Good Seattle/Puget Sound DME Providers

[Mountain Head]

Hey Folks,

Looking for experience (good and bad) with Puget Sound based DME providers.   My doc sent me a list of the DME providers w/ which they work.  The following are on that list:

• NW Medical
  
• Performance Health Care
  
• Quest Health Care
  
• Lincare
  
• Apria
  

I used to deal w/ NW Medical ten years ago.  They were okay - i.e., middle of the road, in my experience. 

Does anyone have any experience w/ the above that they would share with me?  Or any experience w/ any DME providers in the area??

Thanks!!

[Zorki1c]

Im in Idaho and have had great service from NORCO.

[Walla Walla]

I had terrible problems with NORCO. After I paid a bill from them I found out they over charged me and it too over a month and many phone calls to get my money back.

[Mountain Head]

Thanks, folks.   Appreciate the input!

[WSHenry]

Hi,

I've used Performance Home Medical for CPAP equipment and supplies for the past 4-1/2+ years. Service was good, although billing practices could be better. They now require a credit or debit card on file to handle patient-responsible charges.

I've not used Norco for CPAP items, but their Oxygen services are fine. Both service and billing practices are fine, including direct-pay from my credit union for patient-responsible charges.

So, yes to both.

[Mountain Head]

Thanks, WSH!

[sonicboom]

In general from my own experience (with 2 of those you listed) and that of others here they all try to rip you off at some point. The question really becomes do you need them. Since I have high deductible insurance I choose to self pay and thereby control my own fate using online suppliers which I have found to be extremely reliable and less expensive than DMEs. So, go self pay if you can - you also avoid the insurance compliance issue that way. If you must use a DME go with Northwest. Another thing I've done is use a DME to try stuff on and then when they give me the pricing I say its too expensive and then by it online.

[Mountain Head]

Thanks, SonicBoom.