Australian Health Insurers - CPAP benefits?

[me50]

Yep, outside of Hawaii, not surprising, the other ones listed in the US are from CA. The pay scale in CA is not very good either but they get paid OT per day (or they used to) and in other states in the US, they get paid OT per week for most positions. I can remember several years ago, people in CA were making $12 an hour and I couldn't believe they could live on that in CA. My brother lived in HI for a while and had several people share an apt. with him. when he called, he asked us to call him back b/c it was so expensive for him to call out. It is sad how people have to struggle today. It isn't like it used to be back when my great grandparents were alive.

[Sleepster]

We also have free hospitals, like Ben Taub, in Houston. The emergency room wait time is hours and hours, unless of course it's life-threatening.

Don't believe those Michael Moore movies. He'd have you believe that getting sick in America is a death sentence and you'd be better off in Cuba. Refugees are trying to escape from Cuba to get to Florida, not the other way around!

The fact is, if you have a good job you usually have good health insurance. The problem occurs when you don't have a good job and you can't or won't afford health insurance. That's the issue attempting to be addressed by the new "Obama Care". We'll see how it all works out, but one thing we know for sure is that the medical providers will continue to rake in huge profits.

As an example, Lunesta costs about $9 a pill, but with insurance it costs me $2. If instead I want Ambien I pay $0.05.

It's an insane system designed to maximize the profits of the pharmeceutical companies.

Similar crap for DME's, doctors, etc.

[Surly]

I remember seeing that movie Sicko. Glad to read it's not to be believed.

While I like our public health system here in Australia, it's not like it's entirely problem free either.

Personally I'd like to hope that modern liberal 1st world economies aren't so profit driven that those with genuine medical needs aren't brushed aside because life hasn't afforded them access to good insurance. I am guessing those without access to insurance are probably societies most vulnerable like the unemployed, low paid, elderly etc.

[Sleepster]

Personally I'd like to hope that modern liberal 1st world economies aren't so profit driven that those with genuine medical needs aren't brushed aside because life hasn't afforded them access to good insurance.

Not brushed aside, just deprived of every monetary asset they've managed to acquire during their lives. Meanwhile CEO's of the medical industry rake in millions.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a socialist, but neither am I a true believer in trickle down economics.

[zonk]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a socialist, but neither am I a true believer in trickle down economics.

At least the crumbs can be nourishing and also better than nothing

[adhock]

Back on topic....

Just received the payback from Medibank for a Resmed s9 elite, purchased Dec 23 thru CRS in Perth for $1200 odd. $250 rebate, not even $500, and that on top corporate extras!

Not happy, Medibank. We'd shift except we're just getting to the age now where we are starting to cost them money, after 35 years or so of membership! HBF seems to be better here in WA ($700 apparently).

[DeepBreathing]

Back on topic....

Just received the payback from Medibank for a Resmed s9 elite, purchased Dec 23 thru CRS in Perth for $1200 odd. $250 rebate, not even $500, and that on top corporate extras!

Not happy, Medibank. We'd shift except we're just getting to the age now where we are starting to cost them money, after 35 years or so of membership! HBF seems to be better here in WA ($700 apparently).

G'day Adhock, welcome to the forum.

I got $500 from MBP for a VPAP Adapt (~$4,000). I don't know if they have different rates for different machines, but my understanding is it's a flat rate for all CPAPs. Might depend on which table you're on.

[ThatOtherGuy]

I only received $500 from MBP myself, but I also only paid $1,899 for a Resmed S9 Autoset VPAP with humidifier, bonus heated hose, mask of my choice, carry bag, some spare bits and pieces and 5yr warranty. It was an Australian Supplier not listed on the CPAP Supplier List here on the forums (http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...plier-List). I'll be sticking with MBP mostly because better the devil you know of 30 odd years membership and I have too many existing conditions to potentially lose any future coverage benefits. I don't like the way they pay out for silly things and restrict actual claims for treatment, but I do feel better about it than if I was in some other countries.

I have sent a PM to ask if the supplier I used can be added to the list, if you're curious, its the Aus URL version of Supplier #1 on the list.

[zonk]

I have sent a PM to ask if the supplier I used can be added to the list, if you're curious, its the Aus URL version of Supplier #1 on the list.

Supplier to be added to the list is by a poll in master members (MM) forum but must sell CPAP on-line (not just a brick and mortar shop front)
So keep posting and in no time you,ll be welcoming into MM forum and you can initiate such poll

You can mention the name of your supplier here but not dot com, for example, XYZ CPAP SUPPLY in Darwin

[ThatOtherGuy]

They do online as well as bricks and mortar Aus-wide, I'm not really fussed if they get added to the list or not, I have no affiliation with them, its just a shame if we as users are denied access to good suppliers.