Lincare "Ethics" (irony in quotes)

Good luck dizzy...They billed me over $600 while I only owed $263. I finally got it adjusted but they are dishonest uncaring tools.

Mohawk Valley - I'm up by Lake George.

So I almost own my S9 autoset, which Lincare has negotiated a price of $1,040 with my insurance carrier for. Although there's about 50% profit already, that is not enough for Lincare. Their actual bill to me (not what my EOB says) is for 50% of $1,260! So they want me to pay $630 for a 50% share of a unit that retails for $724 on the open market. In addition, both the local DME and their regional billing department advised me BEFORE taking posession that my 50% coinsurance would be further reduced by the mandatory 3-months of rent ($144.27 in my case). Now, Lincare is saying that's not true.

New CPAP users - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not choose Lincare - you already have enough stress in your life!

I have just completed a corporate compliance report to Lincare's corporate headquarters in Clearwater Florida and await their response before filing the same complaint with my insurance carrier.

Kenwood wrote:This just made me laugh last night when I looked at the DME invoice from US Med....they had to order my Aloha mask from our hosts - CPAP.com I'm going to wait and see what my insurance company does with this invoice and how they reduce it down. I haven't opened anything. I pay 50%, so I can just ship it back to US Med and order direct from CPAP.com if my co-pay is more than that.

Just for kicks I've been re-reading this thread. I happen to note that the Aloha is selling (now) for $85, down from $99. Your bill shows the price was "$217.95" from which you are responsible for "108.98". WHAT A RIP OFF!

I understand most DMEs like Lincare have additional overhead due to paid techs etc. I am not upset at their pricing model, because that is something I can simply go elsewhere for. My problem is their complete lack of ethics and integrity. Out-right lying and not standing behind their own quotations. I have had to call them to correct each and every bill (I received 6 of which only 4 were even billable) that I have received from them. Funnier when I asked the regional billing manager to transfer me to an executive, she hung up on me.

khauser wrote:

Kenwood wrote:This just made me laugh last night when I looked at the DME invoice from US Med....they had to order my Aloha mask from our hosts - CPAP.com I'm going to wait and see what my insurance company does with this invoice and how they reduce it down. I haven't opened anything. I pay 50%, so I can just ship it back to US Med and order direct from CPAP.com if my co-pay is more than that.

Just for kicks I've been re-reading this thread. I happen to note that the Aloha is selling (now) for $85, down from $99. Your bill shows the price was "$217.95" from which you are responsible for "108.98". WHAT A RIP OFF!

That was mine. I pay 50% of all DME. When I actually got the "real bill" (that was the shipping invoice), the costs were much less based upon my insurance company's agreed upon rates. So for that entire bill, it was reduced and my cost was only $52.07 (The Aloha mask was $21.29 of that).

Well, Lincare bills their customers AND makes collection calls BEFORE receipt of the EOB from the insurance carrier. By knowing my rights and how insurance coverage works, I have saved over $500 in 4 months by fighting Lincare and forcing them to wait for my EOBs before paying them.