CPAP and APAP

[MandysMom]

I wrote Bluepinecone separately but wanted to put it out here for anyone needing this type therapy. I picked up my new APAP, a ResMed Air Sense 10 Autoset machine today. It's my replacement for a 9 year old machine. It cost me nothing- zero copay with my Medicare, Blue Cross and Tricare. Even so my top of the line APAP would cost retail under $900. ( plus cost of mask and hose under $200 which I know because I have paid cash in past for them.)Anyone being charged $1300 copay as appears to be the case for her is being rIpped off. I said to the respiratory tech today what she is paying and she agreed, full price for all apap machines before insurance is less than that. Be ware medical suppliers will try to squeeze you for every dollar they can. Before you pay an outrageous amount like that, google your proposed machine Nd check MSRP and usual selling price. And we wonder why our insurance costs so much!
Velda

[JudyJB]

I had a similar problem when my mother was alive and needed a wheelchair. Medicare would only pay to rent one, not buy one. We ended up renting one for almost three years at a MUCH higher cost than buying one would have been. I complained a lot about it but could not get it changed. And the worst part was that the rental wheel chairs were junk and kept breaking. My mother was very short (4' 10") and fairly chubby, so she needed one where her feet would touch the ground but with a seat wide enough so that she was not cramped. It took a lot of phone calls to even get someone to measure her. They kept wanting just her height and weight and would send a chair over with instructions to send it back if it did not fit!!

This renting-not-buying policy is one of the Medicare rules that they were hoping to change. It is stupid and costs more money, plus it gives the patient sub-standard equipment!!

I think it partly depends on what insurance you have to go along with Medicare.

[MandysMom]

I went through that with my Mom too Judy. The wheel chair they "rented to buy" for her is still ours and we use it once in a while, as it was a good one thankfully. With some items, such as this Cpap thing it would be worth it If you had a huge copay to pay cash yourself, although to do that you have to sign a bunch of paperwork stating you wont come back and sue the medical supply,for not billing Medicare. I wanted a new mask and had turned 65 and it was going to cost me more money and time to get it using Medicare, so I insisted on paying cash and not biling Medicare. You would have thought i was asking them to commit a crime! Gee whiz, APAP for $1300 in copay or pay cash at under $1000, easy decision for me. The whole thing is stupid. I hope someone figures that out in Washington soon! we are very lucky in that we are retired Navy so get Tricare on top of our state of Ca retired Blue Cross. Together through over $300,000 in cancer treatment billed so far on hubby (of course the hospital bills that but insurance does not pay that much ), we have owed not a dime! we pray our thanks every day for the life plan we managed to put together which has us covered.
Velda

[Gentleladybear]

I just got my cpap machine and it cost me nothing. My old one was 5 years old, still in good c ondition, but the technology has increased greatly in the past 5 years. Not sure what triggered this topic, but I have never rented any equipment, mine has always been paid for. So was my DIL's equipment.

[MandysMom]

I agree Nan I think sometimes medical suppliers put items in the wrong category either by mistake or to get more money. In this case a LOT more money. Hope she can get this fixed because it's just plain wrong to charge her $2300!!
Velda

[bluepinecones]

Velda - the price I was quoted initially was bad but not that outrageous. It was around $1300.00 for my portion. Supplier was closed until yesterday. I was on phone with them several times yesterday and finally arranged to meet with the head of accounting later today. Her initial reaction (on phone) was that I misunderstood; however when I told her it was hard to do that when I had it in writing, she suggested we meet to go over the charges and estimated payments. Also assured me if incorrect, they would fix it. More later.

Don't understand how Nan got around the rental unless her insurance just covers everything such that it is transparent to her.

[MandysMom]

Mine is not a rental either and I was told I owe nothing.
Velda