Questions Regarding Machine Rental

[trish6hundred]

Hi jrdnduvall,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Good luck on your CPAP journey.

[jrdnduvall]

Thank you trish6hundred! 

[SarcasticDave94]

I agree with the others. If possible get it thru method of your choice that's not the DME. Why make payments on someone's boat or limo you'll never be offered a ride on/in.

Dave

[jrdnduvall]

Okay so I have about decided to let the Dreamstation go back and try a ResMed. Couple of questions about this. If I let the machine go back my pulmonologist should have the correct software to read the ResMed card correct? Even though I have been changing my own pressures how will the sleep doctor change pressures without a DME? Also, has anyone had good luck with the Airsense 10 off of Amazon read one bad review that said it wasn't able to be registered? 

Sorry for all the questions, 

Thanks Jordan.

[enlyghten]

A Dreamstation Auto costs about $330 on Amazon and the Resned Airsense 10 Autoset is about $440. Think about it. No more rental. You can check with your insurance and see if they require 13 months of rental. That is usually the idea of a DME to increase profit. It also takes you into a second deductible  year.  If your deduction resets in January you should just buy outright. Get the Resmed if affordable

o.O wow, are they overcharging me.  I'm roped into the rent to own deal as well.  I pay a 15% co-pay at $20 a month for 13 months.   That means they're charging me and my insurance a combined amount of $1,729 for my machine.  I mean....  I know to stay away from rent-to-own places, but I never expected my Dr. to 'order' me to go to one...  Makes a person wonder what kind of kickbacks they're getting for these referrals.

[Mosquitobait]

Unfortunately, enlyghten, most folks don't do the research BEFORE signing the contract. My family has previously been burned on insurance and Medicare coverage of Durable Medical Goods, so I know enough to check ahead of time. In most cases, if you have a high deductible, you are better off buying your machine from an online dealer along with your supplies until such time as you meet your high deductible. You could buy a used machine until then OR just buy new after getting your script from your doc.

In a few cases, local DME have offered machines at $100-200 more than online retailers to keep your business. So do check around. An online retailer isn't going to give you service, so there is sometimes an advantage to have a local dealer.

If you think cpap machines are a nightmare, try assisted walking!

[enlyghten]

Fair enough.  I only have a 15% co-pay as the insurance pays the rest.  Overall I'm paying around $360 For a $400+ machine, so unless I'm unaware of something significant, I'm coming out ok.  I don't have a great deal of sympathy for insurance companies, either.

I feel stupid for saying this, but I'm not sure about a deductible.  Is it normal to pay a copay and deductible?  I tend to avoid doctors like the plague, so I'm not overly familiar with the process.

[Walla Walla]

You pay until your deductible is met. Than you pay the copay.

[enlyghten]

Crud.  I should have waited until January...