CPAPtalk.com

Understood

Ok wondering if anyone her has had a experience like this. My DME is Lincare, I'm sure others of you have some heartfelt terms of endearment for them but my whole experience started in December of 2012. I had my sleep study done in November of 2012 and my doctor sent there prescription to my DME the same month I didn't get a call for several weeks I thought that was normal but it bothered me since I'm at the end of the year and I'm 100% covered, so just as I was ready to call I got a call from them and they scheduled my appointment - I found out the reason they made me wait because they ran out of supplies?? shouldn't a equipment company make sure they have supplies in stock? she wasn't just out of CPAP machines she was also out of masks so I got stuck trying mask that I tried and didn't work. So finally I get my machine, they charge it off to the wrong insurance number despite them having my card on file??? and a copy of it. So I get denied on the initial request because it wasn't my number. They submit it again and make so much confusion at my insurance company that now they are questioning if I should have it!! I met all the criteria and also contacted them and talked to them on the phone. Well also a week after I got my CPAP I got a bill?? I questioned why since I had met all my deductible and coinsurance so I shouldn't have any out of pocket, so I called my insurance to verify and they say yes I shouldn't have received a bill I have to contact there office and when I did they said oops! I have to question if they even verify if someone met there insurance? or just look at the type of plan because they charged me 20% even though I had already met all my out of pocket expenses, they did finally cancel my bill. This over charging happened at the local DME and by the main corporate billing and if I hadn't questioned it I would of paid at least $400 dollars. So I get the machine and it rains out, so I talk to my sleep clinic doctor and he believes they could resolve this with the heated tubing, so he issues a prescription for the heated tubing ... The DME gets the order and drags there feet for several weeks, telling me and my doctor that they are working on it and as the end of the year approaches and a new deductible and coinsurance starts January 1st they tell me that they got my part. Well now that it's a new year, the part I wanted to get last year that would have been covered 100% now will cost me full price because I'll have to meet my deductible and coinsurance all over again. All I can say is don't sign anything from Lincare unless you know your covered and keep on them, if you get a intuition that something is wrong or they don't know what they are doing - RUN! Run fast and ask your insurance for the name of another DME. If you are going to buy something from them don't do it unless they can provide you a itemized list even if they are going to bill your insurance. Also if your DME doesn't know there equipment like I discovered, they had to make several calls to the manufacturer then that may mean they probably won't be able to give you want you need. Many of us newbies will always get hurt the first time, I hope I can help a few before this happens. If you research what you need before you go like I did you might get what you need.... I did know what I needed but my DME did not have what I needed in stock and she stated she would give me what I needed on my next visit, I took her word and she was wrong and now I'm at a financial loss because of her lack of experience with the equipment she issued me. That is my gripe with my DME, whom I will NEVER use again and my family or friends won't either.

Wyocpapguy wrote:Ok wondering if anyone her has had a experience like this. My DME is Lincare, I'm sure others of you have some heartfelt terms of endearment for them but my whole experience started in December of 2012. I had my sleep study done in November of 2012 and my doctor sent there prescription to my DME the same month I didn't get a call for several weeks I thought that was normal but it bothered me since I'm at the end of the year and I'm 100% covered, so just as I was ready to call I got a call from them and they scheduled my appointment - I found out the reason they made me wait because they ran out of supplies?? shouldn't a equipment company make sure they have supplies in stock? she wasn't just out of CPAP machines she was also out of masks so I got stuck trying mask that I tried and didn't work. So finally I get my machine, they charge it off to the wrong insurance number despite them having my card on file??? and a copy of it. So I get denied on the initial request because it wasn't my number. They submit it again and make so much confusion at my insurance company that now they are questioning if I should have it!! I met all the criteria and also contacted them and talked to them on the phone. Well also a week after I got my CPAP I got a bill?? I questioned why since I had met all my deductible and coinsurance so I shouldn't have any out of pocket, so I called my insurance to verify and they say yes I shouldn't have received a bill I have to contact there office and when I did they said oops! I have to question if they even verify if someone met there insurance? or just look at the type of plan because they charged me 20% even though I had already met all my out of pocket expenses, they did finally cancel my bill. This over charging happened at the local DME and by the main corporate billing and if I hadn't questioned it I would of paid at least $400 dollars. So I get the machine and it rains out, so I talk to my sleep clinic doctor and he believes they could resolve this with the heated tubing, so he issues a prescription for the heated tubing ... The DME gets the order and drags there feet for several weeks, telling me and my doctor that they are working on it and as the end of the year approaches and a new deductible and coinsurance starts January 1st they tell me that they got my part. Well now that it's a new year, the part I wanted to get last year that would have been covered 100% now will cost me full price because I'll have to meet my deductible and coinsurance all over again. All I can say is don't sign anything from Lincare unless you know your covered and keep on them, if you get a intuition that something is wrong or they don't know what they are doing - RUN! Run fast and ask your insurance for the name of another DME. If you are going to buy something from them don't do it unless they can provide you a itemized list even if they are going to bill your insurance. Also if your DME doesn't know there equipment like I discovered, they had to make several calls to the manufacturer then that may mean they probably won't be able to give you want you need. Many of us newbies will always get hurt the first time, I hope I can help a few before this happens. If you research what you need before you go like I did you might get what you need.... I did know what I needed but my DME did not have what I needed in stock and she stated she would give me what I needed on my next visit, I took her word and she was wrong and now I'm at a financial loss because of her lack of experience with the equipment she issued me. That is my gripe with my DME, whom I will NEVER use again and my family or friends won't either.

