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+--- Thread: How often did your DME let you swap masks? (/Thread-How-often-did-your-DME-let-you-swap-masks)
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How often did your DME let you swap masks? - SleepyTexasGirl - 02-03-2020
I’m using AeroCare as DME. They don’t let me try on masks until I’m committed to buying them and only let me swap masks once in the first 30 days.
When I complained about this to someone at my sleep Drs office and said I need a prescription so I can go to another DME, she said all the DMEs have this policy.
Has that been the experience of other people? I know Supplier #1 allows unlimited swaps, but I have yet to get a prescription so I can use them.
RE: How often did your DME let you swap masks? - Nightynite - 02-03-2020
(02-03-2020, 04:44 PM)SleepyTexasGirl Wrote: I’m using AeroCare as DME. They don’t let me try on masks until I’m committed to buying them and only let me swap masks once in the first 30 days.
When I complained about this to someone at my sleep Drs office and said I need a prescription so I can go to another DME, she said all the DMEs have this policy.
Has that been the experience of other people? I know Supplier #1 allows unlimited swaps, but I have yet to get a prescription so I can use them.
30 Days is what I was also told by my DME. That’s why I now have 6 mask. All out of pocket
RE: How often did your DME let you swap masks? - SleepyTexasGirl - 02-03-2020
I understand the 30 day restriction. What I’m concerned with is whether your DME lets you try on different masks before leaving with one, and whether you can try more than two masks to take home within that 30 days.
Mine told me that the only masks I could try on were the four masks on dummy heads. And 3 of the 4 had hard plastic pieces that would come between pillow and face when lying on my side.
RE: How often did your DME let you swap masks? - ApneaQuestions - 02-04-2020
I asked this specific question to my DME and the answer was a max of 3 masks in the 30 day period.
After that, I'd have to wait for the next scheduled mask replacement (6 months if I remember correctly) and then could try another 3 masks.
The only way they could allow you to try an unlimited number of masks is by having trial masks for each and every type and size. That's a lot of permutations.
Even that has hygiene implications.. who tried that mask before you did?
When I tried on a mask, I tried on a brand new mask that was totally unused and the mask became mine from that point on.
It makes sense to me that there has to be an upper limit. 3 is better than 2 and 2 is better than 1.
$0.02
RE: How often did your DME let you swap masks? - OpalRose - 02-04-2020
I was given a choice of two different masks. Lucky for me, the one I choose worked well for me and still use. I was given an option of trying another mask before 30 days was up if it didn't work out.
All DME's are not the same. Each can have a different set of policies on the subject.
Now on the subject of a perscription... this is part of your medical record, and you have a right to a copy. Also, the same applies to a copy of your sleep test.
RE: How often did your DME let you swap masks? - harrywr2 - 02-04-2020
I had Apria as the DME...one swap in 10 days was their policy.
RE: How often did your DME let you swap masks? - ApneaQuestions - 02-04-2020
(02-04-2020, 12:04 PM)harrywr2 Wrote: I had Apria as the DME...one swap in 10 days was their policy.
I also used Apria but for me it was 3 masks in 30 days.
My medical insurance is with Kaiser and Apria has a separate department dedicated to Kaiser customers.
Maybe that could explain the different rules for different people with different insurance.
RE: How often did your DME let you swap masks? - Osiris357 - 02-04-2020
Lincare only allows 1 swap in 30 days. I did just that to try another mask the Dreamwear fullface. That was a waste of time. I now use the resmed F30 full time. Initially out of pocket but I just switched it to that mask in Lincares system and now I have another mask and 1 spare cushion so far. I would have 2 spares but the cushion that came with the F30 was misshapen in the upper left part of the mouth part of the cushion.
RE: How often did your DME let you swap masks? - harrywr2 - 02-04-2020
(02-04-2020, 12:34 PM)ApneaQuestions Wrote:(02-04-2020, 12:04 PM)harrywr2 Wrote: I had Apria as the DME...one swap in 10 days was their policy.
I also used Apria but for me it was 3 masks in 30 days.
My medical insurance is with Kaiser and Apria has a separate department dedicated to Kaiser customers.
Maybe that could explain the different rules for different people with different insurance.
My medical insurance is also Kaiser. I think various branch offices of DME's get away with what they think they can get away with or make a calculation as to how likely you are to sign up for 'subscription replacement'.
I'm on a high deductible plan so I won't be replacing anything at the maximum rate allowed by the insurance company.
In our group we all stared at the DME lady like she was crazy when she tried to get us to sign up for subscription filter replacement every two weeks.
RE: How often did your DME let you swap masks? - Geer1 - 02-04-2020
If you are willing and ask to do so they may have returned masks you can try on.
My supplier had a box of returned masks they had cleaned and they let me try one of them.