If you know you need PAP therapy at 20, then your best alternative is auto bilevel (BPAP, BiPAP, VPAP). This can give you a higher inhalation pressure (IPAP), while giving you more comfort with a lower exhale pressure (EPAP). These machines are much less expensive online than through the insurance provider durable medical equipment (DME) supplier. There is a good list of online suppliers at the top of the forum, including
Supplier #2 who sells used, reconditioned, and open box equipment with a warranty.
All you need is a prescription. Your primary doctor, or the sleep center that did your diagnostic study can easily use the diagnostic information to write a prescription for CPAP and/or BPAP and related supplies. This option was available to you before the diagnostic study. I use my regular doctor who is an internist, not a sleep doctor; and I use my study from 2008 as proof of diagnosis. If you're not going to use the insurance, you don't have to follow their nit-picking unenforceable desires.
Let's just go with the fact you have obstructive sleep apnea and need a machine you can afford. Get the prescription. As a last resort,
Supplier #30 will submit the results of your sleep study or a survey to a contracted physician and provide you with a prescription for a fixed fee of $99. Keep in mind, many insurance companies prefer patients to be issued Auto CPAP and to self-titrate. You don't need a titration study if you call your insurance and ask for their policy on self titrating auto CPAP. That was my original prescription. Auto CPAP and Auto BiPAP work well and in fact usually have better results than a single titration study.
The script (wherever you get it) is yours to use when and where you want. Shop for the best deal. Right now, the Philips Respironics System One Auto BiPAP is on sale (same for auto CPAP) at many places because the machine has just been discontinued due to the new DreamStation model. So, it is still a great machine, and is less expensive. Do a search, and consider alternative channels like Amazon.
You have been at this long enough you know what mask and supplies you need. The next step is take control from insurance and accept the fact you can probably do this better, cheaper and faster without them.