Register your complaint of the DME with your Doctor.

DMEs don't care what you think of them, but they DO care what the Doctor thinks - because that is the only way they will continue to get referrals from that Doctor.

I took it a step further, I contacted the president of the DME, I'm not expecting anything but his companies reputation is on the line with this type of poor service. Oh my doctor does know about this they were frustrated that I wasn't getting what I needed and that it took so long, I had a follow up appointment they had to postpone because I hadn't been on my therapy long enough because of all the delays with my initial equipment. Now I don't have the heated tubing and the humidity makes it almost impossible, I'll figure out a solution but it won't be by a DME that I trusted. Thanks for listening to my gripe, by the way this site is great source of information, it sure gives me power going forward that's why I joined.

Wyocpapguy wrote:Ok wondering if anyone her has had a experience like this. My DME is Lincare, I'm sure others of you have some heartfelt terms of endearment for them but my whole experience started in December of 2012. I had my sleep study done in November of 2012 and my doctor sent there prescription to my DME the same month I didn't get a call for several weeks I thought that was normal but it bothered me since I'm at the end of the year and I'm 100% covered, so just as I was ready to call I got a call from them and they scheduled my appointment - I found out the reason they made me wait because they ran out of supplies?? shouldn't a equipment company make sure they have supplies in stock? she wasn't just out of CPAP machines she was also out of masks so I got stuck trying mask that I tried and didn't work... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paragraphs. They're not just for breakfast anymore.

New PAP user here! I got my machine about a week ago but I had done a lot of research leading up to my sleep study and beyond.

Reading the stories on here, I was prepared for the worst for dealing with DMEs but I wound up pleasantly surprised. They asked me a few questions about myself and suggested an S9 Elite or AutoSet before I even had a chance to talk about my specific model preferences. I was impressed that they were able to discuss not only the quality of the machine, but also lifestyle concerns. I am a professional who travels somewhat frequently and they suggested that similar customers have been pleased with the home-electronic-y appearance (for lack of a better term) and laptop-style case. This really impressed me because I felt like they were dealing with me as an individual and not just a generic OSA patient. The technician was friendly and knowledgeable and has been readily available to answer questions I have had during my first week.

I wonder if a common big difference might be between local DMEs versus the big national meganetworks? My DME is a local, mom-and-pop outfit with only one location. I get the impression that their business is much more dependent on customer satisfaction and positive patient feedback to their sleep MD than the big boys, who probably get business without much effort due to size and name recognition.

archangle wrote:

Wyocpapguy wrote:Ok wondering if anyone her has had a experience like this. My DME is Lincare, I'm sure others of you have some heartfelt terms of endearment for them but my whole experience started in December of 2012. I had my sleep study done in November of 2012 and my doctor sent there prescription to my DME the same month I didn't get a call for several weeks I thought that was normal but it bothered me since I'm at the end of the year and I'm 100% covered, so just as I was ready to call I got a call from them and they scheduled my appointment - I found out the reason they made me wait because they ran out of supplies?? shouldn't a equipment company make sure they have supplies in stock? she wasn't just out of CPAP machines she was also out of masks so I got stuck trying mask that I tried and didn't work... ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Paragraphs. They're not just for breakfast anymore.

Hint: CR/LF does not mean Cracked Up Laughing

WOW! MY DME IS A CROOKED LYING SACK OF SH*#!!!

