Can't afford sleep study

All good points and thank you Purple.

We do have a teaching hospital nearby in Shreveport, LA - part of the LSU system and it does offer low cost to no cost health care. My problem is, as you noted, I'm not rich but I have too high an income to usually qualify for most low income assistance programs. I'm too young for Medicare - by 5 years yet - and while I could afford reasonably priced health care, the insurance industry - in its wisdom, seeks to insure only those in perfect health, leaving those of us who are single, self employed working for ourselves and with pre-existing conditions out in the cold.

I had insurance about 8 years ago thru an association of freelance writers (I'm a writer, editor, graphic artist, podcaster, voice talent) but once the insurer realized we were not your classic employer-employee group they dropped us. A second company came in, wrote the policy for a year and then did the same thing. No other carriers were ever found.

Anyway, turns out my brother-in-law has sleep apnea - and insurance - and he may be able to help also with some masks - at least to test, until I decide which is right for me.

As noted in previous post I have acquired a Resmed S9 Autoset and a couple of trial masks thanks to members of this forum.

My plan going forward is to use the machine to sort of self-test, gather some data on the SD card, and seek an appointment with a sleep doctor now part of my primary doctor's office and procede from there. I don't see the wisdom of the sleep test to tell me what I'm 99 percent certain of - that I suffer from sleep apnea. With the data from the S9 in hand, and a review by a doctor, then if needed, I can pursue options for further testing.

purple wrote:If there is a teaching hospital nearby, they, as part of getting subsidies often are required to provide free and low cost health care to the those who need it. That is, call them and ask, I have been surprised at what they will do.

Ahem, Let me put that differently. For several years after I knew that I needed sleep apnea treatment, and did not go to see about treatment because I had been told that Medicare will pay for equipment after one is diagnosed, and the overnight sleep study, is - expensive. Truth is that the test is an overnight at my own home with a recording pulse oximeter. After that, I went to a sleep center associated with a teaching university (medical school). I am pretty sure they would have done the test for free, if necessary. I had both Medicare and the state Medicaid.

You can also do a split night, where half the night is the test, and the second half of the night is the titration.

The other place to get a machine, if you have a prescription is http://www.secondwindcpap.com, you can use our sponser, cpap.com to look at different machines/masks and compare features.

Some DME's have programs that give away machines/masks to those who have financial difficulties.

Those who have it worst in this are those who have some income, but are not rich.

Your issue is to me, why we need public health care. To allow those who are working/going to school to obtain the health care they need to continue to be tax payers rather than disabled.

I know it is hard to believe, there are some centers out there who might be helpful in getting a study with little or no cost to you. You will have to get on the phone and call.

Ah well the magic of US healthcare. Unreal that still we have to wait yet another year to get access to the new health exchanges and expanded benefits under medicaid, but until then the status quo has to be dealt with.

If you can qualify for Medicaid, I try would get it. Call your local public aid office or state helpline for details.

Optionally, if you have money but because of preexisting conditions are unable to buy any commercial insurance you can try to buy in the 'high risk pool' insurance in your state. It's part of the new law and allows you to buy in to the plan if no one else will sell you coverage. It costs more but at least its insurance.

Another possible workaround is that some states allow you to buy in to Medicaid if you are somehow classified as disabled and your income is below a certain level. (It can be a disability based on multiple reasons). You would need to get certified for the program and pay the monthly premium cost for Medicaid. This could be a good option to investigate. Call your state's department of rehabilitation/disability services, or Medicaid for more info.

Optionally, yes, you can call around and ask individual providers for charity care or discounts etc. But that can take up a lot of time and would be limited in scope. Better to work to get some sort of bona fide health coverage if you can. But if all else fails, grab the yellow pages and start calling doctors or public aid health clinics and see if they will do free or low cost sleep testing.

dos coyotes, I am in the same position you are, only a bit further away from Medicare qualification than you. I'm self-employed, as is my husband. Too little money to afford the extremely expensive health insurance, the few plans that are available for someone with as many preexisting conditions as I have. But too much money to qualify for any help.

But I did apply for, and was accepted, into the government's preexisting health insurance plan. It's run differently in different states, and the cost is different in difference states, but for me it's going to work out great. It's not income-based, all your preexisting conditions are covered from the beginning (after the deductible). Some items/services, including durable medical equipment, require pre-authorization (don't know if sleep studies need preauthorization or not). The premium is a huge savings over the least expensive Anthem plan, and that Anthem plan has a deductible more than twice as high, not to mention I'd have to a was 12 months before any preexisting condition would be covered. And all my insurance providers accept it. I believe the qualifications for each state are the same in that you have to have not had health insurance for at least six months, and you have to provide a letter from an insurance company or insurance agent saying you were denied coverage because of a health condition.

