Kaiser Senior Advantage: CPAPs

[2PAPs]

Kaiser Senior Advantage is much different than most Medicare plans in regards to CPAP purchase. All CPAP DME goes through Apria. Purchases of CPAP DME formulary are 20% copay.

The CPAP, itself, is not purchased by the patient. It is rented by Kaiser to the patient, much like a cable box. I believe the rental payments are 13 months, after which the use remains with the patient but ownership remains with Kaiser.

At this point, not a problem unless the patient changes Medicare Advantage providers. The CPAP then reverts back to Kaiser. Not a problem for me, as I've been a Kaiser member for almost 50 years.

A Plus: the CPAP is warranted for four years.

Cloudy: After four years, who pays for repairs and how much? After five years, Kaiser appears not issue another CPAP unless there is a problem with the CPAP that cannot be repaired.

Also cloudy: I don't know if the CPAP issued is unused!

Apria is not a culprit in this scenario except they are trying to get me to get a new BiPAP immediately and are sketchy about what happens after four years. I might walk down to the Kaiser Business Office and talk to them.

[bwexler]

My brother in law is a Kaiser Senior Advantage member for many years, but not as many as you.
It appears he had a 20% copayment up front on a straight purchase.
This however was a second go round for him. The first machine never made it out of the trunk of his car. It was returned after several months.
The second machine he uses sporadically but seldom for 4 hours in one night. He does have insomnia and sleeps in sporadic chunks.

[2PAPs]

I've been a Kaiser member since age 16 with my own membership, not as a dependent. I've only been a Senior Advantage member for a couple of months. My current BiPAP was purchased and is mine. I have to get the terms of the new BiPAP directly from the Kaiser Business office. Apria just wants to put a machine in my hand. They offered to send me one right now. But if it's not done right, I'll be out $2200.