So yours came in a sack? Consider yourself lucky.

Wyocpapguy wrote:Ok wondering if anyone her has had a experience like this. My DME is Lincare, I'm sure others of you have some heartfelt terms of endearment for them but my whole experience started in December of 2012. I had my sleep study done in November of 2012 and my doctor sent there prescription to my DME the same month I didn't get a call for several weeks I thought that was normal but it bothered me since I'm at the end of the year and I'm 100% covered, so just as I was ready to call I got a call from them and they scheduled my appointment - I found out the reason they made me wait because they ran out of supplies?? shouldn't a equipment company make sure they have supplies in stock? she wasn't just out of CPAP machines she was also out of masks so I got stuck trying mask that I tried and didn't work. So finally I get my machine, they charge it off to the wrong insurance number despite them having my card on file??? and a copy of it. So I get denied on the initial request because it wasn't my number. They submit it again and make so much confusion at my insurance company that now they are questioning if I should have it!! I met all the criteria and also contacted them and talked to them on the phone. Well also a week after I got my CPAP I got a bill?? I questioned why since I had met all my deductible and coinsurance so I shouldn't have any out of pocket, so I called my insurance to verify and they say yes I shouldn't have received a bill I have to contact there office and when I did they said oops! I have to question if they even verify if someone met there insurance? or just look at the type of plan because they charged me 20% even though I had already met all my out of pocket expenses, they did finally cancel my bill. This over charging happened at the local DME and by the main corporate billing and if I hadn't questioned it I would of paid at least $400 dollars. So I get the machine and it rains out, so I talk to my sleep clinic doctor and he believes they could resolve this with the heated tubing, so he issues a prescription for the heated tubing ... The DME gets the order and drags there feet for several weeks, telling me and my doctor that they are working on it and as the end of the year approaches and a new deductible and coinsurance starts January 1st they tell me that they got my part. Well now that it's a new year, the part I wanted to get last year that would have been covered 100% now will cost me full price because I'll have to meet my deductible and coinsurance all over again. All I can say is don't sign anything from Lincare unless you know your covered and keep on them, if you get a intuition that something is wrong or they don't know what they are doing - RUN! Run fast and ask your insurance for the name of another DME. If you are going to buy something from them don't do it unless they can provide you a itemized list even if they are going to bill your insurance. Also if your DME doesn't know there equipment like I discovered, they had to make several calls to the manufacturer then that may mean they probably won't be able to give you want you need. Many of us newbies will always get hurt the first time, I hope I can help a few before this happens. If you research what you need before you go like I did you might get what you need.... I did know what I needed but my DME did not have what I needed in stock and she stated she would give me what I needed on my next visit, I took her word and she was wrong and now I'm at a financial loss because of her lack of experience with the equipment she issued me. That is my gripe with my DME, whom I will NEVER use again and my family or friends won't either.

I just received my S9 VPAP from the same DME vendor (different office, of course). The people were friendly enough, but the company.......well I just can't find the correct adjectives....... For my insurance, and the area where I live, they are the only game in town. Not being a newbie to this game, I came in a bit better prepared than they expected. I came in for the first appointment to discuss what I needed and they wanted to charge me $66.00 for a "consultation" - I told them that would buy me enough gas to find a competitor in another town (approx 1.5 hours away), See ya later! - they changed their mind. There was a bit of confusion with my doctors office about the prescription (I can't blame Lincare for that) but eventually got that straight. Went to pick up the machine and they mentioned up front about the $66.00 consultation fee. Considering I was taking up time of their RT, I felt it was fair. He was very familiar with the equipment and very patient as I made him go over some features and points about the equipment and he was real good about discussing masks and such. I guess it wasn't real fair, but I stuck him in a crack when I said I wanted the clinical set up guide in front of his boss (just to see what he would say, I already had a copy from the apnea board) and I asked about getting the software to read the card. Of course he had the same old spiel about "the patient doesn't need the guide and the software is proprietary info, etc....but you could tell his heart wasn't in it. Turns out, my software version is more recent than his....*grin* He got that 'deer caught in the headlights' look until I let him off the hook...... He told me later that the company is the one with the rules about not giving up the guide and info.... I told him that was like buying a car and being told you can't do a tune-up or oil change on it. All things considered, Iim not real happy with the company itself, but they do have some decent people working for them. I definitely prefer them to Praxair....but that's a different story (not a good one either!).