[Equipment] Looking to buy my own CPAP machine

[mrjeswan]

I've used Dreamstation CPAP machine for 7 years.  Both the original and the recall replacement have stopped making pressure (the replacement in under a year!).  They blow air but don't build pressure once the nasal mask is put on.  I know how all the settings work, I have no leaks and I know what pressure feels like after having my first CPAP machine in 2008. I don't need diagnosis help... really.  Please - DON'T.  But thanks for thinking about helping me. 


My school changed to Cigna health insurance, which is basically worthless.
The only company in the Chicago area that works with Cigna is Lincare, which is also pretty much useless.  
They will not sell you a machine, but only "rent" it for an high monthly "fee".  No.  I will not do this.  In 5 years I'll be buying more than a CPAP machine in monthly "co-pays".

It looks like Resmed is about the only choice left these days.

So, I have some fairly basic questions.  I could not see a way to search quickly for this info... so I present it here.

1 - Can any of the online suppliers work with insurance companies like Cigna?
If not, I'll probably be buying out of pocket.  I have the prescription from my doctor, along with the sleep study and updates.
I'm hoping I can use my FSA account as I do have a prescription and it's doctor ordered.  What fun THAT will be  working with WEX!

I'm sure there are many online shops but - 
2 - Who has worked well with you?  I can't spend a lot of money. I don't need bells and whistles.  Simple CPAP.  I don't even use humoidity, though I do heat the hose on cold winter nights.  Reputable? Inexpensive (relatively)?
  
3- Can THEY program the cpap machine to use the modem and send the info my provider?  If they don't can i program that? (I used to using the "provider" mode" but don't see that setting).  Although I don't need proof of use for insurance, I do want to provide my doc with updated information.  CPAP has been working well for a long time, AHI under .6!  I basically honed in on the best cm/H2O on my own and my doctor likes it.

4 - Do any of the non-camping/home Resmed versions use 12V instead of 24V to power them?
One of the nice features of the Philips units were that they used a very common plug and 12V to power them.  They worked great with any powerstation/battery backup I tried.   The Resmed I did look at at Lincare used a proprietary 24V plug.  Yuck!  Many powerstations don't provide 24V and I might not even be able to get the right cable anyhow. : I prefer the nice Dreamstation power connectons... a lot.

I appreciate all that I've learned here on the apneaboard for a long time.  I plan to share any of the information I find out after going down this path. I'd like to help others who are in this "insurance hell" and the poor state of medical supply companies.

Thank you in advance!  What a community we have here!

[staceyburke]

The suppliers list at the top of the page is a good place to look for a machine. Supplier 2 is where I purchased 2 cpap machines which were used but were almost new one had 18 hours on it the other had about 100.. Both have been great machines.

[mrjeswan]

Thanks for that info!

[KSMatthew]

I’ve used #9 for years.

Charge it to your HSA card. I looked into filing the insurance paperwork myself but I have such a high deductible that I would get no reimbursement, and even with the cost applied to my deductible I would still not meet my deductible that year on anything else. So I save myself the trouble and don’t even bother with insurance.

Since the online DME is now your “supplier”, there really isn’t anywhere to get a modem to connect and send data. I rely on an OSCAR report when necessary.

Two things: 1) be very clear if you want them to configure it for you, otherwise you’ll just get one right off the shelf, 2) verify the unit will ship with an SD card. Many times they do not and it’s sold separately. If you ask nicely they might include one at no charge.

[RNeil]

I got my Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset from Craigslist. Check the run hours and check the smell. I bought one about 5 years ago for $250. I don't know what the hours where when I got it, but now it has 19,000. It works fine, but I replaced it with one with 30 hours for $140. That last deal is unusual, but possible. Others might tell you that things can go wrong, but it worked for me.

The Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset is a great machine. You are right about the power supply. Resmed makes a converter that takes 12 volts. I just do without when I'm camping.

You will want to get a SD card, if the machine does not have one. I reused the card from my old machine and the new one erased the old data. I still have it on Oscar. Don't worry about the modem. The doctor can read the SD card, or you can email the file, or you can use a print screen from Oscar. The doctor does not need to change settings remotely, he can suggest that you make the change.

[FLcracker]

I bought her AS10 around 3 years ago brand new from a dealer listed in here, in the Seatle WA area.  They were very prompt to ship, had the best price, and required no 'script... She has absolutely refused the idea of a sleep study.  I would post a link, but not sure if I might be in violation of board rules... There are some vendors out there that will help if they can.  

FLc

[tundranapper]

I don't think this thread is old enough to qualify as a zombie, so here's my .02 on camping:
I am using my S9 that has the blower motor warning as a camping machine. I have previously used it on 3- and 6-night backcountry camping trips WITHOUT humidifier. With the humidifier you will draw too much.
I use what is currently called a Renogy 72,000 mAh battery pack. These are the size of a hardcover novel, but weigh more than most Tom Clancy books.
Currently doing some ground truth testing at home to see how many nights I can push these two for. I have gotten 3 nights out of a battery. I have a 10-day paddle in the Everglades coming in January and I'd like to not add a third or fourth battery if I can avoid it.
It's important to understand that you need a 12V DC adapter for your machine for any battery pack. These are reasonably priced and widely available on Amazon.
Now you might think to yourself, "12V? Well, I can just plug into my car." Not so. Most cars have a shutoff so that if you draw too much off the battery, they will shut off the outlet. So "shoulder nights" that you plan to spend in your car, will also have to be accounted for in your battery nights.
Finally, know that your CPAP likely won't work properly below 32 degrees F. This was a literal rude awakening for me on a tent trip a few years ago. I have theorized that putting your CPAP in an amply-sized soft-sided cooler with a warm Nalgene next to it may alleviate this problem, however I have not yet tested it.
I don't advise "going without," especially if you are hiking or paddling or conveying yourself in a physically taxing way. We all know that feeling of head full of bees and no energy.
Hope this helps and good luck!