpap.com.. it's listed as a 'travel' machine because it's smaller than some, but is just as reliable and has all necessary features others do... and you can titrate yourself (do a forum search on how to do that) at home.

Julie wrote: you can titrate yourself (do a forum search on how to do that) at home.

just adding .... You can also find machines listed on Craigslist. But before you buy you need to know what you are looking for. Everything you need can be found on this forum.

Get Busy reading.

Yeah, the Dr. can write you a prescription and you can buy a nice machine on line. I think even, depending on what the doc orders, a CPAP would do fine. I do titration on a CPAP myself with no trouble. Just get a machine that's data capable.

I will be 65 in 6 months but days are getting longer and longer --- as for as some of the posts, he said I had to go through a sleep study and all of that, which means he would not write a prescription

Thanks for all your replies

Without a RX from a doctor your options are Craigslist or private party. If you shop carefully and wisely you can find some good deals.

If your wife has a RX for her machine in her possession you could use her RX to buy yourself a machine from online suppliers. Nothing stopping her from buying an extra machine and letting you use it. She can always say it is a back up machine.

I would for sure want a full data machine though and one with easily available software so that I could manage things more effectively.

If the doctor says you have apnea, knows you have no insurance, and withholds the Rx, it smacks of malpractice in my book, but I am sure he has to CYA at your expense. I agree, that if your wife has a Rx, buying a second machine would be the best bet. She can request a copy of her Rx to use for an online vendor, or ask for a new Rx saying she wants to buy her own back up machine. I know my doctor would do that in a heartbeat, but others might not. You can either go with the less expensive DeVilbiss (a really excellent machine for the money), or you could check http://www.secondwindcpap.com for gently used machines that have been bench checked, sanitized and come with a warranty. They are owned by a RT and give excellent customer service. Don't hesitate to email them or call -- they are great to work with. Keep in mind that even your dentist can write a Rx for a cpap machine so you might ask him/her if they are willing to do that for you.

Check this out viewtopic/t73602/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=72 ... 13#p669897

idamtnboy wrote:Check this out viewtopic/t73602/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=72 ... 13#p669897

Why thank you idamtnboy. That unit is still available.

NC_Troll, consider registering here and it will allow others to interact with you by private message. I have a used machine that needs adopted. But you will want to ask more questions and be involved in the forum to get the most benefit from any machine. So click the registration link and join us.

My sleep doc here was going to give me a machine and mask for free if needed since my insurance doesn't cover DME. You should ask around and see what doctors in your area will offer you if you can't afford the CPAP gear.

Am now a member if anyone wants to email me off list ...........looking for free or exceptionally great deals. Supporting wife, her two kids, and 2 grandkids --- doesn't leave much ...........thanks to everyone for their replies

Emilia wrote:If the doctor says you have apnea, knows you have no insurance, and withholds the Rx, it smacks of malpractice in my book, but I am sure he has to CYA at your expense. I agree, that if your wife has a Rx, buying a second machine would be the best bet. She can request a copy of her Rx to use for an online vendor, or ask for a new Rx saying she wants to buy her own back up machine. I know my doctor would do that in a heartbeat, but others might not. You can either go with the less expensive DeVilbiss (a really excellent machine for the money), or you could check http://www.secondwindcpap.com for gently used machines that have been bench checked, sanitized and come with a warranty. They are owned by a RT and give excellent customer service. Don't hesitate to email them or call -- they are great to work with. Keep in mind that even your dentist can write a Rx for a cpap machine so you might ask him/her if they are willing to do that for you.

Reply,

I looked at the above link and the following seems to me expensive.
It's more than at CPAP.COM for the flow generator plus a humidifier plus a slimline:

New, Zero Hour (Open Box) ResMed S9 AutoSet and Accessories $749

If you find an MD who will verify that you might have sleep apnea you could then arrange "for at home testing" that would allow you to get an Rx for a CPAP.

A test by this one would cost you less than $300: Instant Diagnostic Systems, Inc. (IDS)

Link: http://www.instantdiagnostic.com/ids/


A test by this one would cost you $195 and if found positive then additional $90 for a report by a professional for you and your doc:

http://www.1stlinemedical.com/uploads/4 ... ochure.pdf

They emaild me this: If you were to pay for this out-of-pocket, a fee of $195 would be incurred for the screening (yielding a result of negative or positive). If the screening were returned as negative, your responsibility would remain at $195. If the screening proves to be positive and the physician would like further detail on your condition, that would incur an additional $90 fee for the interpretation of the positive result

just a bit confused - someone said to get one with usable software....do these come with software that you can adjust the flow with? My wife has one and it is hard coded by the supplier of the cpap. Is it possible to get one that you can adjust yourself

Tell us what kind she has--nothing is written in stone--they just say it is.
Someone here may have her clinician's manual.