Just thought I'd mention it as a possibility, in case you hadn't heard about it and might be interested.

You might want to give these people a look:

http://www.awakeinamerica.org/DonateRel ... rogApp.pdf

SnoozeyQ wrote:You might want to give these people a look:

http://www.awakeinamerica.org/DonateRel ... rogApp.pdf

It looks like the OP has purchased a used machine as an FYI.

But as one who used to volunteer for this program, I wanted to add a few cautions. Because they accept machines that aren't data capable, someone who needs one could end up with a brick. Of course, receiving any type of machine is better than nothing but I did want to alert people to the situation.

Also, they require that you have an official diagnosis and be under the care a physician before you can receive a machine.

At some point, out of curiosity, I would love to check the requirements of the Reggie White Foundation who according to someone who posted on this forum, gave him/her a humidifier that was lacking I believe due to not being able to afford it. Sorry, I forgot the exact story.

49er

Awake in America also has a Sleep Study Relief program. From what I've read, they can help with the cost of a sleep study so that the person pays 180 bucks out of pocket or possibly nothing if they qualify financially. That link is for the application for sleep study relief.

I got my humidifier from the Reggie White Foundation. I just emailed them asking for help and they sent it out to me within a week. They've also sent me two masks. A Swift FX for her and a Quatro FX.

SnoozeyQ wrote:Awake in America also has a Sleep Study Relief program. From what I've read, they can help with the cost of a sleep study so that the person pays 180 bucks out of pocket or possibly nothing if they qualify financially. That link is for the application for sleep study relief.

I got my humidifier from the Reggie White Foundation. I just emailed them asking for help and they sent it out to me within a week. They've also sent me two masks. A Swift FX for her and a Quatro FX.

Thanks Snoozey, you are so right. That must be recent because it definitely wasn't in existence when I volunteered.

Wow, that is great to offer this to folks since sleep studies are expensive.

Oh, so you're the person who got the humidifier. Sorry, I should have looked that up.

And I am happy to hear you received masks also from the Reggie White Foundation.

49er

The Reggie White Foundation is just amazing in my eyes. My emails have always been replied to promptly and Ron Baake, their director is just a really nice guy. He's always really seemed to want to help me out however he could when I've contacted the Foundation.

dos coyotes wrote:I'm sure asking this next question is like asking whether to buy a Ford or Chevy, but - given the choice between a new Devilbiss @$525 and lightly used ResMed S9 at same price, which would be the better choice???

Assuming the lightly used ResMed S9 is the model called either of these names: "Autoset" or "VPAP Auto" (and is not called "Escape Auto") I'd choose the ResMed machine. That's not to say it's necessarily the "better choice." It would simply be my personal choice.

dos coyotes wrote:At this point I'm thinking of going forward with the purchase of a machine and then shortly after - a month or so - perhaps doing the home test. I'm a bit reluctant to spend half of my machine budget on the home test first, only to likely confirm what I already am pretty sure of, that I have obstructive sleep apnea.

Those were my sentiments exactly, when I set out to diagnose and treat myself.

dos coyotes wrote:The value in the test would then be to learn a proper pressure and of course to get the valuable prescription that I otherwise will not have.

Well, the autopap itself (the data from it) was how I figured out what pressure I needed. I got help from a forum member who was very knowledgable, much more so than I was, in interpreting the data from the particular autopap I started with.

However you choose to go about it, dos coyotes, good luck. You'll do fine.

Hi RG! .

Thanks for the continuing info and support everybody. The Awake in America does seem an attractive alternative.

Rested Gal - you say you set out to self diagnose and treat - as am I. How did that work out for you?

dos coyotes wrote:Rested Gal - you say you set out to self diagnose and treat - as am I. How did that work out for you?

Rested Gal may not be by and see your question because she is taking a vacation from forum duties.
I can't find her thread explaining her story but the short version of things is she did very well and went on to become the queen of the forum here. She started out her therapy on an old machine that didn't show any data at all and a mask that was given to her and was way to big. It was many years ago.

She often sent people this link
http://www.tnlc.com/Lara/laura/osa/CanP ... wnCPAP.pdf
and this one
http://www.tnlc.com/Lara/laura/osa/Barb ... t_0830.pdf

She did eventually have an in lab sleep study which just confirmed what she had been doing for several years.

Edit: this may be her story.
Scroll down till you see the first post made by rested gal
viewtopic.php?p=5977#p5977

Thanks Pugsy!

I expect my machine to arrive Friday or Monday and have two masks waiting to be tried. I'll post up the results of my first experiments in a few days. Wish me luck!

You still might want to check out college or university resources.
The dental college here and the hearing lab do not have income requirements.
If you contact the individual institution, you might be surprised.