Medicare or insurance?

[p1800nut]

Finally found this board and discovered that my RemStar Plus is a brick and that the perfect AHI scores I'd seen on Sleepyhead are meaningless.  Since the brick has 10,000 hours on it, and my PCP is fine with ordering a replacement, seems like it's time for a DreamStation or AirSense 10.  But--I'm about 9 months away from retiring--is there an advantage to waiting for Medicare, or should I use my current employer insurance?  (Or is that too general of a question?)

[Melman]

It depends on the coverage provided by yout current insurance.

[ardenum]

Does it matter? Try getting it now, what have you to lose if this insurance terminates in 9 months.

[Fats Drywaller]

I agree with the previous two replies and will add: Have you calculated your out-of-pocket expense in each case, given your current deductible, etc. and given the fine print of whatever Medicare plan you'll be on?

Also, there's the question of what you have to gain in the next 9 months, if anything, from getting a new, more modern machine ASAP rather than waiting. Are there features that you urgently need or want? If so, go for it, again if the short-term cost to you is easily manageable.

[Walla Walla]

It really depends on how your sleeping. Are you waking up a lot at night? Tired during the day? Falling asleep at the wrong times? If the answer to any of those is yes than you need to get a new machine now no matter what! If on the other hand you feel like your being treated than you have the option of waiting. Sleep apnea is not something you want to wait 9 months on to treat properly.

[Gideon]

Consider that your income is likely higher now, assuming that Medicare implies retirement, so likely financially it may be better now, and now certainly will not hurt your treatment.

But Walla Walla's response above is the best answer.  If it was me I would say now because I would want to know how effective my treatment actually is,  just the geek in me.

[p1800nut]

Thanks, all.  I continue to sleep well and feel OK during the day, I just want to see my data to make sure all is well.   I was infuriated last night to realize that when Apria did a warranty replacement a few years ago on my original Remstar Pro they replaced it with a Remstar Plus, and of course didn't tell me.  I'll do some digging into insurance coverage, deductibles, etc., but since I've not yet entered the Medicare world, I was just wondering if there are any pluses or gotchas with it vs private insurance.

[Melman]

One gottcha is that you will probably have less od a selection of DMEs you can us with medicare.

[greatunclebill]

I would wait. unless your insurance is 100%, you're paying a co-pay. normally machines are paid in full after 13 monthly payments. when you hit medicare after 9 months of payments will medicare take over your current contract or will you have to start over, because normally your present insurance will cut off at that point? If you wait til you're on medicare you'll probably buy an insurance plan that will cover what medicare doesn't pay, resulting in no co-pay, which is cheaper. just things to ask about and think about.

[Homerec130]

I would also wait. Seeing as you are most likely shifting to Medicare, they will require you to go through another whole sleep study before they will pay for consumables such as masks, cushions, and the like. I was faced with that and my insurer was a sister to Medicare. Waited until I was on Medicare and had a new sleep study (last one was 6 years ago) and now waiting on the results so I can get my new machine.

Homer